Worship
In God’s infinite wisdom He created us with brains designed with neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is two compound words, neuro- and plasticity, joined together to make one word. Neuro- means nerves and plasticity means changeability. In short, neuroplasticity is the ability of our brains to change via transmitted and received nerve impulses. This amazing design by the Creator allows our brains to form,
change and reorganize even in response to brain injuries that can be caused by strokes. In other words, God made the brain so that the damage to the brain can be healed. Neuro- is used as the root word for neuron. Neurons are the impulse-conducting functional brain cells of our nervous system that are activated by our senses of sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing. God designed our brain with a nervous system that uses chemicals released in the brain to help strengthen the bonds or connections between neurons. For example, when we experience the pleasures of life whether it is eating delicious foods or someone’s touch or the excitement from sports and entertainment the neurons in our brain release a chemical called dopamine.
Scientists call dopamine the brain’s reward circuit. The slang word ‘dope’ has been used in hip-hop culture to describe anything that was desirable and pleasurable. God’s design was perfect. The human body was created perfectly by God to do what it was designed to do. We were designed to commune with God. We were designed to have a feeling and attitude of deep respect for God tinged with awe. Tinged is past tense for ting and ting means to make a sharp, clear and ringing sound. Awe is an overwhelming feeling of admiration and fear.
In other words, ‘tinged with awe’ means to be very loud with an overwhelming respect and admiration for our God. In other words, ‘It ain’t quiet!’. God designed us to give Him reverence. Reverence is the outward feeling of the worth and excellency that we see and know about the One that we serve. We see demonstrations of what we were designed to do in the Holy Bible. King David showed it to us; “David danced before the Lord with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14 KJV). That is worship. King Solomon showed us the right way to enter into God’s house; “It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD;
and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 5:13 KJV). That is worship. The blind man that sat by the wayside begging showed us how we should call out to God; “The blind man was excited and said, ‘Jesus, Son of David, please help me!’ The people who were in front leading the group criticized the blind man. They told him to be quiet. But he shouted more and more, ‘Son of David, please help me!’” (Luke 18:38-39 ERV). That is worship. The Prophet Daniel showed us the right way to pray; “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10 KJV). That is worship. The poor widow showed us the tithes and offerings we should be giving to God; “And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 12:42-44 KJV). That is true worship.
If we really want to know the right way to worship God then all we need to do is open up His Word and read the stories of those who have gone before us. They truly worshipped God. We are equipped to worship God but many times we are just not using the design the way God intended for us to use it. If we do not function like God intended us to function, then God sees us as worthless; “God knows who is worthless. When he sees evil, he remembers it” (Job 11:11 ERV). Value is a choice, and it is found in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Choices require will. God’s first command to man required obedience and a demonstration of having power and control over our will to make a choice to obey His Word; “Nevertheless he that standeth steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart…” (1 Corinthians 7:37 KJV). Man was created perfectly but the pleasure circuit in the brain became infected by sin and what was initially perfect became imperfect. Sin and disobedience infect the body and causes the body to decay; “My guilt is like a heavy burden. I am sinking beneath its weight. I did a foolish thing, and now I have infected sores that stink” (Psalm 38:4-5 ERV).
The world system is based on the primitive desires of men and women and the greedy ambitions that floods people’s brains with dopamine; “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16 KJV). The rush of dopamine over and over again rewires the brain’s reward pathway and ultimately can physically change the makeup of the brain. This can result in addictions and an increased appetite for sin and disobedience that ultimately diseases minds and bodies. Selfish desires can lead to very destructive and disappointing consequences in people’s lives; “After desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin and then the sin becomes full-grown and gives birth to death” (James 1:15 EXB). God warns us about protecting our minds; “Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life” (Proverbs 4:23 ERV). There are consequences for not having a mind to worship only God; “And at once an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory [instead permitted himself to be worshiped], and he was eaten by worms and died five days later” (Acts 12:23 AMP).
Thank God that with His infinite wisdom He designed our brains with neuroplasticity and changeability. Even though our thought process has been damaged, God says we can be healed and change our minds; “…be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23 KJV). A healthy mind results in healthy worship. This article was written by someone who once had a damaged brain from a stroke but now can testify about God’s healing power. To God be all the glory, all the praise and all the honor! We worship only Him!
Submitted by Trustee Stan Ridley