There are a variety of answers out there to this question. Some might say, “It is central to who I am,” while others may respond with “Faith? What faith? I don’t have faith in anything anymore.” But can faith in God – a developed and active faith in God make a difference in your everyday life?
According to Dr. Harold G. Koenig, M.D. a psychiatrist and professor at Duke University Medical Center, “The latest research shows that devout religious faith and practice – faith that not only influences one’s beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors but is also a central factor in determining those attitudes and behaviors – predicts better mental, social, family, behavioral, and physical health.”
There are a couple of key words that jump out of the statement that I think are difference makers. You might have noticed that he didn’t just say that faith makes your life better. He states that “devout” faith that’s “practice(d)” are predictors of life changing outcomes. This devout faith is central in influencing “attitudes and behaviors.”
He is not talking about merely saying, “I believe in God,” and that this influences the different aspects of health. He is saying that if you have a faith that is active in determining how you approach life and the resulting choices you make in how you behave, then you are more likely to have better mental health, stronger social and family relationships, and healthier attitudes and behaviors.
Some of you may be thinking, “Well, duh,” but others may not of yet made this connection. Yet doing so, might just improve your life. Something I hope you’ll consider.