The Naive Optimism

We will never, never, ever, ever be satisfied with anything other than God. How's that for an opening line? Yesterday we followed "Fitness is Meaningless" with "The Chase" in our series absorbing a few passages from the book of Ecclesiastes. Did anyone do their homework? If you did, then you know the gross, impossible task of trying to lay the wisdom of Solomon upon our health with a few devotions, and from a ham-n-egg writer to boot. But...we push on.

When I got out of grad school with thesis in hand, I was ready to conquer the world. (I studied the effects of endurance training on muscle size and strength in competitive weightlifters.) That thesis eventually landed me writing gigs with magazines until ultimately, I was the worldwide fitness editor for the most popular muscle magazine in history. And most of you know the story. I wrote a few books, made a name for myself, and the emptiness and hollowness followed. 

And it's that emptiness and hollowness that comes to mind as we travel along the oft jagged and piercing edges of these verses in Ecclesiastes. 

“Oh, I did great things: built houses...amassed silver and gold...became greater by far than anyone...I refused my heart no pleasure...Then I took a good look at everything I’d done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke (everything was meaningless); nothing was gained under the sun.
(Ecc 2: 4-11 msg)”

— The Teacher

Personally speaking, it was at the peak of my fitness lifestyle and resume that I began to realize the dilemma in my heart and mind; that in my work, there would be no real fulfillment because of the longing placed there by God.  It's a longing placed within every human that ever lived. Indeed, you and I have a burden placed upon us by God that can only be satisfied when HE is pleased and when we are content in pleasing Him.

That's why, like we touched upon yesterday, there's no surprise that we keep such eating, resting and training routines; justifiable as we attempt to make them. We're breaking down. As you read this sentence your body is betraying the efforts you placed upon it 5 minutes, or 5 hours, or 5 days, or even 5 years ago. In its natural delivery of your health, it's saying to you that no matter what you do, load it with protein, fill it with carbs, lift a million pounds of mindless metal for the rest of your life, you will not be able to prevent its demise.

To some of us - and I know it could have been said of me at one point - it's borderline insulting to read this series. It's offensive when someone diminishes the importance of something so important to us. We almost find ourselves coming to the defense of fitness, of striving, of effort and byproduct. We are called to honor God with our bodies, and we easily find refuge in that as justification for week, after week, after week of "time well spent."

Eugene Peterson once wrote, "We read Ecclesiastes to get scrubbed clean from illusion. It challenges the naive optimism that sets a goal that appeals to it and then goes after it with gusto, expecting the result to be a good life."

If I can pass the baton to the final leg of our brief run through a few thoughts from this wise book, it would be with this: Until we allow God's word to expose our complete and total incapacity to realize meaning in our lives apart from God, we will continue to mine bottomless pits. Have you ever needed to be scrubbed from illusion? Ever needed to be pulled from the wreckage - out from under the delusion that you can live your life on your own terms?

-Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Tough stuff, right? Maybe it's just me, but if everything is meaningless according to the wisest person in the Bible aside from Christ, how does this trilogy end? I'd love to use something you say in tomorrow's entry, so please share. 

The Chase

As promised last week in the devotion "Fitness Is Meaningless," , we're going to spend a few days considering - for our health - the wisdom of a few passages of Ecclesiastes. Now, having spent the last few weeks studying it intently on a daily basis with Loretta (led by the wonderful teaching of Alistair Begg), I am more certain than ever that I am the least qualified to lead us through it. But with that said, if there's a life-topic capable of delivering the point of this book or a genre able to display itself as a prime example of the message of Ecclesiastes, it's "fitness."

And so, over the next few days, we'll peel back just a few layers to try and reveal some of the Teacher's intent and then we'll try our best to apply it to our daily lives. And because the book of Ecclesiastes is written by "the Teacher, son of David," let's pretend we're in school together as the lesson begins. So pull up a chair, or a bench. Put down the weight, rack the bar, turn off the music. Let the gym of your heart quiet and the yearning end, even if just for a minute.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. (v. 1:2)”

— The Teacher

 For many of us, Sunday night is meal prep. We measure, weigh, package and display (often with a polaroid for social media) our next 5 days of culinary mastery, not for its appearance so much, but merely to boast and alert anyone that we eat with a purpose. But this isn't a jab at our reluctance and outright obliviousness to those that are hungry, but rather it's to help us realize just how hungry we are. Hungry for, well, let's follow the pattern of the chase; best if you read the next sentence with increasing speed of cadence. 

We meal prep, we seek sleep, we wake early, we eat, to train, to work, to eat, to sleep, to wake, to eat, to train, to work, to eat, to sleep, to wake, to eat, to train, to work, to eat, to sleep, to wake, to eat, to train to work, to eat, to sleep to wake. Week after week, after week, after week, the chase continues. 

Eugene Peterson once wrote, "Everything we try is so promising at first! But nothing ever seems to amount to very much. We intensify our efforts, but the harder we work at it, the less we get out of it. Ecclesiastes is a famous - perhaps the most famous - witness to this experience of futility. It's a John-the-Baptist kind of book. It functions not as a meal, but as a bath. It's not nourishment, but a cleansing."

Speaking of an experience of futility, as soon as we end our training session, the molecular bodies within us begin repairing the damage we've done, right? No big surprise. Many of us - whether consciously or subconsciously - erroneously base our joy on the limits we find for ourselves and the measurements we can calculate and compare over time. But there's close to a justifiable reason for it. Our bodies - along with our very souls - know they we were once formed perfectly. And I'm not talking about before our birth, but before Adam.

Since the fall, we deal with a broken world and breaking bodies, but that longing you and I have for pristine health isn't a mistake, it's in our divine DNA. Our bodies know what they were intended for and capable of within their God-given makeup. We strive for perfection because that was the original intent. Our cells yearn and our fibers long for their original design and ideal conditions. 

But the second the striving ceases, the body begins the rebuilding process of progress, which ironically is the first phase of its retreat, of its weakening, of its slowing.

And so here we are. A group of sinners saved by grace; a group with a passion for health and a fire in the belly to pick heavy things up and set them down with rhythmic regularity; a group sitting in gym class with our hearts at a rare steady rate, listening to the Teacher bring home the message for us loud and clear: We're chasing the wind. 

-Jimmy Peña

HOMEWORK: Read Ecclesiastes. (And if you have access to it, try reading the message translation for this short series of ours. ) Any thoughts at this point? Talk to me.

Fitness Is Meaningless

“Pleasures in life mock us because they are fleeting.”

— Alistair Begg

Taking the wonderful Alistair Begg's quote and applying it to our vein would mean simply and profoundly that every physical accomplishment that you and I can make in this life, whether in the gym, on the road or in sports - everything we do mocks us because it's all so temporary. So fleeting. 

My wife and I have been studying the book of Ecclesiastes over the last few weeks, and I'm not so sure that any book has had a more tangible, practical impact on my life than this one in recent memory. I'm collecting my thoughts and heart around a few of its passages, and I hope to write a series to begin next week, but if I were to be so bold as to try and summarize the book of Ecclesiastes for us as fitness experts and health-minded believers, it would be this: Fear God. Fitness is meaningless. 

Now, I would pull that punch or at least provide some sort of qualifier for the other foot to drop provided my short summary, but here's the thing, it's true. Mind you, the writer of Ecclesiastes is incredibly wise (probably - with the exception of Jesus - the wisest that ever lived), so I urge you to read it before next week. And for the purpose of the common denominator of physical stewardship that we share, try and strain your health through each chapter. And as we'll see together, once you and I begin to fear God, the less we fear losing muscle. And at the risk of sounding crazy to some of you (or to my younger self), equally true is this: The more we fear God, the less anxious we are about the gain of muscle.

Truth is, and from experience, the mirror can mock us in its praise as much as it can mock us in its critique. But that mocking - whether by flattering us or offending us -  will only take effect, it will only land and take root, it will only disturb us if we have yet to settle our hearts on that which isn't so fleeting. 

-Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Are you being mocked by the pleasure of health or the pain of its loss? I hope you plan on joining me next week as we go through our last full series of the year before we dive into the Christmas season. And please be praying for me and Team PrayFit as we head into next week. Speaking of, let's go to the Lord together. It's been a while since we've had the chance to meet like this, so if you have a prayer request or a need that you'd like to share, please list it in the comment section. If you'd rather say "unspoken" please do so and we promise to pray for you by name.

Advent

We know the story, but we love it. Two thousand years ago, God made an unexpected trip. Because we were unable to get to Him, He came to us. God left Heaven's hall for Bethlehem's stall. He then climbed out of his crib and onto the cross for your sins and mine. Imagine, God with us. Say that out loud and emphasize a few words with me. God with us. God with us. God with us. Amazing, isn't it? The distance He traveled for you and me. I love Christmas time. The traditions, old and new. But something about Christmas will never change, and that's the story of our Savior. So Jesus, we know the story, but tell us again. Show us the faith in Joseph's eyes. Reveal the awe on a shepherd's face. Convey the courage of Mary. We know the story, but take us back. Remind us that your birth began a rescue mission. We know the story, but please Jesus, we love it. Be born again.

 --Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Now and again over the next few weeks, we'll take a look at Christmas and some of the incredible themes we can apply to our health. What are some of the ways Christmas helps put your health into perspective? I'd love to know. I may even write about it, so please share. Let's have a good week, friends.

CYBER MONDAY: Hey everyone. If the Lord allows, please share with your friends our special membership offer. Today is the last day to enjoy a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITY. Everything from small group curriculum, training and nutrition tutorials, athlete/celebrity interviews and more, for one price. No monthly dues and unlimited access to PrayFit, the membership.  It's through your memberships that we can continue to operate this site and provide ongoing leadership in the area of faith and fitness.  Plus, everything in the store is 25% off today. Thanks everyone.

blessed with "nothing"

“We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord
out of fear for their safety.”

— A.W. Tozer

Do me a favor and hold out your hands. Palms up, spread your fingers out. Everyone in position? That says, "I have everything, I possess nothing." Now close your hands. Make a fist. Squeeze. That says, "I have what I want. I possess. Mine."

Neat week. Thanks guys for walking with me through this precious work by Tozer. If you believe there is a "blessedness of possessing nothing" would you say amen in the comment section? But I admit, when Tozer prays, "Father I want to know you, but my cowardly heart fears to give up its toys," I am particularly convicted.

Like you, I can find myself worrying about my fleeting health, my dwindling bank account, my depreciating assets, my lack of influence, my staggering status, my place at the table. But if I've learned and am learning anything over the last few years, it's that I realize I really, really, really don't possess anything.

With my health in particular, even my finest and fittest days won't be a footnote in eternity. Bless God, as much as I miss the chalk flying and tightening my belt for battle, I'm finished and done with training to compete with my "yesterday" or working to determine my reflection of tomorrow. Sure, the science guy inside me will miss the principle and I will continue to care for these aging bones, but I'm focused on several lifetimes from now. I'm thinking long-term. When it comes to my outlook on training, I have 10,000-year goals.

Anything less than an eternal outlook of the body is a tragedy.

"Father, please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that You may enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for You will be the light of it."

It may not happen today, but I pray each of us can stamp our heel into whatever "thing" has had us bound. Could be body image, social media pressure, status, supreme fitness, debilitating illness, name it. In a world that demands that we possess everything - may we raise our weary hands, turn over our palms, open our little fingers and say, tis blessed to possess nothing. I have Jesus - my everything.

-Jimmy Peña

The Sweet Theology

When we concluded yesterday's entry, Tozer had just summarized Abraham's situation as God says in effect, "It's all right Abraham. I never intended  that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there."

Abraham has just made his heart right with God. He realizes his rank. He knows his place. And more importantly, he knows God's place. And God allows Abraham the gift of Isaac, and in effect all of the promises of God and the future generations.

Fast-forward to a weary, broken down fitness writer sharing his thoughts on the screen with some fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that he loves dearly. (That's you and me.) What does Abraham's story have to do with us all these years later? What does the temple of his heart have to do with the temple of ours? 

Tozer says, "Now he (Abraham) was a man wholly surrendered, a man utterly obedient, a man who possessed nothing. Everything he owned was still his to enjoy: sheep, camels, herds, good of every sort. He also had his wife and his friends, and best of all he had his son Isaac safe by his side. He had everything, but he possessed nothing. That is the sweet theology."

Guys, before we conclude our brief and humble trace of Tozer's chapter tomorrow, what does he mean when he said that Abraham had everything but possessed nothing?  And if we were to distill this story down into its most basic parts to try and relate it to our fragile health, what is the lesson? Help me write tomorrow's entry.
And get ready....

-Jimmy Peña

Temple of Your Heart Part I

In preparing for the third installment of our small, inadequate attempt at reviewing Tozer, I remembered an old question that some of you have heard me ask. You'll forgive me if I repeat a portion of it: "Would you forfeit your health for the Lord? More specifically, would you give up your fitness lifestyle if God asked you to?"

Maybe you're a runner. An avid runner. Your calendar is marked -- not with holidays and birthdays -- but with 10Ks. Or perhaps you're a fitness junkie. You lift, you sprint, you jump rope, you sweat and you repeat it...six days a week. What if God asked you to give it all up? And no, He doesn't give you His reasoning because He doesn't need to explain Himself to you. All you know is that the one passion you have in life -- that ONE thing that fulfills you and makes you...you -- He wants you to relinquish. No more gym. No more road. How would you feel? Sad, confused, both? What would you do? Well, before you say, "Jimmy, I doubt God would ever ask me to give up something like that," with the help of Tozer, let's look at someone who would beg to differ...

Tozer writes, "The baby (Isaac) represented everything sacred to his father's heart: the promises of God, the covenants, the hopes of the years. As he watched Isaac grow, the heart of the old man was knit closer to the life of his son till at last the relationship bordered upon the perilous. God stepped in to save both father and son, "Take thine son and offer him..." The sacred writer spares us a close-up of the agony that night when the aged man had it out with his God, but possibly not again until One greater than Abraham wrestled in the garden of Gethsemane did such mortal pain visit a human soul. This was Abraham's trial by fire, and he did not fail in the crucible. God let the suffering old man go through with it up to the point where He knew there would be no retreat, and then forbade him to lay a hand upon the boy. And then says in effect, It's all right, Abraham. I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there."

....part I.

-Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: The temple of your heart. Does God reign there unchallenged? Has the stitching between our heart for God and our passion for fitness grown indistinguishable? Too many days - let alone workouts - have I spent attempting to allow other things challenge God for His rightful place...

I asked our opening question on Facebook yesterday, and here are a few of the responses:

Gina Rodriguez writes: I'm going to write something that may not be "right" but it's hard for me to answer this quickly..... My heart wants to say "heck yeah!" Of course! However, deep in my heart I know it would hurt... It would hurt me because I have a problem with wanting to know "why".... And with that I will say I pray that I would obey, but I am stubborn.... And I may need to be on my knees for help because as easy as it sounds to say yes, it's a lot harder to do. I know myself, and I know my shortcomings, and I know that complete surrender is something I need the Holy Spirit to help me with. So now that this question is thrown out there, I know I need to reflect on things and make sure God is center.... Completely the center of it all.

Trisha Kinney says: The simple answer is YES... And, if you can't say yes, then you know you have an idol in your life! God may not take issue with the "exercise", or any specific hobby that may take your time... He is concerned about where that "hobby" falls on your list of priorities! 
God has asked this of me... But, in my case it wasn't to stop exercising ( because frankly it saved my life ) it was to put Jesus back on the throne in my life... Because, He is ultimately what truly saved my life! The exercise was just another discipline to help me grow in my walk with Him... However, it quickly took center stage!
I mourned, then I was humbled, then I evaluated my priorities... Finally, I reconfigured my lifestyle pertaining to fitness. It is a daily awareness of what "fitness" is in my life... and is NOT!

Jennifer Huber says: Jimmy this really gets me to thinking....
A year ago I would've struggled with giving up my daily workouts or my passion for hitting the pavement. I would've used every excuse in the book on why and how I could serve God wholeheartedly and train hard 6x a week. I've learned a hard lesson. You cant.
My mind and heart was not solely focused on his word and my prayer life was not strong. I was more into the next rep and the big PR.
God got my attention when my husband began having extreme leg pain which we thought was sciatica, had xrays and discovered he has severe spine degeneration in his mid- back from an injury 20 yrs ago. Before his diagnosis and even now I pray harder than I ever have, I am living and breathing his word and when I do workout it's to stay healthy not to be the best. My relationship with God, my family and health that's a big deal.
I'm grateful for the grace he shows us daily, sometimes we don't understand the circumstance he uses to get our attention but we need to trust that he is in control. 
I am still praying for a complete healing in his back and his pain to cease in Jesus name!

Melanie Dominique replies: I would pray about it and if He really wanted me to heck yeah. I am probably using it to sin. Making it a priority over time spent and focused on Him. Perhaps I've made it a false idol. He said He's a jealous God. It's a no brainer.

MaryAnne Rowinski answered: Yes, of course! Listen and obey! The listening part is easy. I'm not so sure the obey part is that easy.

And Heather Faxon responded: I would be sad and confused! I would hope I could say yes though. It's hard to live in this world. What society says about what defines us. I'm sure it would be hard but I'm growing in faith everyday and pray that what I know to believe that defines me is jesus and my faith in him. There's all kinds of things and people that drives us to believe we need to live up to worldly standard. My pray is that I could ultimately lose all control and have completely true faith in my savior!

Surrender

When you're down on the mat, and the wrestler has his grip on you - the grip that has made you powerless - fighting isn't the way out of his grasp. Surrender is.

Yesterday we said that the only way to destroy the foe of self - even the self of fitness and health - is by the Cross.  Tomorrow we dive into Tozer's narrative of Abraham and Isaac, but before we do, I need to ask you a question: Are you wrestling with the foe of self? Of fitness? Of health? Of status? Of comparison? Followers? Significance? Perhaps significance as a brand? As a voice?

Tozer says. "The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty. The blessed ones who possess the Kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing. These are the "poor in spirit." But the ancient curse will not go out painlessly. He will not lie down and die in obedience to our command. He must be torn out of our heart like a plant from the soil. He must be expelled from our soil by violence."

Plainly put, if our pursuit of fitness isn't leading us to a deeper knowledge of God, then that ache - the deepening root - that buries itself within our fibers and nourishes our desire for great health needs to be uprooted by force. And guys, it's not painless. It doesn't go away easily. It doesn't lie down in obedience. But it's when we stop fighting, stop comparing, stop striving, stop masking; that's when we overcome the enemy. It's when we tap out - even if it means being in worse physical shape - that we gain all things. It's when we surrender that-  "ours is the Kingdom of Heaven."

-Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: I may have mentioned that Tozer is like Nolan Ryan pitching to me as a 5-year old, well, any disagreements? From the last couple of days, what phrase of Tozer has stood out to you. One that we could spend a week on is "the lonely valleys of soul poverty." What does that mean to you and how can we relate soul poverty to our pursuit of physical stewardship? Is there any connection? I think there is...

Exploring Tozer

“Let him take up his cross, and follow me.”

— Matthew 16:24

Imagine a little boy stepping into the batter's box to face Nolan Ryan in game 7 of the World Series. An oversized helmet hangs over his little eyes as he tries to hit a 100mph pitch with a baseball bat he can hardly lift off the ground. Got the visual? Good. That's how I feel as I sit down to wrap our week around A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God. Although, it's actually not the entire work I'll be taking a swing at, it's just one chapter. Well, I say "chapter" but it's really just a few pages of the chapter. Ok, so let's call it a few lines from a couple of pages of one chapter. Batter up, kid.

Each Wednesday, I have the honor of gathering with a small group of brilliant men on the beautiful campus of Pepperdine in Malibu. From esteemed university deans to lowly fitness writers, this small group of men pray together, read together and break bread. It's the highlight of my week. And this year we're studying - you guessed it - Tozer.

Well, the chapter I've been hearing from the Lord to write about this week is called, The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing. And if you've read it, you realize the impossible task before me. Nonetheless, there is a blessedness of possessing nothing; even muscle, endurance, strength, breath, and life. I hope you don't miss a day.

-Jimmy Peña

PrayFit Book Club
Today's reading of Tozer

"Before the Lord God made man upon the earth He first prepared for him by creating a world of useful and pleasant things for his sustenance and delight. In the Genesis account of the creation these are called simply "things." They were made for man's uses, but they were meant always to be external to the man and subservient to him. In the deep heart of the man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come.

Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and "things" were allowed to enter. Within the human heart "things" have taken over. Men have now by nature no peace within their hearts, for God is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk stubborn and aggressive usurpers fight among themselves for first place on the throne.

This is not a mere metaphor, but an accurate analysis of our real spiritual trouble. There is within the human heart a tough fibrous root of fallen life whose nature is to possess, always to possess. It covets "things" with a deep and fierce passion. The roots of our hearts have grown down into things, and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die. Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended. God's gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution.

Our Lord referred to this tyranny of things when He said to His disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it."

Breaking this truth into fragments for our better understanding, it would seem that there is within each of us an enemy which we tolerate at our peril. Jesus called it "life" and "self," or as we would say, the selflife. Its chief characteristic is its possessiveness: the words "gain" and "profit" suggest this. To allow this enemy to live is in the end to lose everything. To repudiate it and give up all for Christ's sake is to lose nothing at last, but to preserve everything unto life eternal. And possibly also a hint is given here as to the only effective way to destroy this foe: it is by the Cross. "Let him take up his cross and follow me." - A.W Tozer

For Discussion: Tozer wrote this in 1948. You'd think he was writing in 2015. Imagine what he would think about this "selfie" generation. But that aside, have the roots of our hearts toward the pursuit of health grown deeper than God intended? I highly encourage you to read this excerpt again. And this time, try and direct its meaning toward our common denominator here at PrayFit. Has our gift of health taken the place of God? Have the roots of our hearts grown so deep into the body, body parts, physique, performance and health that if we pull one little root out, we feel like we'll die?

Giving Water

Hey guys, as you know we're coming up on 7 years of PrayFit Ministries. Seven years! Some of you have been around for every one of them. We've been through a lot together, amen? So many devotions and discussions; topics and themes; laughter and tears. There have been some high times!

Like, you remember the first book, then the Tonight Show mention, HBO Pay-Per-View Boxing, and eventually the DVDs and the Simon & Schuster cookbook! God allowed us to be featured and discussed on Daystar, The Talk, CNN's Pierce Morgan and so many more. Wow, right? And there have been some tough times too. You were around for the time I got sick (two spines and a colon) and when I permanently lost my ability to train. And you were here when I lost my Preacher.

So much to look back on, (and I can't promise we won't be having a review of the things as we draw nearer to the birthday), but I wanted to fill you in on how we're going to celebrate; by giving.

We're partnering with our friends and charity:water to help people have access to clean water. Guys, I can't express to you how much I love this charity. They're incredible. And they do a cool thing with birthdays (ahem! - hint, hint.)

But seriously, many of us have no idea what it's like to be thirsty. We have plenty of water to drink -- even the water in our toilets is clean! But many people around the world don’t have that luxury. Every day, about 1,400 children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world.

So to celebrate our birthday, what I'd like us to do is to build a PrayFit WELL! And we can do it too guys! If even a fraction of the 11,000 people reading this devotion gave just $7 to charity:water as a birthday present to PrayFit, we'd build a well. Which means we could give 300 people clean water for the rest of their lives if everyone gave just $7. 

And the best part is, 100% of the donations will be used to build clean water projects, and when they’re complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped.  And everything you give is tax deductible.

I'm including a Birthday Video below so you can see them in action, and you can click this link to give to PrayFit's birthday campaign. I really, really want to do this with you friends. I need your help. Will you join me? 

-Jimmy Peña

Strength and Honor

Today, we pause to humbly offer our gratitude to those who have served or are currently in uniform for the cause of freedom at home and abroad. The dangers you face and the sacrifices you and your families make are gestures that are not lost on us.

If you know a veteran, reach out to say thanks. If you see one, take the time to offer a word of encouragement. If you are one, then we hope that you are blessed today. Join us in prayers of protection for those who so dutifully protect us or leave a few words of affirmation in the comments section below.

Veterans, today we honor you. Thank you for your service.

--Jimmy Peña

Adopted

Yesterday was National Adoption Day. Did you celebrate it? Well, if you were adopted or you adopted your kids, we stand with the rest of America and honor you. But we can all celebrate national adoption day. I'll let Max Lucado explain:

When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, he also adopts us! It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but he does more. He gives you his name. It would be enough if God just set you free, but he does more. He takes you home.

Adoptive parents understand this more than anyone. We biological parents know well the earnest longing to have a child. But in many cases our cribs were filled easily. We decided to have a child and a child came. In fact sometimes the child came with no decision. I’ve heard of unplanned pregnancies, but I’ve never heard of an unplanned adoption.

If anybody understands God’s ardor for his children, it’s someone who has rescued an orphan from despair, for that is what God has done for us. God sought you, found you, signed the papers and took you home! - Max Lucado

Here's to ‪#‎WorldAdoptionDay‬ from your friends at PrayFit.

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PrayFit 7

 In honor of our 7th birthday, we're rolling out the PrayFit "7" series, beginning with our newest hoodie. Thank you for helping support this ministry for the last 7 years. A few more "7" products will be hitting the store, but thank you in advance for your faithfulness. Grow in grace.

Watch What God Does

The other day on social media, I offered this challenge for those about to train. You may have been one of the many that accepted it, but if not, I wanted to lay it down here. 

Privately pray for someone you're training next to. Could be the person on the bike next to you, the lady in your yoga class, the guy doing leg extensions, a fellow runner...just pray for them. For their relationship with Jesus, their family, health, finances. Pick someone out and quietly enter Heaven on their behalf. (You don't have to lay hands on them), but just simply talk to God about them. Like you and me, they need help. You may not even know their name. And when you smile at them, they may never know that you've just talked to the God of the universe about them. And that's cool. The challenge is set. No fanfare, no attention, no likes, just love. Pray for the people you train next to. Watch what God does.

As we close out the week, will you commit to this? If so, would you say "amen" in the comments section? Let's be a quiet, praying army today.

-Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Are you a member of PrayFit? A little known secret is that we have a membership at prayfit.org. It's a new space where we house the PrayFit Small Group Curriculum (new every week and month for you and your friends), as well as a growing database of exercise physiology videos, articles, fitness and nutrition expertise and the upcoming challenges and movement tutorials. Pretty neat.  Your membership allows us to maintain the scope and breath of what God has called us to to do at PrayFit. Hope you join the fellowship! And thank you for your constant support and prayers.

In Awe of You

May we leave the gym each day in more awe of God than when we walked in. And may our tiny, infinitesimal muscles with our miraculous neuromuscular system - negotiating lifts and coordinating movements - along with the involuntary mechanisms of lungs breathing and hearts beating - simply stir in us one giant, unmistakeable, instantaneous reminder of His awesome greatness and our gross dependence. Whether we enjoy walking on the treadmill or digging holes in the squat rack, taking classes or teaching them - when we leave the gym - we're not just opening the door after a workout, "whew." 
We're opening the door after a miracle, "Wow!"

We'll never lift better than we live. We'll never run better than we walk. Aren't we glad that - for us - Jesus did both.

-Jimmy Peña

PrayFit 7 Series
You guys know me by now. I don't push merchandise down your throat or try and get too cute and clever and use faith to push fashion. I'd say 99% of you couldn't pick me out of a line-up and that's fine. It's not about me. The message of PrayFit is clear. Jesus is our boast and health is a gift of grace. Period.

Seven years ago this January, we started writing faith & fitness devotions on a little blog. God took that blog and created PrayFit Ministries. He made us intentional, gave us clarity, boldness and most of all, He gave us you; people to serve.

Since then we've had millions of readers on the most popular faith & fitness devotion ever published, two national best-selling books and two #1 ranked DVD's on Amazon and Walmart, as well as a conference series called PrayFit RISE (get ready Dallas). And in honor of our 7th birthday, we're rolling out the PrayFit "7" series, beginning with our newest hoodie.

Thank you for helping support this ministry for the last 7 years. A few more "7" products will be hitting the store, but thank you in advance for your faithfulness. Grow in grace.

High Hopes

“Most of us go through life worried that people will think too little of us. Paul went through life worried that people would think too much of him.”

— D. Carson

Confession. I was so skinny in high school, I never wore a short-sleeved shirt to class; not one day in 4 years. At least not during regular school hours. And shorts? Probably didn't own a pair. But then came college, old Russell gym, grad school and years of practice. After that, I wore short sleeves and shorts 365 days a year, rain or shine. As long as I was growing, I was showing. I even walked around with a bit of what we called "lat syndrome," as if I was so wide I'd have trouble fitting through the door. I had a sincere belief that I would be bigger and stronger each week, and I trained with that kind of hope. Even as a Christian, I based much of my satisfaction on my ability to pick heavy things up and set them down and to do it multiple times. Sounds kind of corny to describe it that way, but I glorified in my ability to lift stuff.

But hope changes everything.

I recently read a blurb on social media from someone saying that you can trust the iron, because "Iron will never lie to you, iron is your best friend, and you can trust it, because 200 lbs will always be 200 lbs." What a commentary. I chuckle a little, because I could have easily written that 20 years ago. Thing is, it's just not true.

We can't put our trust in a weight we can lift.

Guys, hopefully something you've read this week has been a reminder that we don't base our satisfaction - our hope - in any "thing;" be it the money in our wallets, the cars in the garage, the boat hitched to the trailer (for those of you with boats), or the gifts of diligence in the gym. We can dig and dig and dig and dig, but the well of stuff - even health stuff - is dry. Bone dry. Should we strive to be the best at our calling, absolutely. Work hard? Without a doubt. But the hope on our lips, and in our hearts, and on our minds, can't be found on the scale, or in the mirror, or under the bar, or the bench, or from the PR (or via the selfie you take in its aftermath.) Our highest hope is in the person of Jesus.

Are you training - living - with that kind of hope?

-Jimmy Peña

Hope Tested, Father Approved

Hey everyone, after a recent Bible study on "hope," I created a test of Hope for us. Ok, please put your Bibles away and keep your eyes on your own lives. You may begin.

True of False: 
1. Fulfillment in life does not hinge on our circumstances.
2. Paul discovered that the “secret” to contentment was not found in things, but in a Person.
3. God’s grace is sufficient during adversity.
4. Paul discovered that God’s power is most evident when we are weak.
5. God’s grace is more than sufficient for anything we will encounter.
6. The key to maintaining hope through adversity is to view it as suffering for Christ’s sake.
7. Like Paul’s mission in life, yours is to glorify God through spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ

When it comes to our health specifically, God wants all the attention. God is the "God of hope" and He delivers all the hope we need when we invite Him into our hearts. I have trouble wrapping my head around that. As believers, we've never had more hope than we do at this very moment. (What's easier for me to grasp is the fact that I don't have faith in it.) Truth is, at any given moment of the day, you can find me feeling hopeless about my spine, or my colon issues, or this ministry, or finances, or my future, or...or...my colon issues. (Twice - yes - don't I know it.)

What about you? Do you find it tough not to focus on circumstances or things? What about during adversity or when you feel weak? But aren't we blessed, that despite our challenges - when hope is tested - God gets all the attention. I suppose it's one way to remember that God is near and we can have the "peace that surpasses our understanding"(Phil 4:7). Hope will do that. (Every time.)

-Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: How did you do on the test? What's the one area where perhaps - while you believe all the points above to be TRUE - you feel less than hopeful? Talk to me.

A Prayer of Hope

Yesterday we started living again, breathing again, hoping and running; but not away. And with so many prayer requests, there's no better place for us to go. Leading us in prayer is Rev. Scotty Smith. "Dear heavenly Father, my stuffed-up head and slightly sore throat are mere irritants, compared to the health crises many of us face as this day begins. How we long for the Day of no more cancer, no more dementia, no more heart disease, no more respiratory issues, no more Ebola and AIDS, no more disease of any kind—the Day of perfect health.

Thank you for the promise of a resurrection body that will never get sick, wear out, or die. Thank you that our life in the new heaven and new earth will not include visits to the ER, health insurance, medical bills, hospitals, nursing homes, palliative care, or funeral homes. Hasten that Day, Father, hasten it.

Until then, we will pray for healing—thankful that Jesus’ finished work has secured the redemption of our whole being—mind, body, and spirit. Though we’d love for you to answer all of our prayers affirmatively, and on our timetable, we will trust and love you when you grant us sufficient grace instead of instant healing (2 Cor. 12:7-12).

Father, we will also seek to take care of these “tents” in which we live (2 Cor. 5:1-5). Thank you for good food, opportunities for exercise, the gift of sleep, clean water—gifts you’ve given us by grace—gifts you intend us to share with others. Indeed, Father, may our suffering make us more sensitive to the sufferings of others. Even as Jesus joyfully fulfilled the law for us, grant us great joy in fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2), as we bear one another’s burdens. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ triumphant and tender name."

-Rev. Scotty Smith

For Discussion: The hope of glory is what makes this life bearable. Anyone praying for healing, say amen.

Hope Week

Remember the scene in Forest Gump when young Forest is being chased by those mean bullies? Classic. "Run Forest!" Well, I love the priceless moment when his leg braces start breaking off and falling to the ground. The look of recognition on his face in that instant - wide-eyed joy, borderline unbelief and unconfined exuberance - I think that's what hope looks like. 

The singing, preaching trio of Phillips, Craig and Dean have a few lines in one of their songs that goes, "It's like I woke up for the first time breathing. It's like I looked up for the first time seeing. I'm learning to live again. I'm learning to love again. I'm learning to dream again. It's like I've been born again. There's nothing but open road...I'm saying hello to life...This is what hope feels like.

You guessed it. I'm calling it Hope Week. Sound good? And like young Forest, we're not looking back. The braces are off. The chains are falling around us and we're dreaming. We're free. We're hard-charging life! The only difference is, we're not running away. 

-Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: What are we praying about today? What are we hoping in the Lord about? Let's pray together. If you'd prefer, say "Unspoken" and we promise to pray for you by name. This is the moment. Open road. Hello, life.

A Second Coat

You want know reason I take care car? he asked in his deep Russian accent. You want know why take care car? Because car take care me. Carry me. Yes? You understand this? Car is me. Me is car."

Enter last night's lesson in stewardship. Not a new concept, mind you, but as I was coming home, a sweet, Russian neighbor of mine was outside - as he is daily - wiping down his old car. Now, I say old because it is, but it doesn't look it. This antique of his looks newer than next year's 2016 models. 

Sasha, with his sweet demeanor and his 6-ft, 4-in hunched posture is nearly eighty. He suffers from colon cancer and wears a medical pack that sends medicine into his system every hour. He's sweet, kind and likes to over-water his front porch plants. And every day, if NASA needs to reset its clocks, it looks to Sasha taking care of his car for reference. There he is right now as I type this sentence, buffing out any smudges and spit-shining the wheels.

How are you feeling Sasha? Yes, good, very good, 'sank'-you, is his standard reply, although most days I think he's hurting more than he lets on. Car looks great, Sasha. "Yes, sank-you. Yes, car is me."

I always love that answer of his.

Honor. Respect. Sasha is well aware he won't last forever, and he knows he can't take the car with him. But there's something to be said about genuine and humble care for the vehicle that gets him from here to there so he can complete his life's task. Much like our bodies and souls were a match made in Heaven, Sasha feels a connection between his life and the car God gave him to get through it. Atta boy, Sasha. Why not give it a second coat.

-Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Like I said, not a new concept, but it never gets old. Can anyone relate to Sasha? Are you on your second coat? What is your definition of stewardship? Help me write an entry for next week with your answer. 

I Didn't Hear No Bell

In Rocky V - one of the least known of the series of films - Rocky has a flashback where he sees himself inside the ring with his trainer, Mickey. It's a great scene; one of my all-time favorites. In the midst of his work, Rocky lowered his arms signifying he was finished, but Mickey quickly shouts, "Hey, I didn't hear no bell!" and Rocky assumes the battle. I think about that scene a lot. Used to be, I'd whisper "I didn't hear no bell" to myself while we destroyed each other in the gym, loading plate after plate for rep after rep. But over the years the scene has grown to mean much more.

We're stoppable. We have God-given abilities with God-given limits. And that's a God-given compliment. What do we do with a compliment God gives us? We accept it. And our response in the form of our highest effort is one of the ways we simply say thank you for the gift of limitation. When was the last time you praised and applauded God for His allowance of your limits? I've said it before, but when we honor Him with our bodies, it's worship. And that worship won't stop until He says the fight is over.

You know, like Rocky - whose time in the ring ended only by the bell - you and I are still in it. We're mixing it up with the best life can throw at us. Finances, relationships, health. And when it comes to our health, even though we do our best to put up our dukes to slip its jab, the physical fight is one we will eventually lose. I know it's a blow to the body, but health is a losing battle. Thankfully,gracefully, our spiritual battle was fought and won only when He said, "It Is finished."

Oh yes. We're stoppable. And if the world hears that as an admission of weakness, they're right. Only, we hear it as applause. From us. 

-Jimmy Peña

PrayFit Members and Small Group Leaders: This video is now uploaded and ready for your small groups in the PrayFit membership portal. Let's dig deeper into this video and the topic together. If you're not a member, I would be so honored if you joined us. With your help, we're able to add more content each and every month. And yes, everything is included in the low monthly fee -  from small group curriculum for churches, to the nutrition, training and articles, as well as the upcoming community challenges and at-home exercise videos! Designed with you in mind and all for the glory of God. Thanks everyone. Your membership helps us continue serving you and those you love. Keep praying for us!