Episode 13 Peace follows forgiveness and brings health.

 

 Peace follows forgiveness and brings health.

This is episode 13 on the JesusRx prescription for life podcast. Available on several different podcasts hosts. 

Are you in need of peace? If you have taken the prescription for forgiveness and allowed change to happen in your life by forgiving others and being forgiven by God, then your heart should be radiating some peace right now. I realize taking the prescription for forgiveness is not a one-time thing; it’s a lifetime. You will need God’s Word for the rest of your life to continue to walk in His ways of health and survival while on this earth.

Prescription for peace is Chapter 3 in the JesusRx prescription for life workbook. We will touch on some of that over the next four episodes. You can also see where to purchase at my website, evapopek.com

In just 30 days, you will have the tools—we call it medicine—which is  God’s Word to cure the thoughts that may be preventing peace in your life.

Have you ever noticed how your body reacts when it’s at peace? Get a pen and paper or your phone, and list some ways you feel at peace. If you can’t remember the last time you felt peace, you are in the right place with JesusRx and His prescription for Peace!

If I had to explain how I felt when at peace, I would say I have a calmness about me, a calming “energy,” which allows me to think clearly. I can accomplish so much more when I’m at peace. I breathe easier and better, allowing the proper amount of oxygen to get to my cells. I am more creative, enjoying each moment as it comes. When at peace, I am not thinking too far into the future.

For some of you, it may be easier to list how your body reacts when you are not at peace. Go ahead and make a list. Sometimes, getting things down on paper makes us see better what we are going through. I know when I’m not at peace, I am NOT calm. I can’t think clearly; I jump from one thing to another, trying to fill myself up with stuff instead of stopping to be peaceful. My head and heart race. I might start grabbing whatever food is in front of me and going through the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer …freezer to triple-check to see if any ice cream appears. I might do the opposite, not even look at food, but keep running to the bathroom as my stomach starts to churn and keeps telling me it wants to poop. I don’t know about you, but there have been times I’ve gotten so upset that I think, wow, well, at least that’s one good thing…I’m getting cleaned out. No lie, usually around the 3^rd time I’m running to the bathroom, it hits me how much I need peace right then. If I wait too long to obtain peace, depression says oh yeah, here’s my chance, I’m going to get her. NO!! This will not happen because I know that even during unpleasant situations, peace can come to any of us.

Several times in my life, I have had to make some very hard decisions. One, I was in tears for a couple of days. I sought the Lord. I could not understand why He would tell me not to go somewhere when I thought it best. Sometimes, the voice of God is not what you or I may be seeking. The reason is that it often goes against our selfish, I will fix it voice. Oh, we good Christians will always confess we want to hear from God. I’m talking to myself, not just you right now. I’ve learned to listen as I know God’s Word is always for my benefit. I said I’ve learned to listen, but it takes pressing into Him to make it easier to obey. It is easier to follow as I trust Him and draw upon the examples from His Word and other Christians.

I can’t help but think of Abraham and Isaac. Do you know their story? You can read it in Genesis 22, Hebrews 11:17-19 and James 2:21-24

What God asked Abraham to do proved Abraham's commitment to God. He was promised much through his and Sara's son Isaac. He knew God made him a promise and would keep it. (See Genesis 15:18. I have seen some people's faith be so deep in God because of the sacrifice of Jesus that peace comes upon them, no matter the trial they are faced with. I want to be a person like that. I have God’s prescription for peace, and believe me, I take it daily! God made us a promise by giving us a new covenant. Matthew 26:28, 1 Corinthians 11:25, Galatians 4:21-31, Hebrews 9:14-15

If you have taken the prescription for Love, you will remember that it isn’t about how much we love God but how much love we will allow ourselves to receive from God. His love is unending. It has the power to cure us and help us deal daily with the sickness of sin.

When it comes to peace, we cannot leave out faith. The more faith you have in God’s ways and Word, the more peace you will receive. I know when my faith starts to waiver, so does my peace.

If you read Hebrews chapter 11, you will read about the faith in God many of the Old Testament people had before Jesus was given to them. I have to read Hebrews 11:8-12 (NKJV) and listen to this:

It’s entitled Faithful Abraham:

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING. BY FAITH he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

BY FAITH, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, BECAUSE SHE JUDGED HIM FAITHFUL WHO HAD PROMISED. Therefore from one man, and HIM AS GOOD AS DEAD, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.”

I hope you read ALL of chapter 11…it is SO GOOD!!.

Do you feel sometimes that you are going “out” not even knowing where to? Like what now, Lord? Career changes, changes in the life of your children as they grow and leave home, health issues, relationship issues, and daily life routines seem so hard at times. What do you do then? Be an Abraham, go where God leads. HOW ??? BY faith, dwell in the land of promise God has given every one of His children. Peace is promised to us. Where faith is, you will find peace.

I don’t know one person who doesn't desire restful sleep. Sleep is essential for our health; without it, we won’t function as God intended us to. Did you know that when your heart is at peace, you will bring life to your body? I want to leave you with some prescriptions from chapter 3 in the JesusRx prescription for life workbook.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 (NKJV)

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 (NKJV)

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJV

You can purchase the JesusRx Prescription for life anywhere listed on my website : evapopek.com

Please send an email to evapopekjesusrx@gmail.com with any questions or comments. Share if you know this will help someone. 

 

"Mann Tracht un Lacht"- do you know what that means?

 

GOD LAUGHS AT US, WITH US, FOR US, SO REJOICE

God laughs, He really does-He smiles too! When people laugh with me it feels better than when people laugh at me. Why would God laugh at me? I think of it like how I would laugh at my children. The laugh was full of love, never to belittle them.

Psalm 2:4 and 37:12-13 tell me how to laugh when the enemy tries to come at me. When the enemy arrives to kill, steal, and destroy what God is doing in my life and the lives of my loved ones, I can hear God laugh, so I should laugh. Those who come against the mighty Hand of God are laughable.

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep pleasure. Praise God if you are His child---This is NOT HOW God deals with His children.

The wicked plot against the just and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that His day is coming. (Psalm 37:12-13)

I looked up where the saying “man plans and God laughs” came from. I found the Yiddish expressions “Der Mentsh trakht un got lakh” and “Mann Tracht, un Lacht,” which say that is where it derived.

Some may say, “What is the use of planning?” God will do what He does. Are we not to plan? Of course, we are, but is the plan for our purpose or the purpose of God, our creator? Who is the one giving us purpose?

 In Isaiah 14:24-27 we find God purposed the fall of Assyria and said it would happen. I need to remember this when the enemy attacks. God takes care of the enemy in our lives. He does this so we will continue in His purpose for our lives.

 Where there is no vision the people perish, but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (Psalm 16:9 KJV)

When I allow God to direct my steps in my plans, sometimes, actually many times, He will show me where to go to be more aligned with His plan for me. So simple, right? Well, not always. Joyful, yes, always, as He fulfills the plans He has for me and you!

There are many plans in a man's heart. Nevertheless, the Lords counsel will stand  (Proverbs 19:21)

In the book of Numbers, we find a “Priestly Blessing” to the children of Israel.

“The Lord bless and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you (smile). The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.

God indeed smiles upon His children- those who find hope in His Mercy!

The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him-not like those we read about in Psalm 2:4 and Psalm 37:12-13 that we saw earlier. Those were the ones who denied who He was and disrespected His ways.  Are you like those people? At times in my life I was.

The fear spoken of here is explained a bit further in the JesusRx Prescription for Life workbook. The chapter on fear is about respecting God and not allowing a “fearful” fear to enter your life.  I give the example of the Ocean and its grandeur. I know how to swim, but I am not a strong swimmer. I will only go about waist-deep into the water. I won't go much deeper than that. I don’t fear the Ocean to where I am afraid to go near it or even go in the water. It’s like God’s awesomeness. I am not scared to go near Him as I respect His awesomeness. He won’t drown me. I acknowledge His power, unlike those in the opening verses. They will be afraid when He repays the evil they have done unless they turn to Him with a respectable fear.

There is another area I should not even go waist-deep in. Areas of my life that bring disrespect towards God I should be “afraid” to go. I should fear the consequences of sin. Left to the world, its ways will not bring life. I do fear a “living death”. Being dead while still alive is something I do not want to do. Does this make sense to you? I want to Love, Laugh, Live!

It’s amazing how God will continue to build us up in Him. I could go on about how the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (we have a “prescription” for wisdom in the JesusRx prescription for life workbook), but I’ll stop here for now.

This is about the way God laughs. I smile thinking about how he lovingly laughs over me—and you if you belong to Him.

May you go out and smile- Not just so people will wonder what you are up to, but because of who laughs over you.

In Joyful Peace

Eva