Why You Should Say Biblical Liturgies | Psalm 118

Language is one of the most powerful ways that our brain perceives and interprets what’s happening in our life circumstances. And so liturgies are memorable phrases we tell ourselves that help us interpret life. The more powerfully worded liturgies we say to ourselves shape our lives by telling us the story we are in. And God has given us powerful liturgies in the Scriptures that we can use to say a quick prayer or speak truth to ourselves or others. Neuroscience shows us that our brain is constantly re-wiring. This is called https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity (neuroplasticity). Building new neural pathways. Brain circuits that make thought patterns and behaviors more routine and easier to repeat. Neural pathways that shape our responses and reactions. That shape our very lives. Neuroscience is just learning these things because of advanced imagery. We can see new neural pathways develop in the brain through repetition and the kind of things that enhance that happening. Repetition of things that we do, see, and say is the most powerful way to rewire neural pathways in our brains. This has huge implications when it comes to our habits. Habits of things we allow ourselves to watch. Habits of things we allow ourselves to say. They literally hardwire our brains. Of course the Bible has always been way ahead of this for thousands of years. Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. So the Bible has been here all along by telling us that what we think about will shape how our mind functions. And we now know that our speech is a huge factor in neuroplasticity. This is why complainers who allow themselves to complain and speak negatively and slander and gossip all the time become people who are more and more unhappy. They are literally hardwiring their brain to always criticize and see circumstances and to see people negatively. Colossians 3:8-10 (NIV) But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Jesus emphasized the power of our words and warned against speaking words carelessly. Matthew 12:34-36 (NIV) …How can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. Matthew 15:18-20 (NIV) But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them. James 3:6 (NIV) The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. So what we SAY, especially repeatedly — repetition of words — liturgies — powerfully builds new neural pathways. The culture has its own liturgies — you only live once — it doesn’t get much better than this — you deserve to be selfish — be true to yourself — live by your truth — believe in yourself. Biblical