Sound affects us physiologically, psychologically, cognitively and behaviorally. Remember that you are between 50 and 65 percent water, and as such, you are a most excellent conductor of sound. Hearing is your primal warning sense, so even startling sounds that your conscious mind knows are harmless, like a car backfiring or a loud alarm clock, still affect your body by triggering the release of cortisol, which in turn, increases your heart rate and changes your breathing.
Dan Carlson, Sr. studied the effects of bird song and other nature sounds on plants, revealing that the frequencies released by these sounds increased plant growth and yield by widening the stomata. In case you’ve forgotten science class, stoma are the tiny mouth-like pores on the underside of leaves, whose job is to absorb water and nutrients and expel oxygen. Photomicrographs confirmed that plant stomata did indeed open wider to Carlson’s frequencies, and an electron microscope confirmed higher stomata density and better development. Before his death, Carlson put his theories to the test and actually ended up in the Guinness Book of World Records by growing a 1,300-foot-high house plant… one which, under normal conditions, usually only grows about a foot tall!
We are all aware that sounds such as our favorite song, the sound of the ocean or the comforting voice of a loved one affect our emotions and change our mood. The frequencies of various sounds literally change our brain waves. Your brain is made up of billions of cells called neurons, which use electricity to communicate with each other. A medical device like an EEG measures this electrical activity and graphs the wave-like pattern it makes, categorizing them into 4 basic types of waveforms. Beta waves (14-30 Hz) have to do with concentration, alertness and cognition, but also anxiety and stress. Beta waves affect the body negatively because it triggers the “fight, flight or freeze” response. Alpha waves (8-13.9 Hz) are characterized by relaxation and relaxed focus, which is sometimes referred to as “superlearning.” You are in Alpha state when you’re in that pre-sleep or pre-waking state of drowsiness or when you’re meditating. In this state, you have increased production of serotonin, the “feel-good” hormone. Theta waves (4-7.9 Hz) enable dreaming sleep, increased creativity and better retention of learned material. In this state, chemicals vital for learning and memory are released. And this state opens access to the unconscious mind. In Delta state (.1-3.9 Hz), you have dreamless sleep, deep trance and loss of body awareness.
Many people spend the majority of their lives in Beta state….alert, but also a little stressed. Did you know that you can intentionally lower your brain wave activity to the more beneficial Alpha state? When you pray, practice Biblical meditation, or focus on your breathing (remember the YHVH), the literal, electrical patterns in your brain slow down and relax, most often settling into the Alpha pattern, your ideal state. I always noticed that I couldn’t seem to write songs or create when I felt hurried or stressed, and now I know that at least one reason why is that the state of my brain waves at that time were not conducive to creativity.
God’s voice is the sound of many waters because it is His decrees of justice being released on our behalf. Yeshua, the one who is an example OF us, also spoke words of righteous judgment. As a fully mature Son of God, He functioned in His role as Elohim, judging righteously. In Mark 11, we see Jesus cursing the fig tree, then going immediately to Jerusalem where He cleansed the temple, overturning the tables of the money changers. Genesis 3:7 tells us that, when Adam and Eve sinned “they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” So, the fig tree represents the fallen nature of Adam and his attempt to provide a covering for himself. When Jesus cleansed the temple, He was dealing with the religious system that did the very same thing. These two zealous actions done on the very same day were not indiscriminate or random in any way. In fact, they were one and the same: Yeshua, as Elohim, was judging the Adamic nature and the religious system of dead works and self-righteousness that springs from it. This is why He said to the fig tree, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” In just a few days, He, the spotless Passover Lamb, would be putting an end to this system forever.
Remember, Yeshua was not an example for us, but of us. So, He was revealing what is possible for all fully mature sons. Remember that elohim means “ruler, judge or godlike one.” It first refers to Father, Son and Holy Spirit creating together in the beginning, but also refers to you when you create with Him. In Christ, your destiny is to create, to rule and to judge. Notice what God said to Joshua the high priest:
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here.
-Zechariah 3:7, NKJV
The Voice translates that last phrase as I will give you a place among all My heavenly council members gathered here. Wow!
Every human being has been given a measure of spoken authority, just by being created in the image of God. But when we are born from above and, out of our oneness with Him, learn to steward that authority, we are entrusted with more. Stewardship is the path to ever-increasing authority, as we grow into mature sons who function as elohim. Remember my encounter with the River of Life? Let’s look at the rest of that passage:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, flowing with water clear as crystal, continuously pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The river was flowing in the middle of the street of the city, and on either side of the river was the Tree of Life, with its twelve kinds of ripe fruit according to each month of the year. The leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations. And every curse will be broken and no longer exist, for the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there in the city. His loving servants will serve him; they will see constantly his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more. They will never need the light of the sun or a lamp, because the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign as kings forever and ever!
-Revelation 22:1-5, TPT
So, the outflow of the voice of God through you is UNTO ruling and reigning, first over your own being and then over all of creation. And that involves – you guessed it – maturity!
We all fail in many areas, but especially with our words. Yet if we’re able to bridle the words we say we are powerful enough to control ourselves in every way, and that means our character is mature and fully developed.
– James 3:2, TPT
What an exciting time to be alive!
-Virginia