The God Spot

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3).

Did you know there's a place in your brain that engages in a special way when you pray and connect with God. In his book, Divine Rest, Aubrey Duhig talks about this: "Our minds aren't just racing at bedtime--they're searching for closure, for meaning, for connection. Prayer and meditation don't just calm the nervous system; they satisfy this deeper longing. ... Let me share what happens in your brain when you pray or meditate before sleep, because it's more remarkable than you ever imagined."

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

"Dr. Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist at Thomas Jefferson University, has spent decades studying the 'God spot' in our brains using SPECT scans. When people engage in focused prayer or contemplative meditation, something extraordinary occurs. The Prefrontal Cortex Lights Up: This is your brain's CEO--responsible for attention, decision-making, and emotional regulation. During prayer, it becomes hyperactive, creating what Newberg calls "a state of focused calm." The Parietal Lobe Quiets Down: This region helps you understand where your body ends and the world begins.  When it goes quiet during deep prayer, people report feeling 'at one with God'.... The Amygdala Shrinks: Your brain's alarm system literally becomes less reactive. MRI studies show that people who meditate regularly have amygdala that are 8% smaller than non-meditators. But here's what makes this research particularly fascinating for Christians: The brain changes are most pronounced when people pray to a personal God rather than engaging in generic mindfulness."

My meditation shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord (Psalm 104:34).

"Dr. Amy Wachholtz at the University of Colorado compared three groups: those who practice secular meditation, those who used spiritual meditation with generic terms like 'universe,' and those who prayed to God using personal language like 'Heavenly Father.' The personal prayer group show the greatest reduction of anxiety and the most significant improvements in sleep quality. The implications are profound: Your brain is literally wired for relationship, even--or especially--with the divine." Science is telling us what believers have known through the ages. We are made by God, belong to Him, and do better when we turn to Him.

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