Let God Do The Work

Monday - August 17, 2020

Posted
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10
 
In April 2014, research from the United Kingdom looked into the neurobiology of the "freeze" response to fear. Before deciding to flee or fight, most mammals freeze for a few milliseconds to assess the situation before making the next move.
Sometimes staying frozen in place is the best defense, sometimes it’s not. One problem with the freeze response in daily life is that it can cause people to become paralyzed by fear.
For the first time, neuroscientists at the University of Bristol have identified a brain pathway that may be the root of the universal response to freezing in place when we are afraid. Their revolutionary study discovered a chain of neural connections stemming from the cerebellum. When activated by a real or imagined threatening stimulus, these neural connections can cause the body to automatically freeze.
The researchers found that taking a few deep breaths in any fearful situation will stimulate the vagus nerve and the "rest-and-digest" aspects of the parasympathetic nervous system. This relaxation response unclamps the neurobiological grip of fear and allows us to "unfreeze" and move freely.
 
When we become fearful, we need to relax and let the Lord do the work. Today in prayer, if you are in the grip of fear, rest in the Lord and He will deliver you from all fears. 
 
“Don’t try to hold God’s hand; let Him hold yours. Let Him do the holding, and you do the trusting.” – The Rev. Prebendary Webb-Peploe
 
God’s Word: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9