Joshua 5:10-15
Most of us know that meditating
is a great way to reduce stress. But meditative practice goes beyond taking a
chill pill. Meditating is also associated with structural changes in the brain
that help sharpen focus and improve memory and multitasking skills. ...
While
people have been meditating for thousands of years, it wasn’t until the 1970s
that scientists started focusing on its brainy benefits. Numerous studies
suggest that regular meditation (about six hours a week) may actually change
brain structure. Scientists have found meditation is associated with a thicker
cerebral cortex and more grey matter — i.e., the parts of the brain linked to
memory, attention span, decision-making and learning. But a year of silent
meditation isn’t always necessary. One study found people who meditated at
least once a week for four years showed increased cortical gyrification, the
folding of the cerebral cortex that helps people process information.
It’s
still unclear how meditation actually changes the brain, but some scientists
say devoting complete attention to one specific object or thought actually
alters our neural networks.
Blessed is the
one
who does not
walk in step with the wicked
or stand in
the way that sinners take
or sit in the
company of mockers,
but whose
delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who
meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)
Our meditation is different from others
because we are meditating the Word of God.
We call manna which comes from above.
Manna means in Hebrew “What’s this?”
And we ask what this is for the faith food given to us. What does this verse mean to us? Meditation becomes our prayer, starting from
the very question: what’s this? And the
end result / answer to the prayer is supposed to be this: it’s from above! Adding to the normal effect of meditation, we
also have much more beneficial one: knowledge in the Spirit, a mystery. Blessings!
