What is meditation anyway? Meditation can be defined quite differently depending on who you talk to, but I would like to define it as not just extended thought, mindfulness or quiet reflection; rather spiritual introspection and contemplation whose focus is on the Divine Healer. We know that with physical health, the mind and the spiritual nature of our bodies cannot be separated.
In a 2013 study done by Frontiers in Psychology, researchers state that meditation definitely influences stress in our bodies: “Significant meditation effects were observed within the subiculum (a section of the brain) specifically. Since the subiculum is known to play a key role in stress regulation and meditation is an established form of stress reduction, these gray matter findings may reflect neuronal preservation in long-term meditators (those who meditate)—perhaps due to an attenuated release of stress hormones and decreased neurotoxicity.”
In fact, besides stress reduction, some benefits of meditation can include: relaxation, better physical health such as pain, flu symptoms, blood pressure as well as boost your immune system and more. Experts say that just a 10 to 20 minute session a day can bring big changes to a person’s stress level in a relatively short amount of time.
The Bible, which is a book of much wisdom says to meditate on the Word of God. Psalm 1:2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” …Psalm 119:97 says. “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” …Joshua 1:8 reads, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
If you are looking to focus your meditation on something besides yourself and your circumstances, consider then the Holy Scriptures which is filled with hope, wisdom and peace. When anxiety invades my thoughts, I picture Jesus calming the storm as described in Mark 4:
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” NKJV
We can visualize, focus and meditate on someone greater than ourselves who can calm the seas in our lives. Meditation can reduce unhealthy levels of stress hormones and bring us to better health. For specific relaxation techniques, please see my post on Sound Therapy and Relaxation Techniques. Peace.
Leave a Reply