Do You Believe in the Healing Power of Prayer? Science Does!
Religion and health care have been intertwined for thousands of years. Monks, priests, shamans and medicine men were all once healers, as well as spiritual, leaders for their communities. But today, doctors never ask about your spirituality, and this may be a mistake.
An astonishing amount of scientific evidence links religion and well-being. Here are 3 ways your religion and spirituality can keep you healthy.
- Reduce Daily Stress: Stress takes a toll on your emotions, and can even make you more prone to illness and early death. Having a sense of purpose, believing in a God who cares about you, feeling part of a community, and practicing prayer can help you cope with the stress of daily life.
- Protect Your Heart: Religion seems to have a greater beneficial effect on heart disease than any other illness, say researchers who looked at more than 100 studies on spirituality and death. In a survey of almost 4,000 people, those who went to church and prayed or studied the Bible were 40% less likely to have high blood pressure than infrequent churchgoers or Bible readers. Spending a few moments relaxing and handing your problems to a higher power could all be part of prayer’s healing ability.
- Strengthen Your Immune System: Stress is your immune system’s worst enemy. When you’re under stress, your cells can’t effectively fight bacteria and viruses. There is evidence that prayer impacts your immune system on a biological level. However, don’t use your religion as an excuse to avoid seeing a doctor or getting help for your physical or mental problems.
Daily Wisdom from God: 365 Real-Life Stories That Will Give You Peace, Hope, and Joy, is filled with devotions for every day of the year that will remind you of God’s power and faithfulness! Try it for yourself and see if you notice a change in your mental, or maybe even physical, health.
- FC&A Staff Writer
