The Selah Story

The word Selah appears throughout the Psalms as a sacred pause—an ancient invitation to stop, reflect, and lift our hearts toward God. Though its exact meaning has been debated, many believe it marked a moment of stillness in worship, a breath between the verses. I believe this pause is more than historical; it reflects how God designed our very bodies. Our nervous systems were created not just to survive stress, but to return us to safety and connection—and ultimately to relationship with Jesus. In the stillness of Selah, we find that holy rhythm of rest where our souls remember who we belong to.

 

Designed by God for God

S — Safety in His Presence

God designed our bodies to find peace when we rest in Him. Just as the parasympathetic system calms us after stress, His Word reminds us: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

E — Embodied Rest

From the very beginning, God wove rhythms of rest into creation. Our nervous systems shift from fight-or-flight into stillness, reflecting the Sabbath rhythm of Genesis 2:2–3—where rest itself is worship.

L — Love and Connection

Our biology is wired for relationship. The vagus nerve—the “nerve of connection”—shows that we’re created for love. This echoes God’s Word: “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We are made for communion with Him and with others.

A — Alerts That Point Us Back

Stress, tears, and exhaustion are not flaws, but signals. Our bodies remind us of our need for Jesus. He invites us tenderly: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

H — Holy Pause

Every pause is sacred. A deep breath, a quiet moment, a Selah—all are opportunities for renewal. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) reminds us that in stillness, both body and spirit are restored.

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Where Mind/Body Medicine Fits In

Mind-body medicine simply gives language and tools for what Scripture has revealed all along: we were created to pause. Practices like deep breathing, gentle movement, meditation, and body awareness are not ends in themselves—they are ways of training our nervous systems to slow down and receive. In the pause, our bodies shift out of survival mode and into safety, creating space for God’s Spirit to renew us. These practices are not about emptying ourselves, but about making room for the presence of Jesus—the One who fills us with true rest.

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Are Mind/Body Medicine Practices Safe as Christians?

Mind-body medicine practices have been recognized across cultures for centuries—whether in the form of breathwork, meditation, movement, or stillness. These tools reflect a universal truth: that the body, mind, and spirit are deeply connected. I want to honor these origins while also affirming that, as a follower of Christ, I practice and teach them through a biblical lens. Scripture reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and when we pause, breathe, or move with intention, we are not depending on ourselves or emptying our souls, but opening space to encounter Jesus. These practices become not just techniques for wellness, but spiritual disciplines that help us embody what Psalm 46:10 commands: “Be still, and know that I am God.”