Laura Wallace, a doctoral researcher in psychology at the Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio, led studies on things that lengthen lifespan.

In one, researchers studied newspaper obituaries, noting marital status, gender (two things that have already been shown to affect how long we live), and religious affiliation. After the first two things were factored in, people who had a professed faith were found to live 3-4 years longer than people who didn’t.

One theory for this is that people who go to church are less likely to smoke, drink, or participate in unhealthy habits. Another theory is that having a church community to help and support you can lead to having better mental health.

Separate studies have indicated that praying can help reduce stress, which, of course, leads to a more peaceful life.

All of this goes to show that having a relationship with God is the best thing you can have in your life.

In today’s verse, God tells us that when we fear, or honor and revere, Him and have a relationship with Him, He will bless us. He is the secret of our longevity.

We serve a God who keeps His promises. The next time you sing “Happy Birthday,” let it remind you of His amazing faithfulness.