Taste and See

“Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:9

It is good to shut off the world for a time during the day and sing to the Lord. Sing with Spotify or join a Hillsong or Bethel concert on YouTube. It is balm for our spirits, it’s like oil being poured over us. In the Bible, God anoints His people with oil just as the shepherd pours oil over the sheep. A sheep not protected with oil could be annoyed by bugs in its ear canals that could eventually eat its brain. This was so painful that the sheep would bang its head on rocks or trees. 

Being centered on the Lord, taking time to praise Him, offers us a refuge from the parasites of this world. Even if we are in pain, or suffering from stress or sickness, if we listen to healing verses from the Bible, it is medicine for our bodies. (Proverbs 4:22)

Yesterday I was listening to a Tedx Talk by Dr. Lissa Rankin and she said so many studies have shown that the body can heal itself if its natural health repair mechanisms are triggered, when the nervous system is relaxed. But most of the time, in our modern society, the opposite happens. Negative thoughts and feelings, unhappy work situations, toxic relationships, make the amygdala in our brain think, “Threat, threat, threat!” Hormones like cortisol, and epinephrine trigger the “stress response” and we are put in a fight or flight mode. 

Stop! We need to taste the Lord’s rest. We need to relax and take refuge in Him. Sing a new song!