God’s incredible design.

The more I read and research- the more in awe of God I become! I’m fascinated by the design of our bodies, what God has made us capable of, and especially by the healing mechanisms our creator built into our bodies.

Let’s take a look at the vagus nerves. They are the longest and most complex of the cranial nerves, playing a crucial role in regulating heart rate, immune system, digestion, and other involuntary functions when the body is at rest. The vagus nerves, as many people know, are also responsible for receiving information from the throat, heart, lungs, and digestive tract and controlling muscles involved in swallowing and speech. It’s unique because it connects the brain to such a wide range of organs in the body.

For the last few decades, scientists have been studying, developing and using Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) to cure or manage a variety of ailments such as epilepsy, depression, migraines, inflammatory conditions, anxiety, stroke rehabilitation and the list goes on. And while these medical treatments may be incredibly useful and effective, and I encourage anyone suffering a medical crisis to seek medical attention, I cant help but be intrigued by what the human body can do for it’s self by way of our original design.

I just mentioned that the vagus nerve controls the muscled in the throat responsible for speech and vocalization… and guess what?! Vocal resonance (the internal vibration created by your own voice) stimulates the Vegas nerve!!! This sort of vibratory feed back loop has a variety of impact on us physically.

• Regulating blood pressure

• Improving circulation

• Encouraging tissue recovery

• Counteracting fight or flight

• Inducing relaxation and feelings of wellbeing

• Enhances sleep quality

• Boosts attention span and memory

“Open your mouth for the speechless,In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously,And plead the cause of the poor and needy.” ~Psalm31:8-9

When we use our energy to SPEAK up for the voiceless- we can be confident that whatever we have spent, God is regenerating. He built a healing mechanism directly into our brains!

“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”~Proverbs 16:24

And what’s even more amazing- and science backs this up- it’s not new age, it’s ancient wisdom with modern study to corroborate: when we use our vocal resonance in worship… our body produces gamma waves associated with peak awareness, focus, cognitive function, and positive mood. Recently, UC Berkeley did a comprehensive study of the effect of “spiritual awe”, finding that when humans experience transcendent awe, synapses fire in the brain resulting in measurably more humble, more patient, more otherscentric, kinder, more generous interview answers. But these experiences also lead to long term increased critical thinking, positive mood, and decreased materialism. In other words, as we worship OUT-LOUD we actually create a physical condition that points us toward God. OR—->

GOD INHABITS THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE ~Psalm 22:3

Let’s just take a minute to pray OUT LOUD- to praise OUT LOUD- to worship him with our voices! Because he deserves it and it heals and restores us BODY and soul! And let’s carry this knowledge with us as we serve our neighbors When we haul heavy furniture- let’s remind ourselves that when we use our voices in worship we are regenerating our bodies. When we pray for our community we are stimulating the nerves God designed to reduce our anxiety. When we praise him for the opportunity to be part of his divine plan we invite his presence to physically inhabit those moments with us. May we be more aware of your care for us and for others this week. May we seek him in new ways and worship him LOUDLY. May we glorify him in everything we do. ~amen