Distance Yourself

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but he who walks with fools suffers harm." --Proverbs 13:20 Leading up to her third marathon, my wife had a simple plan: find her pacer and stay close to him or her no matter what. See, most marathon organizations provide the runners with all sorts of tools and techniques to help them through the grueling course -- from seminars on stride, tactics for tackling hills, and perhaps most notably, they offer the runners a pacer.

A pacer is a man or woman capable of finishing the race at an exact time. And when I say exact, I mean exactly that. Kevin (pictured here) ran through the finish line at three hours and 35 minutes -- just what he was asked he'd do. Now, Kevin didn't know who was counting on his pace. All he knew was that someone would be relying on his experience, strength and endurance to help them along their way toward their goal.

In our daily pursuit of spiritual and physical stewardship, we all need pacesetters. People who God places in our lives to help us stay the course. Not only that but God may, in fact, bless us with the privilege of being that for someone else, and it's an honor we can't take lightly. Like Kevin, we may or may not know who it is, but someone is depending on us to know the way and show the way. Just take a look at Monday's prayer requests and yesterday's comments. Glance back and read some of the pain and the hurt. Then listen closely as others come running up beside to rescue with prayer and encourage with hope. Sounds like a group of pacesetters to me.

--Jimmy Peña

P.S. Kevin was a little surprised when I asked him for a photo. Perhaps it's typical for the pacers to be invisible after a race. But I had to ask him to stop, especially when I read the back of his shirt. "Distance Yourself" it said. Wow. Perfect for our verse of the day. Thanks for inspiring us Kevin. We want to keep up.

For Discussion: Does anyone have something they'd like to share? A Praise? A request? Unspoken? We're going to the Lord ALL week for each other. If you happen to read a need from earlier in the week, go ahead and respond here.

BRING US TO YOUR TOWN In a few weeks, Jimmy will be speaking at Pepperdine University in Malibu, talking health through the gospel's lens with faculty and staff. We're so honored. Expos, conferences and congregations across the country have welcomed Jimmy and his message of health as a means of praise. Your town or event could be next. Contact us at [email protected] to schedule a visit from the PrayFit team! As always, for churches and other non-profit events there is never a speaking fee. Talk to your pastors and leaders. Reach out to us and let's see health as a means of praise, together.