Since 2009
THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION
Taking Names
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." --Colossians 3:17
Read: Colossians 3
Kirani James made history this week by winning the first-ever Olympic medal -- fittingly, a gold -- for the small, island-nation of Grenada. And despite the magnitude of the moment, James will perhaps be best remembered for another minute but meaningful gesture earlier in the Games.
In the semifinals of the grueling 400-meter race, James cruised to an easy victory, setting himself up as the probable gold medalist in a very competitive field. Instead of soaking up the moment, he immediately sought out the last-place finisher and double amputee, South Africa's Oscar Pistorius -- the first-ever double leg amputee to compete in the Olympics. After putting himself some 44 seconds away from an extraordinary and unprecedented accomplishment, his first instinct was to celebrate someone else's. In a touching show of sportsmanship and respect, James immediately sought out Pistorius, embraced him, then asked him to trade name bibs.
James, at just 19, knows that the accolades are fast-fleeting and that this race was less about opponents vanquished than it was about glorifying the man who ran beside him. We too run our race, hustling through our daily to-dos of work, family, exercise and more -- only we carry the name of the Lord with us right out of the blocks, each stride a measured yet telling indicator of who we really are and who we're running for. And even when we are outpaced, like Pistorius, we should be so blessed that those in neighboring lanes would take such interest in the name we are wearing.
--Eric Velazquez
SUNDAY SERVICE WITH PRAYFIT
The subject of physical stewardship is not a message you're likely to hear in this Sunday's sermon. But perhaps it should be. With an increasing number of our fellow congregants and family members struggling with obesity-related health issues, it's worth noting that the Lord desires abundant health for us and that even though He looks at the heart, failing to take care of the bodies He created in His image amounts to a heart issue. PrayFit founder Jimmy Peña has spoken at churches across the country imparting the message of our health as a means of praise. Could your service be next? Check out the video below, share it with your church leaders then contact us to find out how you can bring this message to your congregation!
GUMPTION
"Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air."— 1 Corinthians 9:26
I'm definitely old-fashioned, but who reading this remembers tryouts? I thought of it yesterday when I asked, "Who won?" to a young boy and his mom as they came back from his soccer game. They replied, "Oh, we don't keep score. In this league, we don't keep score and everybody plays." Hmm. I tried to hide my confusion, but had she replied in Yiddish it would have made as much sense.
You know, if Paul were in sports, I think he would have enjoyed keeping score. The way he talked of disciplining his body like an athlete, or how passionately he wrote of running the race. Something tells me, Paul would have understood the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." Of course, Paul would be the first person to teach us of grace and forgiveness, but a record of wrongs is not the issue at stake. The issue is more about the kind of fight we have in us for the faith, as well as for the body. Like Paul, it's time to follow our instincts.
Truth be told, if our health was required for Heaven, well, we'd be in bad shape. And if God kept score on our day's losses, we'd lose. But it's because of those things that we might as well toughen up. Who knows how effective we could be for the kingdom if we exercised a little more Godly gumption. Not in order to win favor, but because we have favor.
Oh, and I have to report, as my neighbor disappeared into her home, the little boy stuck his head out the front door, put his hand up to the side of his mouth as if to tell me a secret from across the street: "We won 11 to nothin'!" he yelled with a whisper. Atta boy, I thought. Gumption. He's a carrier. And so are you.
–Jimmy Peña
WEEK IN REVIEW Revisiting a week's worth of faith and fitness
Faith
>> READING LIPS: Showing the light in a world of darkness
>> NOW WHAT?: Abraham, Moses and Joshua asked. Shouldn't you?
>> WHEN HE KNOCKED: No need to clean up to take a bath
>> GOD WILL COME THROUGH: When in doubt, look up
Fitness
>> WORKOUT OF THE WEEK: Push-ups and planks
>> MEMORY FOOD: What super fruit can boost your ability to remember stuff?
>> RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Sauteed kale
>> PORTION CONTROL: How to eat 22% less this holiday season