Since 2009
THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION
With Your Health In Mind
"Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, 'Why couldn't we drive it out?' --Matthew 17:19
When the disciples asked the Lord why they couldn't do certain things, notice He didn't say, "If only you had more self-confidence. If only you felt inspired, motivated, thought positively. If only you really wanted it." No, and aren't we blessed He didn't say any of those things? Because after all, some days those resources are plentiful and other days pitiful. But He talked of faith. The only thing that can accept grace. And if we accept grace through faith, we've conquered the world through Christ; not by anything we've done, can do or will do. And when inspiration sputters and motivation wanes, our faith in Christ and the truth that our lives are covered in grace just soothes.
Speaking of soothing, it's Friday. How was the week? Any mountain-top moments? What are we celebrating? Any pitfalls or valleys? What are we conquering? As I glance back on the week on PrayFit, we talked about how our health is unearned. And then about how we as prodigals came home to take care of our inherited health. And yesterday we used worn-out tools to rebuild for the cause of Christ. If it's been some week, say "Amen."
And with that, I would just like to take a second and thank you for spending these few minutes with us each day. If there's a place where you can go knowing that the message was written with your life and health in mind, I hope you know it's here. Much love to you all. I think that puts the button on the week, don't you?
--Jimmy Peña
PRAYFIT ON THE ROAD THIS FALL: IS YOUR CHURCH ON THE TOUR?
Jimmy Peña's message of "Life is not about the body, but health is a means of praise" is being well-received by congregations around the country. His story-telling approach to how a healthy body can strengthen the body of Christ and inspire abundant living is a message you don't want to miss.
For speaking appearances, ministry assistance or media inquiries, write us today at [email protected]!
A Gentle Tug
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” –-Proverbs 16:3
Read: Proverbs 16
Well, here we are. Friday. For some, it's the end of a glorious week. Each route you ran made sense, and each plan proved you're a genius. But for others, today marks the end of a not-so-glorious streak of five lost days tied together with a thick band of disappointment. You didn't begin the week feeling this way. You had different plans...much different.
For thousands of passengers aboard Carnival Cruise Triumph, the week was anything but triumphant. Drifting powerless, they too had different plans. Their hopes of food, fun and relaxation, were replaced with hunger, boredom and stress. Adding insult to injury, their ship had to be pulled to safety by tug boats at a blazing 7 mph. Misery took its time.
Friends, God knows our weeks. He knows our weak weeks. Your plans fail, my plans fail, and we drift. We're a group of wide-eyed strangers who boarded the big boat of life on Monday only wanting to jump ship by Wednesday. And even though we're "saved," seeing land on Friday took way too long. But we can take today's sunrise as a reminder that the tug -- His gentle tug -- is enough. It really is enough.
--Jimmy Peña
Question: Concerning your health, are you drifting? Does your shore seem so far away that you're losing hope? Whether self inflicted or out of your control completely, we want to help you with either practical advice or practical prayer. You choose, but we're here.
>> INVITE US: We are so glad that you're reading this. The fact that you are means that you feel God's gentle tug on your heart strings about better physical stewardship. And we want to help you tow the rest of your congregation into port. This video (click the player below) offers a glimpse of the message your church needs to hear. Contact us today at [email protected] for details on how you can bring Jimmy Peña to your next Sunday service!
Just Run
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." --1 Peter 5:7
Read: 1 Peter 5
Depending on when you open this entry, I'm doing one of many things. Check your watch. If it's early, and the sun is rising, be assured I'm dodging traffic and anticipating yellow lights. If it's mid morning, I'm tapping my toes with my face plastered against the airplane window. And if it's around noon, I'm sprinting. I've let go of my baggage, thrown my head back and my arms are wide open. After weeks of touring, speaking and serving...I'm almost home.
Friends, life is a quick trip; a short but often brutal bridge. On it we sometimes get trampled. Being Friday, maybe you can relate. Have you been overlooked this week? Ignored rather than recognized? Maybe you're struggling to cope with a troubled teen, financial hardships or health concerns. Whatever your recent trip of life has you burdened with, do what I am doing today. Drop the baggage and throw your head back. The One who knows you best, loves you most. So just run.
--Jimmy Peña
PRAYFIT: WEEK IN REVIEW Revisiting a week's worth of faith- and fitness-building entries
Faith
MY REDEEMER LIVES: Why do we care for bodies that are destined to wither?
MAKE BELIEVE: How do our lives help build the body of Christ?
HE REMEMBERS: When it comes to our sin, gracefully, He remembers to forget
AGREEMENT ISN'T ENOUGH: When it comes to our health, you need to go a bit further
Fitness
WORKOUT: Blast your legs into submission with our workout of the week NEWS: How childhood obesity is affecting manufacturing in the U.S.
VIDEO: Text and video tips on getting this fundamental exercise right
NEWS: Research shows Alzheimer's may be connected to sleeplessness
Go Ahead & Follow
"Before the mountains were brought forth...from everlasting to everlasting you are God." --Psalm 90:2
Read: Psalm 90
Someone from tomorrow is praying for me today. (Come again?) Well, like many of you, I have friends on the other side of the world. And yesterday they asked me if they could be praying specifically about anything, and it hit me. I'm sitting on Thursday, they're conquering Friday. I wanted to say, "What's it like tomorrow?"
When Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James arrived at the tomb, they were told to go tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus had risen, and "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you." (Mark 16:7) Imagine the moment. Yesterday He was dead and gone, today He's alive, and He has just walked the road they needed to find Him. The path is safe.
Wow. If we can pray for each other from different time zones, how much comfort does it bring us to know that God is timeless? He's not only alive in us, but He's been where we're going. Yesterday is dead and gone, but Jesus lives. So go ahead and follow. Someone from tomorrow is praying for you today.
--Jimmy Peña
NEWS: This week, PrayFit's 33-Day Total Body Challenge DVD (Lionsgate) was featured on Beliefnet.com, a faith-based website that reaches over 5 million visitors per month. Click here for the news, then visit our new Press/Media page for related PrayFit hits!
AUDIO: Click here to hear some of PrayFit's most powerful devotionals, as read by author and founder Jimmy Pena.
VIDEO: Not sure how to do some of the exercises we discuss here on PrayFit? No worries. Visit our YouTube page for video demonstrations of many of the at-home moves from our book and DVD.
SUBSCRIBE: If you're not already one of the thousands receiving the PrayFit Daily in your inbox, we urge you to subscribe. Click here to start receiving this free, daily resource, chock full of scripture readings, devotionals, workout plans, recipes and more. (Then urge your friends to do the same...)
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HE'S HOW, HE'S WHY
October 17, 2011Read: Matthew 4
"Come, follow me." -- Matthew 4:18-20 Last Friday night we glanced back. For those who didn't see it, here's the thought we posted on Facebook: "Whew, Friday. Looking back down the week's mountain, some of us wonder how and why we made it. I know I do. That Monday meeting, Tuesday's test, Wednesday's wreck...well, you get the point. But it's ok to look back. Moses looked back at the sea he crossed. Daniel looked back at his bed in a lion's den. And Jesus? He looked back too. Of all the memories He had on Friday, our future was one of them. So go ahead. Look back in awe, in wonder. And while we do, let's remember that Jesus finished His week to give us purpose in ours. Whew, Friday. That's how. He's why..."
And so...whew! Monday. That was quick. The foot of yet another mountain. Head craned, eyes up...it's steep. But before you start your climb, look down. Notice? Somebody's been here. Go ahead, kneel to get a closer look. Seems our 'how' and 'why' has cleared a path. Are you shaking your head in wonder? Yeah, me too. The one who delivered us on Friday is leading us on Monday. Let's look up the hill in awe as we put one foot in front of the other, shall we? We'll see you at the top.
--J.P.
Workout of the Week: Legs in 10
You may not have heard it here first but you've certainly heard it here often: Training your legs regularly is one of the best things you can do to enhance your body composition. The quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and calves represent a large portion of your body's musculature so, by working them hard you burn more calories. This, of course, on top of the more direct benefits such as increased strength, stamina and power production. This lower-body routine allows you to train for multiple goals at once, without equipment and in just a few minutes.
Warm-up: Jog in place for 1 min. High-knee running Jumping jacks Squat jumps Split jump lunge Speed skaters Wall squat hold
--Perform each exercise for one minute, resting 15-30 seconds between each. Then, repeat the entire sequence as many times as possible.
SHARE: GOALS What is one goal you hope to crush this week? List it here in the comments section. Is it consistent prayer time? Bible study? Perhaps you want to walk a certain number of laps or run a particular number of miles. Whatever it is, make it known. Let us and others help hold you accountable. We're on this side of the hill together.
TELL THE FUTURE
August 12, 2011 Read: Jeremiah 29
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- Jeremiah 29:11
If you happen to keep up with the stock market, well then you know it's been tough to keep up. A roller coaster has less ups and downs. Yesterday's confidence going toe-to-toe with tomorrow's uncertainty. If only we could tell the future.
Well, it's Friday; (Monday's futures, if you will). Looking back at the week according to health or otherwise, that roller coaster may have taken you lower than you thought you could go, or higher than you actually expected. But like we learned from Moses at the water's edge or from fallen Navy SEALs, we've been rescued from a life that doesn't always return our investments. We need to consciously remember that the options in life we lose or give up in obedience will ultimately make perfect sense. Put stock in that truth as you thank the week for the ride. And if you tell the future anything, just tell it you're comin'...and Heaven's comin with you.
--J.P.
PRAYFIT WEEK IN REVIEW A weekend reboot of abundant, active living tips
>> WORKOUT: Use this home-based workout to burn fat, build muscle
>> NOMENCLATURE: How we really managed to kill adult-onset diabetes
>> HEALTH: Keeping diabetes at bay...without medication.
>> STATISTICS: How much is the obesity epidemic costing us in fuel?
>> COMING SOON TO A CHURCH NEAR YOU!: Want to have Team PrayFit come to your church? Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
>> SHOP: Visit our online store by clicking this line to pick up PrayFit hats, tees and wristbands!
STRONG FOR THE WEEK
February 18, 2011Read: Ecclesiastes 7
“Finishing is better than starting.” –Ecclesiastes 7:8
So here we are. The end of another week. Fridays are always a good time to look back and survey the efforts of the previous few days. Instinctively, we focus on things that we’ve done or tasks that we’ve completed, marking them off one by one like to-do items on some kind of mental Post-It note. But for each item we “cross off” the list, our brains, gearing up for the weekend, may start drifting into reward mode which is why Friday can sometimes be the least productive day of the week.
On Fridays, our focus on the things that matter most – including our faith and our fitness – can become obscured.
We may marginalize our time spent on our knees so that we can run full speed into the weekend. Or we might shrug off the day’s workout and wander from our healthy eating habits knowing Monday's workout is right around the corner.
Let's face it, no one is immune to the occasional case of the “Fridays,” but we’d be wise to remember that how we finish the week is just as important as how we start it – not just for us, but for those who would learn from our example.
--E.V.
START TO FINISH
Since we are waxing philosophical about strong finishes, it’s probably a good time to remember where you started. What brought you to PrayFit in the first place? Click here for a video refresher of what PrayFit is all about.
>> Visit our newly updated fitness and nutrition pages for even more workouts, exercise tips, and recipes!
LET FRIDAY BEGIN
September 3, 2010Read Psalm 121 “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” --Psalm 121:2
It’s Friday. The ninth inning. The fourth quarter. The last period.
When coaches encourage their players to “leave it all out on the field,” it’s not to sure-up a victory or avoid defeat, but more so to prevent regret either way.
Of all people, Jesus understood Friday. If anybody ever had cause to hesitate before Friday’s first step, He did. But He finished the game. He suited up and took on the best the world had to offer by offering himself for the world.
Let's finish the week stronger than we began it. In Jesus' name, we train.
--J.P.
PRAYFIT: WEEK IN REVIEW Revisit the healthy living entries from the last week
PrayFit Workout of the Week: Chest
New research on the importance of surrounding ourselves with fit-minded people.
RECIPE: Cheese lover's delight
3 ways to improve your running stride
>> A GROWING FAMILY: As we move toward the release of our first print project, we are hoping to expand the PrayFit community. As we close the week, we hope that you will share this site with at least one friend or family member, whether it's via link, Facebook, Twitter, blog, word of mouth or messenger pigeon! Have a fantastic weekend. We hope to see you here Monday!