”For me, the hardest word in the English language is no. I would like to say yes to everyone and everything, but obedience to Christ requires me at times to say no. Like the gardener pruning the vine, I must constantly trim away unnecessary activities if new life is to spring forth.” Dwight Carlson

Tiredness and fatigue are common problems in most societies. Many people are tired. You know you are fatigued when you are experiencing a lack of energy, a loss of a sense of well-being, weariness, an overall unpleasantness, no ambition, and a loss of interest. This does not sound good! Most of us, if we were to really admit it, are tired of being tired. Stress can produce tiredness and fatigue. Tiredness can be a real enemy because it can bring dissatisfaction, restlessness, irritability, a loss of joy, depression and so many other negative things. But God knows our energy capacity and never requires more than we are capable of achieving. We need to set appropriate limits and learn to say no. We also need to evaluate the emotional gauge in our life.


Emotional Fatigue

“I have now committed myself to installing an emotional gauge in the center of my dash-board and learning how to read it. I take responsibility to manage the emotional reservoir in my life.” Bill Hybels

When we are tired over a long period of time, we must look at the emotional area of our life. We may be emotionally fatigued and not even be aware it. If we want to walk in overall health, we must look at our emotional as well as our physical strength. It is important that we know what activities drain our emotional reservoir. These are tasks that sap us of energy in just a short time. We may be oblivious to the intense drain some activities are having on us emotionally.

It is important to look at three gauges on the dashboard of your life in order to be healthy. The first gauge is the spiritual area of your life. Ask yourself questions like, “How is my spiritual life?” “How is my quiet time?” “Am I praying?” If this area reads normal, then you know you are doing all right spiritually. The next gauge is the physical gauge. Ask yourself questions like, “Am I eating healthy?” “Am I exercising?” “Am I getting enough rest?” “Am I feeling well physically?” If that battery is “ok“, then you know you are doing all right physically.

If these two batteries seem to be “ok” but you know something is wrong, you may be drained emotionally. If you don’t feel like building relationships, if people drain you, or you want to quit ministry or change jobs, something may be wrong. You may need to recharge your emotional battery, but you must realize that this is a slow process that takes time. You may be asking the question, “How do you recharge when you are emotionally drained?” You recharge by doing something totally different than your work or ministry. You may want to go jogging, read a book, listen to music or play golf.

Other keys to emotional recharging is using your major spiritual gifts and learning to wait upon the Lord. This will breathe life back into you and energize you. Working hard in areas that you are not gifted in will drain you quickly. Don’t let people pull you away from using your primary gifts. Don’t let busyness take you away from waiting on the Lord for His emotional and physical recharging. When you minister with the gifts God put in you, you have a new passion for ministry.

“He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength (causing it to multiply and making it to abound). Even youths shall faint and be weary, and (selected) young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be wary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired” (Isaiah 40:29-31, Amplified).

Each one of us needs to learn to live a healthy, balanced life. We can’t work 70 hours a week and last very long. We need to learn to be marathon runners. We must learn to monitor our spiritual, physical, and emotional gauges so that we can minister for a lifetime. Can you run at the pace you are presently living at and still be running 20 or 30 years from now? Take inventory and learn to live a balanced life. Once in a while my husband and I will spend a few days in the country, and it does us a lot of good. I love to work but I am learning to take time out. I encourage you to not neglect your emotional battery. If it is running low, take the necessary time to recharge. You want to finish the race healthy and well-balanced for God’s glory.

“Replenishing emotional strength takes time – usually more time than it took to drain. The best analogy I can offer is a car battery. If you sit in a parking lot and run all your car’s accessories – radio, headlight, heater, horn, rear defogger, power windows – you can probably sap the battery in about ten minutes. After that massive drain, suppose you then take the battery to a service station and say, ‘I’d like this battery charged. I’ll be back to pick it up in ten minutes.’ What would they tell you? ‘No, we’re going to put the battery on our overnight charger… A slow, consistent charge is the best way to bring a battery back to full power.’ Likewise, to properly recuperate from an emotionally draining activity takes time.” Bill Hybels



Health Arise Articles

• Fruits and Vegetables in Abundance
• God’s Peace in a Stressful World
• Health and Healing Scriptures
• Health and the Battlefield of the Mind
• How to Handle Stress God’s Way
• Natural Health Remedies and Cures
• Recharging Your Emotional Battery
• Sowing Good Health in our Family Line
• Sugars that Heal
• Understanding Stress in Your Life
• A Letter for Health Arise Subscribers



“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see” (Daniel 1:12-13).

There are some natural ways that we can bring healing to our bodies. Often these health cures are overlooked and rarely prescribed. So many individuals are now considering some natural ways to improve their health. The exciting thing to realize is that these health remedies often work. These can even reduce the risk of serious cancers. The following are a few of these remedies:

• Antioxidants – Antioxidants enhance the immune system and protect the body from forming free radicals. Free radical cause damage to cells and lead to infection and disease. We recommend that you eat plenty of raw vegetables and fruits and take a high potency, antioxidant-rich multivitamin.
• Fiber – This is so important for your intestines and normal bowel function. Fiber can help with both constipation and diarrhea. Some foods that are good in fiber are beans, carrots, prunes, baked potatoes, broccoli, apples and all-bran cereal.
• Green food – These come from highly nutritious whole plants, fruits and vegetables and also such foods as soy and barley sprouts, rice bran, flaxseed, alfalfa and wheat grass. They help facilitate digestion and absorption of nutrients and help to balance the body’s pH that improves overall health.
• Yogurt – Yogurt contains friendly bacteria which helps prevent the diarrhea, flatulence, and gastrointestinal distress brought on by poorly digested lactose from dairy products. We recommend that you buy nonfat yogurt without added sweeteners, and look for the “live and active cultures” label.
• Minerals – Minerals are needed for the proper composition of body fluids, the formation of blood and bone, the maintenance of healthy nerve function and the regulation of muscle tone. They enable the body to perform its functions, including energy production, growth and healing.
• Exercise – Exercise lowers blood sugar and strengthens the heart, reduces body fat and boosts the immune system. Exercise goes hand in hand with a healthy diet. You should exercise at least 30 minutes, three times a week.
• Vitamin C – A daily intake of at least 10,000 mg. of vitamin C is recommended. Vitamin C helps the body in so many ways. It can even attract to damaged artery walls, caused by “bad” LDL cholesterol, and work to facilitate artery repair.
• Stop Smoking – Smoking is devastating to your health. More smokers die of hypertension than any other high-risk group. According to the American Heart Association, smoking is the number one cause of sudden death from heart attack.

Daniel tried the natural remedy to health, and he and his men were healthier than all the other young men who ate the royal food at the king’s table. After having cancer in 2005, I have realized more and more how very important it is to eat right and exercise. I still have a way to go, but at least I am on the right track. I am very fortunate because my husband makes the freshest, healthiest salads and fruit drinks that you have ever tasted! The above list is a good reminder for us of some of the things we need in our daily diet in order to stay healthy. A healthy lifestyle using God’s natural remedies will not only help us physically but in so many other ways as well. The prophet Daniel is our example. Test yourself as Daniel did, and you will find this to be true!

“At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand vision and dreams of all kinds” (Daniel 1:15-17).



Health Arise Articles

• Fruits and Vegetables in Abundance
• God’s Peace in a Stressful World
• Health and Healing Scriptures
• Health and the Battlefield of the Mind
• How to Handle Stress God’s Way
• Natural Health Remedies and Cures
• Recharging Your Emotional Battery
• Sowing Good Health in our Family Line
• Sugars that Heal
• Understanding Stress in Your Life
• A Letter for Health Arise Subscribers


”Take from our lives the strain and stress, 
and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace.”

Although the stress factors in the world are rising at an alarming rate, God can teach us to walk in His peace. There is a way to handle stress God’s way. Jesus always walked in peace. He was gentle, submissive and a humble servant. We can learn the same. It may be challenging to learn to walk in God’s peace, but this is the testimony that will speak to the world loudly. This may sound simplistic but it takes a lifetime to learn. Pray that God helps you to apply this to your life.

“Jesus was subjected to all kinds of stress and strain, yet He never showed the slightest sign of abnormal mental tension.”


How to Handle Stress

“Peace, I leave with you; My (own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled; neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)” (John 14:27, Amplified).

• Learn to submit to God – Priority must be given to walking in the Spirit. God wants us to walk in total submission. We can commit ourselves to the Great Physician. He is able to restore peace to our personality because His will is that we walk in peace. My personality is a challenge to a peaceful lifestyle because I am a Type A, active individual. But God’s will is that we are restful and peaceful regardless of our personalities or family background. God can get to the underlying causes of tension in our life. But we must learn to submit, be totally honest with God, and wait upon Him. God shows us areas of stress in our personalities where there is conflict or rebellion. As we yield to Him, we can find increasing rest. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1). 

• Be aware of Satan’s attacks in your life – Know yourself and the ways the enemy attacks your life. He will look for open doors and will attack you in the area of strongholds and false beliefs. Learn to resist him and stand firm in your faith. Stay in the Word of God for this is the way to combat his lies. Satan accuses in order to bring us to condemnation and despair. God convicts so that we can confess and be restored. Satan tries to bring doubt, and he opposes any discovery of stress in your life. Expect a battle when you are trying to deal with the root causes of stress. “In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

• Identify sin and confess it – We have deceitful hearts that do not easily see the truth. We need to confess sin in our life. You can always know the maturity level of an individual by looking at the length of time between sinning and confessing it as sin. Anxiety had been a big problem in my life, and I had to realize that it was sin because I wasn’t fully trusting God. I needed to confess it as sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

• Realize that God only intends that you do His will – Many of us are involved in too many activities and think we have to be busy all the time. We need to set appropriate limits on our activities, and pray through what we are doing. The greatest competitor to yieldedness to Christ is service for Him. God wants us to alternate between work and rest. When I was 25 years old and serving God on the mission field, I did not understand this lesson and finally got so exhausted that I had to rest for three months! We must learn balance. Pacing yourself is a key to maturity. “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13).
• Realize that God is sufficient – He is sufficient for anything we face in the end times. He is sovereign and can cope with the hidden fears in our heart. Accept your circumstances as being allowed by God and trust in Him. Even if Satan brings something into your life, realize that God has allowed it for a purpose. In 2005 I had breast cancer. God used it in my life to bring me to a new level in my walk with Him, and I am grateful. God has provided all that we need to make it through victoriously. “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid” (Psalm 56:2-3).
• Take good care of your body – Eat healthy, and get into a good vitamin supplement program. Our environment no longer provides all that we need in healthy food. We need to help our bodies through the use of additional supplements. Exercise regularly even if it seems to take time. You will always gain in the end and you will feel better. If you would like to know of very good health supplements that could help your sense of overall well-being and that can also help to reduce stress, watch the health video in this section. “Dear friends, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (3 John 2).


God desires that we handle stress His way. He wants us to walk in peace. Even in the midst of hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorism, and continuous change, we can learn to walk in peace just as Jesus did. Facing the Cross was the most stressful experience there ever was. Jesus has gone before us. He knows what it is like to live in a stressful world. He has provided all that we need.

Lord, we pray that You will teach us to submit totally to Your will and ways in our life. Make us aware of the ways the enemy tries to invade our lives with stress and strongholds. Make us aware of any sin in our life that is keeping us from peace and a deeper relationship with You. Help us to do Your will. Remove the activities from our life that are unnecessary and are not Your will for us. We confess and repent of anxiety and fear. We choose to walk in Your perfect peace. Help us to take care of our bodies through eating healthy and exercising. We know that You are sufficient in every situation, and we accept our present circumstances joyfully. Help us to exhibit Your fruit. You have overcome the world, and we thank you for this. Teach us to be like you, and bring us into Your peace. We choose to rejoice because you have overcome the world. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer (take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted)! For I have overcome the world. (I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you” (John 16:33, Amplified).



Health Arise Articles

• Fruits and Vegetables in Abundance
• God’s Peace in a Stressful World
• Health and Healing Scriptures
• Health and the Battlefield of the Mind
• How to Handle Stress God’s Way
• Natural Health Remedies and Cures
• Recharging Your Emotional Battery
• Sowing Good Health in our Family Line
• Sugars that Heal
• Understanding Stress in Your Life

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace) which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7-8).

We live in a stressful world. Every day we are confronted by stressful circumstances. It seems that each one of us needs to learn to cope with an increasingly stressful lifestyle. Our responses to these situations reveal our spirit. The verses above teach us how to combat this stressful life through prayer and the peace of God that transcends all understanding. We need this kind of peace. Our bodies can’t cope with such high-level stress unless we learn to live in God’s peace. We can be either a thermometer or a thermostat. We either register what is happening just as a thermometer registers the weather. In other words, we are totally affected by our environment. Or we can regulate what is happening like a thermostat that sets the environment. God wants us to be like a thermostat that influences our environment and responds properly to life’s situations.

Looks at what we often say to ourselves and what He says to help us not to be stressful but to instead walk in His peace.

• You say: “It’s impossible.” God says: All things are possible – Luke 18:27.
• You say: “I’m too tired.” God says: I will give you rest –
  Matthew 11:28-30.
• You say: “Nobody really loves me.” God says: I love you –
  John 3:16 & John 3:34.
• You say: “I can’t go on.” God says: My grace is sufficient –
  2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15.
• You say: “I can’t figure things out.” God says: I will direct your steps – Proverbs 3:5-6.
• You say: “I can’t do it.” God says: You can do all things –
  Philippians 4:13.
• You say: “I’m not able.” God says: I am able – 2 Corinthians 9:8.
• You say: “It’s not worth it.” God says: It will be worth it –
  Romans 8:28.
• You say: “I can’t forgive myself.” God says: I Forgive you –
  1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1.
• You say: “I can’t manage.” God says: I will supply all your needs – Philippians 4:19.
• You say: “I’m afraid.” God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear – 2 Timothy 1:7.
• You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated.” God says: Cast all your cares on ME – 1 Peter 5:7.
• You say: “I’m not smart enough.” God says: I give you wisdom –
  1 Corinthians 1:30.
• You say: “I feel all alone.” God says: I will never leave you or forsake you – Hebrews 13:5.

Here some very practical ways to help you to reduce stress in your life and live in God’s peace. Realize that most people are not enjoying the trip of life. They are merely coping with stress just like a thermometer. This is a tragedy because God has promised us an abundant life (John 10:10).

Ways to Reduce Stress

“If life is a journey, then life’s greatest tragedy is not having enjoyed the trip.” Peebles

• Pray about everything, and always be thankful.
• Go to bed on time. Get enough rest.
• Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
• Say no to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule.
• Delegate tasks to capable others.
• Simplify and unclutter your life.
• Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
• Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time.
• Take one day at a time.
• If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it.
• Live within your budget. Less is more.
• Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, extra stamps, etc.
• Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
• Eat right. You may want to add food supplements as well.
• Get organized so everything has its place.
• Write down thoughts and inspirations.
• Every day, find time to be alone.
• Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud.
• Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy. Hold onto God’s truth.
• Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
• Make friends with Godly people.
• Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good “Thank you Jesus.”
• Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
• Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
• Talk less; listen more.
• Slow down.
• Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for.

“Peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled; neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful; and intimated and cowardly and unsettled)” (John 14:27 Amplified).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC


“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” John 10:10 (Amplified)

 Welcome to Health Arise! After having recently recovered from breast cancer, I realize how very important our health is. It is not something we can take lightly. Therefore, I want to encourage you to eat healthy.

I never realized how many people were battling with cancer until I had it myself. It is entirely out of control. I realize that cancer is the result of a broken down immune system. The way to fight against cancers is to build up your immune system. That’s why eating fruits and vegetables, exercise and nutritional supplements are so important. Having cancer was a wake-up call to me to eat right, exercise and take other healthy supplements to help my immune system. 

One thing my cancer doctor told me was that I should eat 7 – 9 fruits and vegetables a day! Now I don’t always do this, but it is a good goal. God provides us with abundant fruits and vegetables in nature. One way the doctor suggested to help in eating enough fruit in a day was to put a lot of fruit in the blender. He said that if you find it difficult to get enough fruit, buy some frozen fruit to add to the fresh fruit in the blender. This is what I am doing. I put frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, fresh bananas, fresh apples, etc. in the blender with ice and water. It makes a refreshing drink. Carrot juice is good too on its own.

In these articles, I want to share different things I am discovering as I study about nutrition and health. I have found a product called Mannatech to be very helpful. Others of you might want to find out about this product, or you may not. It is entirely up to you. Fruits and vegetables help us to glorify God in our bodies. Healthy bodies help us to live abundant lives!

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John

Health Arise Articles

• Fruits and Vegetables in Abundance
• God’s Peace in a Stressful World
• Health and Healing Scriptures
• Health and the Battlefield of the Mind
• How to Handle Stress God’s Way
• Natural Health Remedies and Cures
• Recharging Your Emotional Battery
• Sowing Good Health in our Family Line
• Sugars that Heal
• Understanding Stress in Your Life
• A Letter for Health Arise Subscribers

Health Arise

We believe that all those who are involved in prayer and intercession should try to have a healthy life style. In the Health Arise e-mail, I will cover many topics having to do with health and living healthy. I have done a lot of study on the subject of health. It has been overwhelming for me to realize how many people are sick, and some of them are intercessors. I believe that God wants us to live healthy lives but part of it is up to us. He wants us to have energy to do His will because we need strength in order to pray fervently. The times we are living in are increasingly stressful, and healthy, strong bodies are essential for those who are involved in intercession. Intercessors need to do everything they can to preserve strong healthy bodies. My prayer is that you will eat and live healthy for the glory of God.

Health Arise is a monthly e-mail network for those interested in improving their health through nutrition and prayer.


Health Arise Articles



• Fruits and Vegetables in Abundance
• God’s Peace in a Stressful World
• Health and Healing in Scripture
• Health and the Battlefield of the Mind
• How to Handle Stress God’s Way
• Natural Health Remedies and Cures
• Recharging Your Emotional Battery
• Sowing Good Health in our Family Line
• Sugars that Heal
• Understanding Stress in Your Life
• A Letter to Health Arise Subscribers

“True evangelism involves experiencing the love of Christ.
An effective Lighthouse lifestyle is one which is built
on weekly acts of kindness done for neighbors, regular
repeated offers to pray, and checks on answered prayer.” 
Ed Silvoso

During the first years of our neighborhood Lighthouse ministry, we surveyed the neighborhood looking for signs of other witnessing Christians. We looked for symbols on cars, doors, or lawns. When we found them, we shared our belief that God placed us all here to reach those who do not know Christ, and we invited them to join us in praying for the neighborhood. Several people joined us once a week and then later once a month. The little group became increasingly excited about prayer as we saw quick and definite answers.

“You’re writing a gospel a chapter a day, by the way that you live and the things that you say. People read what you write, distorted or true. What is the gospel according to you?”


Important points in starting a Lighthouse Prayer Meeting

• Define the boundaries of your mission field. Map households in your “community” by making a homemade map, or if praying for family or work mates, a simple list of people.
• Begin prayerwalking, and pray for God’s guidance.
• Discover where the other Christians live, and present the vision of a Lighthouse lifestyle.
• Ask them to consider making a timely commitment of five weeks.
• Give them a week to pray about your invitation, and pray daily for them.
• Meet informally to get acquainted and to pray for each other.
• Set a date for your meeting, and decide frequency, duration, and location.
• Begin and end on time. Remember that people are busy.
• Keep the principle of prayer for your community at the forefront.
• Refrain from any style of prayer that may be offensive to anyone present.
• Do not share personal issues that may compromise relationship or reputation.
• Aim to mix petitions with praise.

By Norm and Debbie Przybylski

For more information, see the Lighthouse Movement website.