Today I read a couple of articles in Whole Living magazine about fear-less (less fearful) living. The article Your Brain on Fear (Whole Living, Jan/Feb 2011 issue) examines the function of our brain that helps us survive.
"It starts in the amygdala, an almond-shaped mass of nerve cells deep in our brains. The amygdala is a small but vital inheritance from our ancestors. It's been called the 'guard dog' of the human brain, activating whenever danger looms. The amygdala plays a key role in regulating all of our emotions, but to ensure our survival, it's wired to process fear first."
This fear function, an instinct also created by our God to alert us to the threat of danger, can be overworked and prevent us from achieving our goals. Fear stifles action and often clear thinking by making our minds focus only on the danger. The article points out that we can retrain the amygdala using visualization and meditation.
This is where imagination comes in. When we visualize ourselves achieving our goals we begin to believe they are possible. Only then will our brain allow us to take the appropriate steps toward achieving our goals. This visualization is a key part of prayer. It augments faith and allows us to pray with confidence and expectation.
With time and effort we can improve our ability to visualize the answers to our prayers. With this visualizing prayer and the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, we can begin to see God's kingdom come and His will being done.
Begin to imagine what God wants to do, see it in your mind, pray for it and then take a step toward seeing it come to pass.
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