Devotional

3 Part Healing

The account of Jesus healing the woman that touched the hem of His garment reveals how Jesus provides healing for our body, soul and spirit.

Body Healing

We learned that the woman was physically sick for 12 years and spent all she had on the medical sick-care system of her day. Rather than getting better, she actually got worse. Jesus' healing came through faith which is still required today for any healing we seek Him for. Jesus healing of her physical body was instantaneous and complete, which is also available to anyone today that prays in faith:

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” (‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭15)‬

Soul Healing

The second part of the woman's healing was over her soul as we see when Jesus instructed her to ‘go in peace.’ Peace here is from the Greek word eirēnē, which also includes oneness, quietness and rest. Key elements which the woman needed for her soul which was troubled for 12 years. Jesus demonstrated that He desires for our souls to find rest in Him and offers us His peace to do so:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬)‬‬

Spirit Healing

The third and perhaps greatest revelation of Jesus’ 3 part healing was over the woman's spirit. Jesus' statement, ‘be freed from your suffering’, was a command to restore her broken and crushed spirit. The word suffering here can mean whip or scourging. If you or someone you love has been sick for a long period of time, you will relate to how crushing this can be over one's spirit. At times you feel that God no longer cares about you, or you will never get better, or even desire an escape to heaven sooner. This was spiritual liberation day for the woman and can be for you also today!

As you seek God in faith for healing, remember He desires to heal your complete body, soul and spirit.

Financial Update

Why Electricity May Become the World's Most Valuable Commodity

We’ve covered different aspects of AI technology and investing before, such as data centers, but today, we’ll be diving deeper on one primary, yet somewhat underlying catalyst that “may” be even more favorable then investing in data centers themselves - Electricity. 

Simply put, AI runs on electricity, and the world may not be prepared for the enormous amount of power it requires. For years, electricity demand in the United States remained relatively stable due to energy efficiency improvements and slower industrial growth. 

AI is changing that equation. Utilities and grid operators are now forecasting a meaningful acceleration in power demand, driven largely by data centers and the infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence.

The challenge is that generating electricity is only part of the equation. Building new power plants, expanding transmission lines, and modernizing the electrical grid can take years. Meanwhile, demand from AI companies is growing rapidly today. In some regions, data center projects have reportedly faced delays simply because enough electricity was not readily available.

This dynamic could have profound implications for both the economy and investors.

On one hand, rising electricity demand may spark a new era of infrastructure investment. Utilities, power producers, grid operators, and companies involved in electrical equipment and transmission systems could experience substantial growth opportunities. In many ways, the AI revolution could become one of the largest catalysts for energy investment since the industrial expansion of the twentieth century.

On the other hand, the transition may not be entirely smooth. Increased demand could place upward pressure on electricity prices in certain markets and create competition for limited power resources. Manufacturers, local communities, and technology firms may increasingly compete for access to reliable and affordable electricity. Regions with abundant power capacity could emerge as new economic hubs, while areas with constrained infrastructure may struggle to attract investment.

There’s a few methods investors have to potentially capitalize on the opportunity; one of which we’ve already covered, and the rest we plan to cover in the near future: Utilities and Power Producers, Nuclear Energy, Natural Gas Infrastructure, Grid Modernization and Electrical Equipment, Energy Storage and Renewables.

The first chapter of artificial intelligence was written by software developers and chip manufacturers. The next chapter may very well be written by the companies responsible for generating, transmitting, and delivering the electricity that makes artificial intelligence possible.

Tech Update

Kill Switch Mandate

2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Section 24220), directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop safety standards for "advanced impaired driving prevention technology," often referred to as the ‘kill switch mandate.”

The legislation requires that new passenger vehicles, possibly as early as 2027, be equipped with technology capable of preventing or limiting the operation of a vehicle if a driver is determined to be impaired. The goal is to reduce drunk driving fatalities. The law mandates "passive" systems that do not require the driver to actively perform an action (like blowing into a breathalyzer). Instead, the systems will monitor the driver through sensors built into the vehicle, including:  

Driver-facing cameras: Monitoring eye movement, head position, or facial features.  Note that this technology is already implemented in many vehicles as part of driver awareness detection, which alerts the driver if it senses them falling asleep or not paying attention to the road.

Biometric sensors:  Blood alcohol detection technology that passively detects if the driver's blood alcohol concentration is at or above the legal limit (typically 0.08%). These could be embedded into the steering wheel or ignition surface to detect based on skin contact. Alternatively, there are air sniffing sensors that can detect alcohol vapors in the vehicle. 

Performance monitoring: Software to track driving patterns (such as lane keeping or steering behavior) to identify signs of impairment or fatigue.

Based on detecting impairment, the technology could then be used to slow and stop a vehicle automatically…hence the name ‘kill switch.”

On the surface this all sounds like great technology, especially when over 12,000 people die annually in alcohol-impaired-driving accidents, accounting for nearly one third of all traffic crash fatalities nationwide. 

The cost of implementing this is not negligible, and can be up to $500 per vehicle.  What has raised greater concern is the data collection and privacy issues associated with the technology.  Who has access to the data on driving behavior, car manufactures, government, insurance? And since safe non impaired drivers account for 90-95% of the driving population, is it worth giving up your privacy?  Furthermore, there is the possibility of false-positives resulting in innocent drivers having their vehicle disabled for no apparent reason while driving.

Health Nuggets

Berberine - Natural GLP-1 Supplement

A few articles ago, we talked about the risks associated with using man-made GLP-1 such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound. There’s a new and more natural supplement that’s taking popularity and it’s in several plants, including barberry, goldenseal, and Oregon grape. Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine have used it for centuries, primarily for gastrointestinal infections and digestive disorders. Modern research has revealed a much broader range of biological activity for this natural product.

Berberine is not Ozempic. It does not produce the dramatic appetite suppression or rapid weight loss associated with modern GLP-1 therapies. It is a naturally occurring plant alkaloid with a remarkably broad range of biological effects that influence metabolism through multiple pathways. Berberine has attracted so much attention because it appears to activate one of the body’s central metabolic control systems: AMP-activated protein kinase, or AMPK.

Multiple reviews and meta-analyses have continued to support berberine’s role in improving metabolic health. The evidence suggests that berberine can modestly reduce fasting blood glucose, improve insulin sensitivity, lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and support modest weight loss in some individuals. The effects are not dramatic; they are also remarkably consistent and this distinction matters.

Medicine often falls into the trap of assuming that bigger effects are always better effects.  Sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. Metabolic health is not simply a matter of losing weight. It involves a complex interplay between insulin sensitivity, inflammation, mitochondrial function, lipid metabolism, gut health, physical activity, and nutrition. Berberine appears to touch many of these systems simultaneously. It behaves more like a naturally derived cousin of metformin than a GLP-1 agonist.

Prescription drugs, such as Metformin, are best known as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood sugar by reducing glucose production in the liver, decreasing absorption of sugar from food, and improving the body’s response to insulin. This is one reason researchers continue to investigate berberine’s potential role in prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and polycystic ovarian syndrome. It appears to influence metabolic regulation, inflammatory signaling, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and the gut microbiome. These systems interact continuously and the result may be a series of individually modest effects that collectively become clinically meaningful. 

Of course, berberine is not risk-free. The most common adverse effects are constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal discomfort are all reported. (Consult with your healthcare provider before taking Berberine if you are prediabetic or type 2 diabetic and have other chronic conditions.)

More research is being done on the use of Berberine, one that is super exciting to learn about is the benefits it can provide for cancer patients. More to come on that.

God has provided all the natural plants that humans need in order to be healthy and stay healthy.  Pray for God’s guidance as researchers are continuously discovering more natural ways to help us.

Note: Health Nuggets are opinions and not medical advice.

Trivia Corner

Test your wisdom and knowledge of the Bible and related subjects.

Subscribe for free and Share with Friends

Join a vibrant community of Christians pursuing God’s wisdom for life and business. Receive Solomon’s Circle newsletter directly to your inbox weekly: