The Body Effect of Emotions and Healing

Today I'm going to talk briefly on the effects of negative emotions and being healed of them on our
physical body.

Don't think you have any toxic emotions? Check out some of the effects of stress has on our bodies:

Back Pain
Headaches
Chronic Fatigue
Colitis
High Blood Pressure and stroke
IBS
Peptic ulcers
Diminished sexual desire
Rosacea
Eczema
Psoriasis
Low immune system, prone to sickness/disease

Mentally speaking, I know of several people (including myself at times) that often have anxiety attacks or racing heart beats. Emotions such as anger, fear, bitterness, guilt, shame, hurt, etc... cause our body to release chemicals that effect the body negatively. In the brain we actually form patterns of negative thinking... the cells to these paths look like sickly trees. Here's a picture of a normal brain cell.

"Research has found that permanent memories are stored when nerve cells in the brain reorganize and strengthen the connections with one another." (Single Brain Cell/Memory)

How often do we get upset about something, encounter a negative emotion and go on with our busy day? Even though we are now consciously thinking about our job or task at hand those negative effects do not go away naturally.

"Negative emotions don't die. We bury them alive!" 
                    - Dennis and Dr. Jennifer Clark 
(Book - Touching God: How to Heal Your Deepest Hurts and How To Connect with God 24/7)

Before you may think, "I have so many things that could be effecting me from this week alone, not to mention my whole life," there is a surprisingly quick and easy way to have peace fill those places and let healing take place. Now to the good part...

What Dennis and Dr. Jennifer Clark have discovered was that forgiveness is the resolution to these toxic emotions. Not the kind of forgiveness where we talk ourselves into it mentally, or even cry over it, but actually letting Christ Jesus the person, inside of us, do the forgiving for us. After all, it is now Christ that lives in us, we no longer live (Gal. 2:20), right?

In the same way, we were instantly forgiven of ALL our sin (past, present, and future), Jesus Christ, the person, can instantly cleanse us instantly through forgiveness.

I'll admit it sounded kinda too good to be true, but each night before bed I am asking the Holy Spirit to come and show me places where I have not forgiven or places of irritation, fear, or anger that I may still be holding onto under everything. Each time I have let Christ the Forgiver come in and through my emotions I have felt so much peace. One other thing you can do, which has been a big one for me is to receive forgiveness from the Lord for holding onto those emotions (knowingly or unknowingly). You would be surprised how amazing it feels to have forgiveness yourself.

To bring it around full circle, once you feel peace and joy... through forgiveness... neuropeptides fill the body and oxytocin is released (Most know oxytocin being related to sex or giving birth) and your body allows neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity, allows the brain to be moldable, giving the ability of unlearning and learning. Say good bye to those sickly brain cells and hello to a whole new way of thinking. Christ minded thinking!!

I've spit out some brief information on what the Clarks have to say. If you're wanting more information I would encourage you to visit their website at: Full Stature Ministries

Hope you enjoyed this segment of emotional/physical health!! More to come on creativity, rest, and just thoughts about Jesus as a person!