THE REALITY WITHIN (I)
“But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.” Acts 28:5-6 NKJV
In medicine, there is a concept called the placebo effect. It occurs when a person experiences a real improvement in their symptoms or condition after receiving a treatment that has no active medical ingredient or direct therapeutic value—such as a sugar pill or saline injection.
This phenomenon operates through three key mechanisms: expectation, conditioning, and perception. In terms of expectation, scientists explain that when one believes a treatment will help, the brain releases chemicals that mimic the effects of real medicine.
Similarly, through conditioning, having previously associated treatments or doctor visits with relief, the body can trigger healing responses simply through the familiar ritual. Finally, regarding perception, belief can alter how we interpret sensations such as pain, anxiety, or fatigue, even without physical change in the body.
Our theme scripture connects beautifully to this scientific principle through a shared foundation: belief, or as scripture calls it, faith. Paul was so fully persuaded of his new nature in Christ that his perception of physical harm was utterly transformed. What could have killed another man had no effect on him.
This is the same confidence every New Testament believer must carry. We are called not only to believe in God, but to think and live as those in whom God dwells, rising above the things we were meant to dominate. This is not wishful thinking or imagined improvement, but the reality of our union with Christ and the authority we share in Him (Colossians 3:3).
Prayer: My Father, I thank You for Your Holy Spirit who teaches me all truth. My mind is daily transformed, filled with Godward thoughts, and aligned with Your eternal purposes. I yield my thoughts to You, that You may expose and break every stronghold that exalts itself above the knowledge of Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Galatians 2:20
• Romans 8:11
• 1 John 4:4
