How your Mind Affects Your Body
By J.H. Overton, M.D
“For as the body without the spirit [mind] is dead,” (James 2:26)
With most of the infectious diseases now considered “out of the way,” scientists have turned their attention to the degenerative diseases and to what is referred to as “the problem of aging.” To determine whatever factors there might be which predispose one to a long and enjoyable life, one of the research techniques which has been used is the interviewing of representative samplings of older people to see just how they have lived their lives so as to reach their “ripe old age.” The conclusions of two such polls are interesting in the light of what God's Word, the Bible says about the subject.
An early but extensive study was conducted by Dr. Flanders Dunbar, then editor emeritus of Psychosomatic Medicine and director of Psychosomatic Research at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. From 1951 through 1953 about twenty percent of all white people in the United States age 95 or over were interviewed. While not discounting the importance of such factors as heredity, moderation in eating and exercise, the study found that these old people seemed to share a common factor emotional maturity and a positive outlook on life. Many of them, when questioned on the subject, had his or her formula or secret for longevity, but these were not as important as the fact that all of them had learned to take things in their stride.
Dr. George Gallup, the famous pollster, made a similar study of 530 people aged 91 and above in the United States and Great Britain. His findings were published in his book The Miracle Ahead. Dr. Gallup’s research also acknowledged the influences of heredity, avoidance of obesity (overweight), balanced diet, physical activity and other practices known to be conducive to good health. But he came to the very similar conclusion that the oldsters he had interviewed were, as a group, different in that they consistently showed a positive attitude about life they enjoyed living!
This positive attitude is so crucially important to health and longevity that scientists now believe they can spot a potential centenarian by age fifty, according to how he reacts to life’s stresses. In fact, insurance actuarians can statistically predict your life-span by taking into consideration your previous health pattern and life picture the way you have learned to handle yourself.
Now, it is no new revelation that one of the important goals of Christian living is an enjoyable, happy, interest packed life on earth here and now. However, all too often, religionists point to “the great reward in the sky” as the sole reason for living the Christian life. What is usually neglected is the fact that obedience to God’s laws produces a long, thoroughly satisfying physical life! God has not neglected to give ample information in His Word about how to obtain this life and how to make it last as long as possible. Let’s consider a few of the many scriptures which have been available all along for those who want to reach a ripe old age.
The book of Proverbs is a particularly rich vein to mine in this regard. Notice Proverbs 3:1 and 2 for a starter: “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” Then add Proverbs 9:10 and 11: “The fear of the Eternal is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.”
Medical scientists have proven that the emotions and thought processes play a vital causative role in a whole host of diseases, many of which can progress from the stage of being only psychosomatic, in which there is no actual organ disease, to actually becoming real bodily illnesses with organ pathology. God’s Word has plenty to say about the beneficial effects of right thoughts. Notice Proverbs 14:30: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” Proverbs 15:13 says much the same thing. Proverbs 16:24 tells us: “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
It is very instructive to use a concordance and see the great number of scriptures, both in the Old Testament and in the New, where God tells us to rejoice and be happy. This attitude is so very essential to physical health and to a sense of well-being, that God actually commands us to be happy. The scriptures containing this command are numerous.
God also tells us how to be happy, sound-minded and physically whole all we need to do is read and obey the Bible. How about this one for a summary of the Book on the subject of long life and good health: “…Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
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