The Health Benefits of Biblical Thanksgiving

With this being the start of Thanksgiving week, I thought I would try something different and talk about the act of giving thanks to the Lord this week. Simply focusing on being thankful for all we have and for all the Lord has done for us. Tomorrow is “treatment Tuesday” and this time it will be followed up by surgery. So no better time than now to express thankfulness for the blessings we have. I’m doing a bit of quoting and paraphrasing here so extend me a little latitude if you will. According to Dr. P. Doraiswamy, head of biologic psychology at Duke University Medical Center, giving thanks is also good for my health. “If thankfulness were a drug, it would be the world’s best-selling product with a health maintenance indication for every major organ system,” Dr. Doraiswamy says.Studies on gratitude have shown measurable effects on everything from neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine), social bonding hormones (oxytocin), cognitive and pleasure related neurotransmitters (dopamine), to inflammatory and immune systems stress hormones (cortisol), cardiac and EEG rhythms, blood pressure, and blood sugar, according to Doraiswamy. Other medical studies have indicated a thankful attitude reduces stress and boosts immunity. When they wrote Psalm 92, I’m not sure if he was aware of the specific health benefits that thankfulness produces. However, he surely knew it is good, right, and appropriate to give thanks to the Lord. Whatever situation you are in right now, whether it is good or challenging, are you able to give thanks? Can you join the Psalmist in praising the Lord for His lovingkindness in the morning and for His faithfulness in the evening? Can you recount the work God has done in your life? I can, and I’m certainly not deserving. I hope you’ll join me this week in counting blessings, in looking on at all God has done, is doing, and will continue to do in, through, and around you . . . in reflecting and praising Him simply for who He is and His loving kindness. He is worthy. He is worthy of all our thanks and praise!“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;”Psalm 92:1 Be nice. Grace wins.