Did you know that hugging releases oxytocin, the feel-good hormone that makes you feel like nothing can hurt you? Did you know that hugs are vital for not only mental and emotional health, but physical health too? Did you know that hugs are truly fundamental to human communication and bonding? Did you know family therapist say we need four hugs a day for survival, we need 8 hugs a day for maintenance, and we need 12 hugs a day for growth?

Touch starvation increases stress, depression and anxiety, triggering a cascade of negative physiological effects. (read that again) Have you encountered stressed out, depressed and full of anxiety people out there? I have.

We’ve got to hug our people!

Also, did you know that prayer has a way of shifting deep emotional things to a place where they can be released and healing can come? Prayer brings us close to God and to His holiness. Prayer helps our heart navigate to a place of dependence on God to help us in our daily experience, without it we become independent and self dependent. We end up trying to carry the world on our shoulders, fix things we cant, and waste time being frustrated and stressed. Did you know that prayer is a heart adjuster? Prayer makes it possible to thrive in a hostile world.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Philippians 1:19-20 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,  as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla