More Reliable and Cheaper than a Cell Phone
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2)
When someone is struggling, people of faith often say, "You are in my prayers." For those who do not believe in God, the idea of prayer is a meaningless phrase, pathetically synonymous with "thinking of you." Yet, for those who trust in God, prayer is the foundation of our lives and defines our existence. Even those who proclaim themselves as atheist must acknowledge that, medically speaking, prayer is proven effective. Although the non-believer would claim the effectiveness of prayer is due to our fooling our brain into hope and trust, the brain is positively affected by our positive attitude and not by supernatural power and love.
I am not a professional medical person, so while I believe in prayer's power, I cannot affirm it from a scientific perspective. So, I reached out through an article by the writer, Cappelli, MFA, JD, PhD, in the article "Does Prayer Help?". Cappelli confirms, "In 2001, two researchers and a Columbia University fertility expert argued that Prayer May Influence In Vitro Fertilization Success." Cappelli continues, "The results revealed a significantly higher pregnancy rate among women who received distant prayers compared to those who did not (50% vs. 26%; P<0.001)." Other scientific studies confirm that prayer produces improvement across the medical spectrum.
Cappelli continues the argument for prayer by using evidence from behavioral geneticist Dean Hamer, who defends the concept of a God gene. "The limbic system, particularly structures like the hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus, plays a role in religious experiences." Hamer argues, "The fact that spirituality has a genetic component implies that it evolved for a purpose." Cappelli argues that people with faith are born to pray because they are born and blessed with the God gene.
While I find the scientific arguments interesting, I do not need them for my trust in God's listening ear and the Spirit's faithful responses. My rational experience has taught me the reality of prayer's transformative work. Today, reflect on moments when prayer helped you or someone you love. God cares for you, and Jesus showed that God wants to be part of our lives. The Holy Spirit gives us continual access to God and provides God with intimate access to us. Offer your prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of prayer that is easier and cheaper than your cell phone!