Like thousands of other runners around the world on this Thanksgiving morning, I will be running a “turkey trot” with family and friends. As a wellness and running coach, I can attest to the many benefits of getting in a workout before sitting down for a big meal. After all, our bodies were made for movement—something that is made clear by the reward system God has put in place.
You see, movement releases endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and endocannabinoids (the body’s feel-good chemicals) which naturally improve mood, reduce stress, and boost overall mental well-being. Exercise increases levels of these neurotransmitters, with some evidence suggesting that endocannabinoids may be responsible for the euphoric feeling often associated with a "runner's high.” Movement also provides clarity of mind and keeps our bodies ready for service. It’s no wonder then that God, the One who personally created our inmost beings and individually knit each one of us together in our mother’s womb, would make us in such a way that we would be drawn to and rewarded for keeping His commandments.
Know that the LORD is God It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:3-5
I don’t know about you, but the more I learn about the human body and the way that it functions, the more I can’t help but acknowledge and thank the divine Creator… the One who made us and calls us “his people” and “the sheep of his pasture.”
He is the One who commands us to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise” and to “give thanks to him and praise his name.” Why? because “the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Our Creator is worthy of our praise! Furthermore, science shows that displaying thanks and praise comes with mental and physical rewards in the same way running does! Pretty neat right? Gratitude actually triggers physiological changes, like activating the parasympathetic nervous system, releasing feel-good chemicals like dopamine, and prompting the brain to release oxytocin.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Gratitude reduces stress and lowers blood pressure, which improves heart health in the same way physical activity does. It can also lead to better sleep, a stronger immune system, and a lower risk of depression and anxiety just as exercise does. These effects occur because practicing gratitude (notice it’s not a one time thing but a practice?) shifts our focus from ourselves to God. It causes us to continually remember His faithfulness, which in turn allows us keep worry at bay. After all, if God was faithful in the past, He will be faithful in the future… through all generations.
So, as you celebrate Thanksgiving today, be sure to give thanks to the One who made you to praise Him my friend. And then give thanks publicly for all He has done and make it a practice from this day on! It’s hands down the best thing you can do for your physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Heavenly Father, thank You for making us in such a way as to receive rewards for obedience. Help us to be people who are known for being grateful for all You have given us and for praising You at all times and on all occasions. Help us to influence a lost world to seek You by the way we acknowledge You as our Creator. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!
No comments:
Post a Comment