Peace and Joy
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
Peace and Joy
An experiential relationship with God
the Father, through Jesus Christ in
the Holy Spirit provides us with
a heart of peace and joy and
a life of love and power.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many
kinds,” James 1:2
Sick?
Is any one of you sick? He should call the
elders of the church to pray over him and
anoint him with oil in the name of the
Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will
make the sick person well; the Lord will
raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be
forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to
each other and pray for each other so that
you may be healed. James 5:14-16
Health Influences
Family background – genetic and experience
Environmental – toxins, etc
Environmental – Pressures of consumerist, fast
paced, isolated life in our culture.
Diet
Exercise
Lifestyle choices – i.e. smoking, etc
A person’s emotional state It has
been determined that 60-90% of illness has the
patient’s emotional condition as a causative or
contributing factor. Herbert Benson M.D. The
Relaxation Response pg xii
Humanity’s search for health
and well being.
Modern medicine addresses and seeks to
remedy the physical symptoms and
damage of a person’s harmful emotional
reaction to life’s pressures.
Most major religions address the
adherent’s response to life’s pressures,
challenges, disappointments and
hardships.
A quiet environment. Silence
A comfortable position.
Clearing the mind of distractive thoughts.
Focusing the mind on your breathing, a
single word or concept.
Repeat twice a day for 20 minutes each
time.
Benefits of Meditation
Calms body and mind, brings sense of
peace, serenity, tranquility.
‘Resets’ physiological functions toward
homeostasis.
Reversal of certain diseases and effects
have been observed, studied and verified.
Physical Benefits of a Peaceful Heart
Without any religious or spiritual factor, a person
can greatly increase personal health just by
calming and focusing the mind.
The relaxation response + the body’s ability to
heal itself + belief in a ‘Higher Power’ has
demonstrated relief in 50-90% of patients
studied!
Beyond a person’s natural resources -- God
invites us to use our imagination to meditate
upon Him and His Word to bring His supernatural
presence and power into our lives.
Biblical Meditation Prescribed
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.
Joshua 1:7-9 (13th – 15th century B.C.)
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on
his law he meditates day and night. He is like a
tree planted by streams of water, which yields its
fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers. Psalms 1:1-3 (1000
B.C.)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation
of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD,
my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14
“meditate on it day and night and
you’ll be prosperous and successful”
“he meditates day and night so he is
like a tree by the river, always green,
fruitful and prosperous”
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Jesus Matthew 11:28-29
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I
do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Jesus John 14:27
I have told you this so that my joy may be
in you and that your joy may be complete.
Jesus John 15:11-12
Medical science has discovered that a
person’s calm emotional state can have a
positive effect on that person’s health
confirming Biblical teaching, especially in
Proverbs.
When sickness or injury comes, doctors
offer pills and procedures that can heal
many ailments.
Medical studies have demonstrated that
self-care, utilizing the relaxation response
(meditation) contributes to a person’s
peaceful emotional state and can bring
relief of the harmful effects of illness in 50-
90% of cases.
Prayerful meditation on God’s Word,
utilizing the imagination as taught
throughout the Bible takes the benefits of
meditation into the supernatural realm of
God’s presence and power.
The life of Christ and teachings of the New
Testament offer the additional dimension
of supernatural healing by the Holy Spirit
through prayer.
Therefore confess your sins to each
other and pray for each other so
that you may be healed. James 5:16
Biblical Meditation
• Set aside a time (at least 15 minutes or more) and quiet,
secluded place each day to place yourself in front of God’s
Word and in His presence.
• This is in addition to and built upon your regular Bible
reading/study and prayer time.
• Sit in a comfortable position and check your body for
tension and deliberately relax tense areas.
• Breath slowly and deeply.
• Thank God for His presence and ask Him to reveal to you
what He desires. Ask Him to protect you from any
negative spiritual influences.
• Let distracting thoughts float out of your conscious
awareness into God’s care.
Biblical Meditation
• Read out loud a brief passage of the Bible several
times.
• Ask God to bring to your attention a particular
word, phrase or concept in the passage.
• Focus on that word, phrase or concept, turning it
over and over in your mind.
• Close your eyes and using your imagination, begin
to picture the word, phrase or concept as you
would see a movie scene.
• Follow the scene, according to Scripture, as it
unfolds for 8-10 minutes.
• When the scene if finished turn it into a prayer.
• Take a minute to let your soul gaze upon how
God has revealed Himself to you in the vision.
Psalms 23:1-3
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
• NKJV
Peace and Joy
• Philippians 4:8
• 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable-if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy-think about such
things.
• NIV
The Biblical Heart – Health
Connection
• A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit
dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
• A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the
bones. Proverbs 14:30
• An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word
cheers him up. Proverbs 12:25
• A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache
crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:13
• Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of
life. Proverbs 4:23
God’s invitation
• "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew
11:28-29
• Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as
the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid. John 14:27
• I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy
may be complete. John 15:11-12
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
• Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, Colossians 3:15
• There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; Hebrews
4:9-10
Summary
• It has been demonstrated that a person’s mishandling of external
pressure, (prolonged fight/flight response) can contribute to ill health.
• The letter of James implies that a person’s sin (fear/anger/lust) may
contribute to sickness.
• The implication is that righteous living from a heart of peace and joy
(spiritual health), and confession when necessary, creates the best
conditions for a person’s physical health.
• Medical science has discovered that a person’s calm emotional state can
have a positive effect on that person’s health confirming Biblical teaching,
especially in Proverbs.
• When sickness or injury comes, doctors offer pills and procedures that
can heal many ailments.
• Medical studies have demonstrated that self-care, utilizing the relaxation
response (meditation) contributes to a person’s peaceful emotional state
and can reverse the harmful effects of illness in 50-90% of cases.
• Prayerful meditation on God’s Word, utilizing the imagination as taught
throughout the Bible takes the benefits of meditation into the supernatural
realm of God’s provision.
† The life of Christ and teachings of the New Testament offer the additional
blessing of supernatural healing through prayer.
This World is a Pressure Cooker!
Like pressure on body 100 ft below the surface of the sea.
Unnoticed because it’s always been there and increases by
subtle increments over the years and decades.
This external pressure of the world in our culture includes:
perform/appearance for approval, financial, consumer
induced discontent, hurried pace of life, isolation;
disappointments, tragedies, etc.
A person’s response to external pressure, his or her emotional
state, determines the severity of stress upon the body’s
functions.
Responding to external pressures by long term anger or fear
emotions reduces the body’s ability to fight off sickness and
actually damages certain portions of the body.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many
kinds,” James 1:2
Through our experiential relationship
with God He restores within us:
a heart of peace and joy which promotes
a life of love and power which provides
optimal conditions for physical health.