Beta and Alpha
We want to get out of our heads and into our hearts because God does not live in our heads. Ephesians 3:17 tells us that Jesus lives in our hearts, and John 7:37–39 tells us that rivers of living water (the Holy Spirit) flow from deep within. As Believers, we know that our spirits are joined with Holy Spirit deep down in our innermost beings (1 Corinthians 6:17). Therefore, we want to live from our spiritual hearts deep down—to live from our union with God.
When we are in this sacred place, scientifically speaking, we are in the alpha brainwave state. As you are wide awake, reading these words and engaging your mind, you are in the faster, analytical beta brainwave state. However, just as you fall asleep at night, and just as you wake up in the morning, you are in the alpha brainwave state. This slower frequency state is more meditative and reflective.
When we are not quite sure if we are awake or asleep, the veil between the physical world and spiritual world is very thin, and we are in the alpha brainwave state. We are also in the alpha and theta brainwave frequencies when we dream.
While science calls this the "alpha brainwave," Scripture calls it being "in spirit." Jesus told us to "worship in spirit" (John 4:24). John said, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day," and he met with God (Revelation 1:10). Again, he said, "I was in the Spirit," and then proceeded to see the Father's throne (Revelation 4:2). He was not in his head; he was in his spiritual heart. He wasn't in beta; he was in alpha, and that is when his spiritual senses were opened wide to see and hear the mysteries of the Kingdom.
We see then how dreams are an effective, communicative medium with Heaven. When we receive dreams, our analytical mind is out of the way, and we are able to receive a pure flow of revelation straight from the Father's heart to ours. Indeed, Song of Solomon 5:2 reflects the spiritual principle that when we are asleep, our hearts are awake to commune with our Beloved: "I slept but my heart was awake..."
Dreams are God's contingency plan to ensure He always has a way to connect with us. The Father knows that the best time to get our undistracted attention is during sleep, when we are "in spirit"—that is, in those slower brainwaves.
The Shift
But what about when we are awake? Obviously, we want to receive heavenly revelation all day long, too. Are there any other ways we can position ourselves to receive more readily from the supernatural realm? Absolutely! Just like the reflection on a cellphone or computer screen, different angles and amounts of light illuminate what is being shown. When there are high levels of light in the room, we need to increase the brightness of the display in order to see more than just reflections on the screen. (Photo via Pxhere)
In a similar way, we can increase the brightness of the visionary screen inside our hearts. We do this by moving into the alpha brainwave state. Science has demonstrated there are practical and proven ways we can slow down our brainwaves.
This is similar to how the discipline of fasting helps us tune in to hear from God. It is not that He is speaking more clearly when we fast; it's simply that we have positioned ourselves to hear Him better. So it is with these various ways to worship and meditate: they don't change God; they change us!
We instinctively do many of these things to naturally quiet down an upset baby. We rock them gently, sway back and forth, and sing songs to them. We know these are effective ways to settle down a child, and now we recognize that they are also effective ways to quiet ourselves down, and to settle us into our souls and spirits.
Biblical Examples
We see this exemplified in Scripture with the prophet Elisha. When he wanted to receive a revelation from God, he used the tool of music: "'But now bring me a minstrel.' And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him" (2 Kings 3:15), and he received a prophetic word to declare.
While it may go without saying, closing our eyes is obviously another simple and effective way to shift our awareness from the external to the internal. This also moves us down into that alpha state of spiritual sensitivity so that we are less distracted by the outer world and more focused on the Kingdom within.
In Joshua 1:8, God told Israel's new up-and-coming leader how to be successful. The secret? Biblical meditation:
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
Meditation moves us to the alpha/spirit level, giving us a greater sensitivity and awareness of the sacred supernatural. Soft soaking music and visionary prayer are excellent tools for this.
Again, because Jesus lives in my heart, I endeavor to live from the springs of His life that flow from there.
"Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
Praying in tongues also moves us into the alpha state, making us more aware of the spiritual realm and our connection to it. Indeed, I have found that singing in the Spirit helps me to become aware of God's peace and presence.
When we sing and pray in tongues, our spirits are praying (1 Corinthians 14:14–15). As Believers, our spirits are one with Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17). So we are connecting with Holy Spirit and allowing Him to pray with and through us (Romans 8:26–27).
Lastly, the simple exercise of breathing deliberately and deeply will quickly quiet us into our hearts. The word for "spirit" and "breath" is the same in the original languages that the Bible was written in. That means when it says John was "in spirit on the Lord's day" (Revelation 1:10), it could have just as accurately been translated, John was "in breath on the Lord's day." Indeed, scientific research has shown that slow and deep breathing shifts our brainwaves, calming us down into an alpha brainwave state. (Photo via Pexels)
Practical Steps
In summary, when we want to become more keenly aware of the spiritual realm that is all around us and perceive more clearly the supernatural world that permeates and infuses this natural world, there are steps we can take to proactively posture ourselves to easily move from beta to alpha, thus effectively moving from our heads to our hearts. These include:
• Closing our eyes
• Rocking or swaying back and forth
• Dancing
• Speaking in tongues/singing in tongues
• Breathing deeply
• Listening to soaking instrumental music
• Meditating, which includes using our godly imagination
It is exciting to understand that in Him we live and move and have our being, and that Holy Spirit's life and love can be felt any time and all the time, whenever we want. It is empowering to know that there are many simple things we can do to get "in spirit" and continually experience the peace, power, and presence of Heaven that is as near as our next breath.
Going Deeper Activation
Have you used all the steps listed above to quiet yourself down? Which ones have you found to be the most effective? Are there any that God is highlighting for you to try right now?
Connect to the flow of His river within and purpose to practice His presence by relaxing into your spirit, remembering your oneness with Him, and resting in that union.
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Charity Virkler Kayembe
Glory Waves Ministries
Email:Â info@glorywaves.org
Website:Â www.GloryWaves.org
Charity Virkler Kayembe has a Doctorate in Biblical Studies, is passionate about the sacred supernatural, and writes about the unfolding adventure that is walking by the Spirit on her blog at GloryWaves.org. She loves making the mystical practical and has been featured on Sid Roth's It's Supernatural!, Cornerstone TV, and Charisma Magazine. Charity is the co-author of four books including Hearing God Through Your Dreams, Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions and Everyday Angels. Her international outreach has taken her to all corners of the globe, traveling to over 60 nations on six continents. She and her husband live in upstate New York.
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