Here I Am To Worship

As I explained the A PrayFit Summer to some friends yesterday, I was reminded of an old entry. Some of you may remember it and for others it may be new. But from a physical standpoint, this is it.

Here I am to worship. If it's been a while since you've been to the gym, whisper it to the Lord as you open that door. If you're starting to walk after work with your spouse, pray it together as you take that step. Maybe you're about to take a swim, go for a jog or start your at-home DVD. Whatever the case, say it: Here I am to worship.

And as you do, remember -- it's not about the mirror, or lower bodyfat, or the muscle. Those things may happen, they may not. If they do, consider them gifts of obedience and blessings of diligence. But we believe it warms God's heart when we take care of ours. So go ahead. Lift, run, walk, swim, stretch. Have church. After all, you are a temple.

--Jimmy Peña
 

Join the challenge for just $10 by clicking here and get complimentary access to iPrayFit and entered into a sweepstakes for an all-expense paid trip for two to Los Angeles for PrayFit RISE.

PLUS!!

• Fitness and nutrition expertise and daily guidance
• Downloadable journals
• At-home training plans for beginners, intermediate and advanced
• Gym-specific routines; tips, techniques and strategies
• Are you a runner? We have a challenge for you too!
• "PrayFit Dares" that will rock your world and transform communities (these will stretch us all)
• Daily devotions, Scripture memory, Bible trivia (with ebooks, prizes and giveaways)
• Weekly webinars with Jimmy & Team PrayFit
• Private Facebook group; community, feedback, encouragement, accountability
• Downloadable "The PrayFit Prayer" and "The PrayFit Poem" posters.

More To Racing Than Winning

This weekend we announced "A PrayFit Summer" - a 4-week physical and spiritual challenge here at PrayFit. Something for everyone; for the walkers, the runners, the heavy lifters, those coming off long layoffs and those who never miss a workout...there is something in this challenge for all of us. It begins June 5th with pre-registration going on now, so I hope you'll sign up, It's only $10 with all of the proceeds going to support ministries such as global missions and kids affected by special needs.

Speaking of, on the morning we announced, Loretta and I happened to be scheduled to serve the special needs ministry at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village; the new home of PrayFit.org. Thankfully, I was paired again with my best buddy Jordan. It's my favorite day of the month, as you know. Thing is, I was a bit distracted as we began the day because of some technical difficulties with the launch site. Anyway, Jordan and I were talking and enjoying our conversation, playing with cars and stuff, and he says out of the blue, "You know, there's more to racing than winning, Jimmy."

Wait, what? Huh? Where did that come from, Jordan? Say that again?

He moved on to other topics like rocket ships and hot dogs, but I couldn't get beyond the sermon he just preached. I mean, I know it may have come from a movie he saw, but why say it now? I looked at him as he played. Here I was worried about the successful launch of the PrayFit challenge while the purpose of it was needing me to figure out if macaroni and cheese would make for a good snow cone.

Anyway, we finished our day and Jordan's mom picked him up. As he walked away, I fought back the tears as I have grown accustomed to doing, and as I turned and walked away, the fire in my belly grew hotter with every step. There is a purpose to our health, and it's not so that we can crush goals; what tiny objectives. The purpose of our health is so that we can live and love like Jesus, to spread the gospel, to serve those in need. And therein rests the entire purpose of "A PrayFit Summer."

No matter who you are, there is something in this challenge for you. And no matter what you get out of it, Jordan and his friends will be blessed simply because you chose to join the race. Take it from Jordan, there's more to racing than winning.

- Jimmy Peña

What's In The Challenge?

For only $10:

• Fitness and nutrition expertise and daily guidance
• Downloadable journals
• At-home training plans for beginners, intermediate and advanced
• Gym-specific routines; tips, techniques and strategies
• Are you a runner? We have a challenge for you too!
• "PrayFit Dares" that will rock your world and transform communities (these will stretch us all)
• Daily devotions, Scripture memory, Bible trivia (with ebooks, prizes and giveaways)
• Weekly webinars with Jimmy & Team PrayFit
• Private Facebook group; community, feedback, encouragement, accountability
• Downloadable "The PrayFit Prayer" and "The PrayFit Poem" posters.
  PLUS+
• Complimentary iPrayFit Membership throughout the challenge!
• Sweepstakes Drawing: Chance to win an all-expense paid trip for TWO to Los Angeles for PrayFit RISE 2017 just for signing up!

I Believe

“I lift my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and earth.

— Psalm 121:1

When Jesus asked the once blind beggar if he believed in the Son of Man, the man asked, "Who is he? That I may believe." Jesus said, "You're seeing Him. It is He that is speaking to you." With his eyes open, the beggar's next words: I believe.

I believe. What a powerful statement. Down through the centuries men and woman have staked their lives and their eternity on those two tiny words. We're going to wrap our hearts around them.

When I first started PrayFit back in 2009, much of what I'd do and say was hard-charged. Each day - like we had taken over enemy territory - I'd drive a stake in the ground with the still-certain truth that faith was the most powerful tool we have to conquer life's obstacles. Our mission was to help the church body take back their health, and I was going to help lead that charge as long as I could breathe.

The last few years - as some of you realize - the message changed. When I got sick, I learned first-hand that you don't always get what you work for, and things like illness are as much or more of an opportunity to exercise faith as wellness. God taught me that health is a gift of His grace.

In Christian artist For King and Country's hit "Shoulders," they answer Psalm 121:

“My help comes from you. You’re right here pulling me through. You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on your shoulders. Your shoulders. My help comes from You. You are my rest, my rescue. I don’t have to see to believe you’re lifting me up on your shoulders. Your shoulders." — For King and Country

Friends, I hope the mountain you face this week reminds you of both the Psalmist and the blind beggar. They lifted their eyes and believed. May you and I believe that God is right here pulling us through. The weakness, sickness, brokenness as well as the fitness.. All of it. His.

Mountains are no match. Let's close our eyes, take a deep breath, exhale and utter those two precious and powerful words: I believe.

- Jimmy Peña

For Discussion:
1) I still believe God gave us faith to conquer life's obstacles, and 2) I am more certain than ever that any health we have is a gift of grace. And when we embrace our faith by the grace of God, it changes everything. Glad you're here, guys. 

Speaking of mountains, here is a 'peak' - eh, see what I did there - at one of our newest videos in iPrayFit. Enjoy.  (For the entire video and series, log in!)

(And if you're not a member, I pray you'll join us. All of the proceeds go to support ministries like global missions and special needs care. Thanks guys.)

He Moves In

Years ago, I had the privilege of spending a week on the set of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. When it aired, I remembered the feeling I had when that family first answered the knock at the door, then came back a week later to a brand new house. Talk about gut-wrenching! Someone they never expected came into their world and freely gave them something they couldn't afford on their own. He saw where they lived and said you don't have to live here anymore.

As I stood and watched the process, I couldn't help but think of Jesus. Just like we did for that family, He knocks gently, anxiously awaiting our answer. But rather than calling for a wrecking ball, He does the unthinkable: He moves in. Instead of a hammer, He carries a suitcase. He gives us something we could never afford on our own -- Himself -- saying we don't have to live here anymore, alone.

–-Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: This Easter weekend, we spent time listening to Pastor Shawn Thornton explain to us that when Jesus died and rose again, He granted us immediate, unlimited access to the throne room of grace. Anytime, anywhere, and for any reason, we can boldly approach Him. Let's do just that. Quietly, humbly, boldly, let's move in. The veil was torn. No barrier. Freedom. Before we hit our workouts, let's begin this Monday with a simple, "Amen."

We're Silent

Today, we're silent. Like the angels that Friday, we're still. Like the naysayers and doubters who waited at the foot of the cross to hear Jesus take back His promises, and with the disciples who hid their faces from the enemies who sought them, we're speechless. It's Friday. And it is finished. 

- Jimmy Peña

Uphill Battles

Uphill battles. If anyone understood the phrase, Simon did.

Simon of Cyrene was of course the man who helped Jesus carry the cross up the hill toward Calvary. In one moment, a bystander. The next, a cross bearer. He did literally what you and I are called to do figuratively. Little did he know the example he was setting. I wonder if he knew his sin would soon be nailed to the tree he carried.

Uphill battles. If anyone understood the phrase, Jesus did.

Yet Jesus knew that what He faced, He had to face alone. Nobody on earth, above or below, could take His place as He took ours. But the thought of you and me facing our days without hope was enough to kill Him. The weight of the cross and our helplessness were more than He could bear.

Simon, Jesus. One cross and an uphill battle.

--Jimmy Peña

Discussion: The old song says, "I'll cherish the old rugged cross. Where my trophies at last I lay down. I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown." Are you singing that this week? In our busy lives, it's important for us to shift our gaze. Have you been able to turn your eyes toward Calvary this week in preparation for the resurrection? Let's spend the next few minutes doing just that. Perhaps in your heart you're taking someone you love with you; a family member, a friend, a lifting or running buddy, coworker. Somebody needs Jesus. Let's cherish the old rugged cross together.

What Will We Do With Easter?

Pastor Paul Tripp recently asked, "What will you do with Easter?" He related it to issues of life, money, relationships, and troubles.

What a powerful question for us in the fitness industry. What will we do with Easter when the storms of life arise? What will we do with Easter on Monday when we get to the gym, or the studio, or the track?

What will we do when we're tempted to gloat, to boast, to pat ourselves on the back? What will we do?

What will we do when we get sick? Like, really sick. What will we do when our dreams of gains, of glorious pain, of wondrous work, when the welcome pursuit of fitness is denied us? What will we do?

What will we do when the status call on social media stokes our fear of missing out? What will we do with Easter?

What will we do when our loss of muscle, or our gain of bodyfat, our diminishing bone mass, elevated resting heart rate, our unrelenting atrophy, our irreversible disease progression, or our unmistakeable loss of strength testifies to the truth that we are made of dust, not iron. What will we do with Easter?

When we peer into the empty tomb of Easter this weekend, that's the lens through which everything else in life can be seen, even our bodies. And as fitness people, as hard-chargers, as iron-pushers, as mile runners, record-breakers, goal makers, and as broken-down, out-of-the-game lifters like me, the empty tomb is full of grace, and joy, and relief. The thought of His victory eternally exceeds our loss or gains in this vapor-quick life.

What will we do with Easter?

- Jimmy Peña

What Sorry Company

Charles Spurgeon, in a sermon about the thief on the cross, said, "Carefully note that the crucified thief was our Lord's last companion on earth. What sorry company our Lord selected when he was here! He did not consort with the religious Pharisees or the philosophic Sadducees, but he was known as "the friend of publicans and sinners." How I rejoice at this! It gives me assurance that he will not refuse to associate with me. When the Lord Jesus made a friend of me, he certainly did not make a choice which brought him credit."

Yesterday we reminded ourselves that the passion and elation we have inside us was given to us by God for God. I'm reminded about the countless Biblical examples of people who had physical reactions to Jesus, either to be near Him or because they had just been with Him. We've said it before, but He just moves us! But there was one person who didn't move a muscle.

The criminal had just been given Heaven. Every sin of his wasted years had been forgiven, his name had just been written in the Lamb's book of life, and soon the angels would be teaching him to sing. And yet, despite this gift of grace and mercy, He didn't run to embrace Him. He didn't leap for joy, lift his hands in praise or kneel in worship. Why? Well, he couldn't move. See, the nails were too deep, the pain was too great. If he could've climbed down that cross, he probably would've demonstrated physically what his heart had experienced spiritually.

Given to us by God for God. May we marvel at how low Jesus went to meet us; that he rode on a donkey and spent his last minute with sinners. And may we make much of any chance we get to do what Christ's last companion couldn't.

I think Spurgeon has today's discussion:

"Do you think he gained any honour when he made a friend of you? Has he ever gained anything by us? No, my brethren; if Jesus had not stooped very low, he would not have come to me; and if he did not seek the most unworthy, he might not have come to you. Yes, after all, our Lord did make a good choice when he saved you and me; for in us he has found abundant room for his mercy and grace."

- Jimmy Peña

Madness

In his book, "The Explicit Gospel," Matt Chandler writes, "March madness is the greatest sporting event. I say that because it's also the last athletic venue in which David can still beat Goliath. All over the country, fans are nervous. They're nervous in their guts, they want their team to win so badly. They watch the games and yell at their televisions. "No!" Yes!" Kids are crying in fear, wives are running for more nachos - it's chaos. It's madness. With victory comes elation and surfing a thousand websites to read the same article over and over again, and with defeat comes destitution of spirit and days of mourning and moping, angrily arguing on a blog about who really deserved it or an official's botched call. Every bit of those affections, every bit of that emotion, and every bit of that passion was given to us by God for God. It was not given for basketball."

Yesterday marked Palm Sunday; the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an obscure donkey - whose job I would have gladly taken - amid the thrill and anticipation of a crowd with Final Four-like fever. The Messiah had arrived to overthrow the Romans. The favorite was entering the forum with no chance of losing. Phones out and selfies about, "LET'S GO, JESUS! LET'S GO, JESUS!" Any minute and you'd expect to hear "We are the Champions" being played in the background.

In our industry, even during Holy Week, we have an insatiable desire to conquer, to prove them wrong, to beat yesterday, to promote "faith and fitness," but like Chandler said, all of that passion and emotion that you and I feel toward the body - or our "ministry" - was given to us by God for God. As upside-down as it sounds, it wasn't given to us for fitness. It wasn't given to us for the gym, or a scoreboard, or a goal, or a crossfit competition, or in my case, an ongoing recovery or continued rehab. All of the stirring of desire that swirls deep within my belly for my most prized objective was given to me by Jesus to be used on Him alone. And here He comes. Here He comes down this narrow path on a mule amid chaos. What will I do with my moment near the Messiah?

As we enter Holy week, may we all simply halt the game. Fast-break or not, pick up the ball. Stop the momentum. Call a time out. Let the noise of the desperate crowd go silent even as they demand, "Shoot!! Shoot!"

Shoot, not this week. And maybe never again. At least not in the same way. Matt Chandler asks, "Where is our elation over the Resurrection?" Well, it's on our social media account. It's on our status. It's on our progress. It's on our 'one shot.'

Madness.

- Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Hope you'll join me all week as we prepare for Easter. Does anyone have prayer requests that we can go to the Lord about? We promise to pray for you, and if you'd rather not get specific, simply say, "unspoken" and we'll lift you up by name.

Carry Your Purpose

There he was.
Tied up.
Who knows how long he’d been waiting?
The most insignificant of animals with an inconsequential life.
No thoroughbred blood running through his veins.
His next meal was his only solace between chores.
A helpless laborer, a meaningless creature. When, all of a sudden…

If you’re like me, you’ve questioned your significance. Is this really what I was meant to do? Well, the next time you ponder your purpose, think of that donkey. Jesus asked for him SPECIFICALLY. Sure, the Lord could have chosen any method of transportation, but He chose him. Uniquely qualified, his purpose was to carry Jesus to His.

Forgive my sentimental imagination, but I like to think that a donkey NOBODY had ever ridden knew exactly who he carried. I bet he did his best to make Jesus proud. Of course we don’t know what the Lord said to him as He got off and walked away, maybe nothing. But this humble writer likes to think that as the crowd took Jesus the rest of the way, that little donkey stood taller than ever. After all, Jesus needed a ride. 

- Jimmy Peña

Question: Ever felt unnoticed? Passed over? Insignificant? Disregarded? Ever wondered what Jesus could use you for? No matter what your life’s calling or trade, there is someone you know or someone you don’t who is empty and lost. You’re hand-picked. Like the donkey in our story, you may be the carrier of their only hope. So, deliver. Carry your purpose.

The Unnecessary Gift

Sitting in a meeting yesterday, I was reminded of what a gift it is to be unnecessary. Today let's remember that God doesn't need our muscle, our grit or our flex. He doesn't need anything. He's God. We...are the needy ones. We need Him. More than we need to crush our goals, we need to be crushed by His grace. A thousand times more than we need to beat yesterday's best, we need to remember that it is already finished. Let's start the day with that thought.

God, please rearrange our workouts around You today. Let each rep, each mile, each stretch be a note in a symphony of praise; one that's pleasing to You. Help us remember that while our bodies have some value, the muscle we build on earth carries no weight in Heaven.

Please let our workouts be forgettable and our daily feats be nothing more than measurable reminders that You gave us limits. Like oil upon Your feet, we give You today's workout, and each meal, each session. It's all for You. May it please You. We love You.

- Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: God gave us the gift of being unnecessary. This is us opening it. A show of hands for those that need to be forgettable this week.

If It Pleases The King

Not sure if you caught the news story about the Broadway musical that pairs deaf actors with hearing actors, but basically, as the deaf actors sign, the hearing actors sing. It's quite moving. But something I heard during the interview of two of its cast members caught my attention. Sitting next to her deaf counterpart, the singing actor said, "What we're trying to create, the effect we're looking for, is that people will watch her and hear me."

We'll come back to that.

You may be familiar with the book of Nehemiah, and if you are, then you know that Nehemiah - a government worker in the employ of the king - becomes a building contractor called in to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. And while much of the story is a listing of all the many people that worked side-by-side on the project, what Nehemiah did immediately before and immediately after is our focus today.

Here's the scene: Nehemiah was distraught by what he'd learned of Jerusalem's appalling conditions and its wall burned with fire. When the king asked him why he looked so sad, Nehemiah told him of his homeland. The king then asked, "So what do you want?" And notice Nehemiah's default reaction: "Praying under my breath to the God of Heaven, I said, "If it pleases the king, send me to Judah, so that I can rebuild it." (ch.2, v. 2-5) Eventually, as Nehemiah says, "The generous hand of God was with me, and the king granted my requests." (v.8)  

So to recap: 
Nehemiah prays under his breath,
God answers,
the king gives,
God receives the glory, 
the wall is rebuilt.

Speaking of the wall being rebuilt, the faithful people of Israel rebuilt the wall in just 52 days, which was miraculous because the wall had been laying in ruin for 140 years. And when it was all said and done, Nehemiah proclaims, "The enemies lost their confidence, because they realized God was behind the work." (ch. 6, v. 16)

Far too many elements to consider in one entry, but what motivates me about Nehemiah - long before he picked up a hammer - was his heart to please God. And then when asked by the king, Nehemiah's first impulse was what? (As he takes his steps toward the king to reply, can't you just see him whispering to God? I love that visual.)

What's more, he prayed to God under his breath and then was bold and courageous about his reply. Through it all and after his work was done, Nehemiah gave all the credit to God. He wanted nothing more than for anyone who saw the wall - and anyone who heard the news it - to know that God alone was responsible.

Well, getting back to our Broadway story, I like to think the reporter conducting the interview reacted exactly the way Nehemiah would have wanted. She said simply, "I watched this play and I didn't think of two actors, I thought of one."

Oh, for people to think of God when they watch us work; to see us but hear Him. And before we pursue our work, our health, our bodies, our rebuilding, our progress - before it pleases the king - may today be the whisper under our breath.

- Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Why did Nehemiah's enemies lose their confidence? What role, if any, did Nehemiah play in it? In our industry, how can we learn from his example?

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New T-Shirts In The Store - For both the ladies and gentlemen, the classic t-shirt with front logo and our purpose on the back. I hope you enjoy them. Thank you for your support.

Opening Day

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." --Romans 8:1

Yep, I'm too predictable, aren't I? As I do each year, I'm celebrating the beginning of the Major League Baseball season. Of course, many of you know we're thrilled that the Boys of Summer have taken the field. In fact, I'm not kidding when I say I've been whistling "Take me out to the ballgame" a lot lately. (And maybe now so are you.)

But as I watched my beloved Yankees take the field yesterday, it occurred to me that Opening Day can teach us a lot about grace. Reason being, right before player step into the batter's box, each person's average on the screen will be .000 -- a clean slate. Reverend Scotty Smith says, "Jesus didn't just die to give us a clean slate, but to give us His righteousness." Take a swing at that for a second.

You know, each morning you and I step up to the plate ready to swing away at whatever the day throws at us. Thankfully, no matter how many strikeouts we had yesterday, God's mercy is new with each plate appearance. And with the Resurrection approaching, it feels so appropriate, no? Jesus conquered death so we can have life; an abundant life with no record of wrongs. When Jesus rose from the grave, He gave us every reason we need to look alive. You know, I'm now whistling a medley. "Take me out to the ballgame"...because I know "He Lives".

--Jimmy Peña

iPrayFit Project Update: Kids, we did it. We raised enough money to build a well. Charity Water sent me an email this weekend that congratulated us and thanked us for helping people get access to clean water. Because of YOU, we raised $10,189; enough to give people clean water for the rest of their lives. I just wanted to give you an update and to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your giving.

Love Me Tender

“There are none so tender
as those who have been skinned themselves.”

— C.H. Spurgeon

The genius use of the word tender in the quote above isn't lost on me; showing compassion because you're sensitive to the pain. And there in lies the meaning of our week.

It's well-documented that in his bedroom Charles Spurgeon had a plaque on the wall with Isaiah 48:10 on it that read: "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." He once wrote, "Men will never become great in divinity until they become great in suffering. There are none so tender as those who have been skinned themselves. Those who have been in the chamber of affliction know how to comfort those who are there. Do not believe that any man will become a physician unless he walks the hospital; and no one will become a comforter unless he lies in it, and has to suffer himself.” (Christian George, The Spurgeon Center.)

Cancer survivor and medical director, Dr. Eric D. Manheimer, of the Bellevue Hospital Center, said in the New York Times, "No amount of doctoring can prepare you for being a patient. If anything, it’s that recognition of vulnerability as well as expertise that makes me a better doctor today." Something tells me Dr. Manheimer would agree with Spurgeon.

So here we are. The end of a week where we looked at sickness and suffering through the eyes of a man that Carl Henry called “one of Christianity’s immortals.” I take a deep breath and shake my head slightly at the irony of that as I type, because when it came to embracing his mortality, few had a better grasp. After all, it was his illness, not his fitness, that assured him of God's grip on him and God's love for him.

"I, the preacher of this hour, beg to bear my witness that the worst days I have ever had have turned out to be my best. When God has seemed most cruel to me, he has been most kind. If there is anything in this world for which I would bless him more than for anything else, it is for pain and affliction. I am sure that in these things the richest, tenderest love has been manifested to me. Love letters from heaven are often sent in black-edged envelopes." 

Wow. Right? Spurgeon saw his disability as divine, his gout as godly and his suffering as safety. His greatest blessing wasn't wellness or strength or grit or ability or victory, but it was sickness, sorrow and loss. Why? Because of the arms to which they made him run. The dirt where his face sank was an altar. He worshipped where he wept. He saw it as guided, directed affection. First to him and then from him.

His tender pain was a love note that he would read and send back.

Now, I don't mean to put words into his mouth, but this old song comes to mind. As a modern-day psalm to his God, I think for Spurgeon it would be just about perfect...

Love me tender,
love me long,
take me to Your heart.
For it's there that I belong,
and we'll never part.

- Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: May that be the same for us. Guys, we have so many things going on in this entry, and this week, that it's impossible to summarize. If you missed "The Black Velvet" or "Resignation," I hope you find a moment. And I'd love to know your thoughts about the trio of entries. Circumstances prevented me from sending two of the days this week, but I hope it turned out right. Have a good weekend. 
And if you're suffering, I'll stay and sing with you. I know it by heart.

Resignation

Weirdest thing just happened. I sat down in my corner where I love to write to all of you and I turned on my music to an old album called, "The Story." Filled with amazing songs that walk us through the entire Bible, The Story has a song about the Old Testament's suffering Job; exactly who I wanted to think about tonight and for this series. But I'll come back to that.

Spurgeon, as we learned on Monday, had his share of deep, painful physical needs. So painful in fact that in 1886 he said, “When I am suffering very greatly from gout, if anybody walks heavily and noisily across the room, it gives me pain." In his autobiography he wrote, “I thought a cobra had bitten me and filled my veins with poison. I think it would have been less painful to have been burned alive at the stake than to have passed through those horrors and depressions of spirit.” (The Spurgeon Center)

It's no wonder Spurgeon was able to connect with his audience. He understood. It's no wonder he said, "The greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness." More than ever, I get it. If a once-able weightlifter can be so bold to say, only someone who has suffered thinks to check himself at the door of pride, remove his shoes, and while he may have plenty of head room, knows to stoop.

I remember lying in my bath tub. A year removed from my neck replacement surgery and two away from my back reconstruction, I was dealing with something far more severe. Most of you know I had a colon infirmity where a spasm prevented me from being able to function normally, and the 2-year, daily war with pain was nearly unbearable. For months leading up to that risky surgery - in my bathtub with water full of blood and waste - I'd cry, I'd worry, I'd get angry, I'd apologize to my body, I'd question. Until one day, I resigned. Those that have my latest book recall my journal entry:

"I never predicted such weeks like this. If I ever get up...if I ever hope and rise and stand...if I ever smile, truly smile and speak and write and encourage, make no mistake, it won't be because I kept fighting. It won't be because of my inner man, my deep faith or some gut-summoned passion of belief. No, I have none of that. If I ever get better, it will only be by the mercy and unbelievable, inconceivable grace of my dear God."

Spurgeon: "O dear friend, when thy grief presses thee to the very dust, worship there! If that spot has come to be thy Gethsemane, then present there thy ‘strong crying and tears’ unto thy God. Turn the vessel upside down, and let every drop run out; but let it be before the Lord. When you are bowed down beneath a heavy burden of sorrow, then take to worshipping...” (Job’s Resignation)

Notice the sermon title? Job's resignation. If you ever get a chance, google it and read it. Watch what Spurgeon does to describe a suffering Job. And as you do, realize that Spurgeon himself, perhaps the moment he delivered the message was in much agony himself.

You'll forgive the long entry today, but I often stand above that tub and look down. That tub, and the years, and the loss of function, the loss of weight and ability are the reasons I stoop when I enter your lives each day. Today the tub is quiet, it's kept and clean, but it's where I resigned. It will always be the "dust where I worshipped."

Well, anyway, let's bring this to a close. I think I'll end with that song about Job from The Story. The fact that I stumbled upon Spurgeon's sermon about Job's resignation the very minute this song began, well, it was just too good of a moment for me to ignore. Perhaps because I'll never forget it.

If one more person takes my hand and tries to say they understand.
Tells me there's a bigger plan that I'm not meant to see.
If one more person dare suggest that I held something unconfessed
and tries to make the dots connect from righteousness to easy street.
Who else will see my suffering as one more opportunity to educate and help me see all my flawed theology?
If one more well-intentioned friend tries to tie-up my loose ends;
hoping to - with rug and broom - sweep awkward moments from the room...

But who am I to make demands of the God of Abraham?
And God, who are You that You would choose to answer me with mercy new? 
How many more will wander passed to find me here among the ash.
Will you hold me? Will You stay so I can raise this broken praise to You?

But You were the one who filled my cup.
And You were the one who let it spill.
So blessed be Your Holy Name if you never fill it up again.
If this is where my story ends, just give me one more breath to say, "Hallelujah."  

- Jimmy Peña

The Black Velvet

Standing outside church this weekend, I happened to glance to my left to see a lady with her seeing eye dog walking toward the building. A rather large outdoor entryway, there's plenty of room to meet friends, grab a coffee, catch up and, as it turns out, to get a bit turned around.

Well, for whatever reason, I happened to look to my left and saw this Labrador retriever leading a red-headed blind believer toward the main entrance. But they were a bit off course. As they passed, I wondered if perhaps they were headed toward a small group of people gathered outside the building, but no. They walked right on by them. And then, having traveled a bit too far, they stopped. I knew something was wrong.

Walking up behind them, I asked if they were ok. She said, "We can't seem to find the door." She humorously blamed her sweet dog, who by the way looked a lot like Josey. I introduced myself, offered my assistance and helped them to the door. She said thanks. I nodded and winked at the sweet pup. He looked at me as if to let me know that he could take it from there.

(To think I thought I was the one helping them...)

Intrigued. That was the prevailing response I got last week from "The Black Velvet" post on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If you've arrived at our tiny corner of the internet because of that post, I'm so glad you're here. If you happen to be new, give me a shout in the comments section. Introduce yourself. You'll quickly find that PrayFit is a place where we love to forget our "self."

So, where was I? Oh, yes. The Black Velvet. Well, reading Spurgeon last week, I happened upon a wonderful quote of his. He said, "Our infirmities become the black velvet on which the diamond of God’s love glitters all the more brightly." Pause it. Close your eyes. Sit there for a second. The need for context is blinding, right?

Well, Spurgeon suffered from a myriad of mental and physical hardships; kidney inflammation, gout and depression just to name a few of his struggles. "You must go through the fire if you would have sympathy with others who tread the glowing coals," he later wrote. (Feel free to read that sentence again for its amazing imagery.) Meaning simply that if you've made it to the end of any distance of difficulty, you know what others are going through as they suffer in step, and your heart hurts along their way.

This week, we'll take a look at a few of Spurgeon's thoughts on the subject of illness and health and how the two paths convene and diverge along the road to Calvary. But to a "faith & fitness" industry - filled with its meadow maidens striking a pose under the guise of faith while verse-splattered tank tops with their easily-devised metaphors fill your media feed - Spurgeon has plenty to teach us. Some of you reading this sentence could likely add to its content, I'm sure, because your feet still throb from the coals of suffering.

And for those wondering if Spurgeon honored God with his ailing body (never mind the millions and millions of current readers) he baptized almost 15,000 members, maintained a weekly attendance of 6,000 people, and spawned 66 para-church ministries, including two orphanages and a theological college. By 1892, Spurgeon had published more words in the English language than any other Christian in history. Without the aid of television, radio, or the Internet, Spurgeon proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ to an estimated 10 million people in his lifetime (The Spurgeon Center).

So, as chief curtain holder, allow me to pull back Spurgeon's introduction to this week's theme; a theme that doesn't forget the forgotten canvas; that ignored territory that was trod most frequently by Jesus Himself on His road to Calvary.
The fit and fiddle mock it.
The strong and independent vilify it.
But the blind, the lame, the beggars, the sick, the suffering and the souls with their soles upon the coals, they kiss it. For those whose "grief presses them down to the very dust to worship” it's home. 

Pulling Curtain:
"Health is set before us as if it were the great thing to be desired above all other things. It is so? I would venture to say that the greatest blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness. Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health has. If some men, that I know of, could only be favored with a month of rheumatism, it would, by God’s grace, mellow them marvelously.”

Imagine. To be favored with illness. What would that do to our industry? Well, for this little corner of it, may the curtain we pull back this week be a source of perspective; a reservoir of comfort; a reminder that faith doesn't mean fitness. (It's almost absurd to clarify it, I know.) But may the curtain we pull back be the black velvet where God's love glitters. After all, like me, someone you know needs help finding the the door.

- Jimmy Peña

One Day More

"One day more. Another day, another destiny. This never-ending road to Calvary." Jean Valjean lived to see another day, and he lived to see his place in glory. In the end, he joined his heroes. He discovered what God in Heaven had in store.

Well, friends, in a week that could have been written to go in a thousand different directions, I hope something you've read about Les Mis has inspired hope in some area of your life and health. Whether it be to celebrate mercy, to think of others first, to forgive, and maybe even to help you battle pride. Pride, that's the war, amen? At least it is for me.

I recently ran across a retweet of someone quoting a popular fitness athlete who said, "No one and nothing can stop you from getting fit if you truly want to." (Oh to hear Jean Valjean's reply to that false statement.) Not sure how many "likes" she'll get on her wisdom, but I doubt she's ever visited a cancer wing or walked the halls of a children's hospital, and I know for certain she doesn't have a spinal disorder. I tell ya, sometimes pride makes us say the ugliest things.

But she needs grace just like the rest of us. Just like me, just like you. We need Jean Valjean-like grace. Truth is, you don't always get what you work for. But you always know WHO you work for, and that's the difference. A difference only grace can distinguish. If you have health, it's a gift. Open it, treasure it, use it, enjoy it, give thanks for it, and thrive. But we can't applaud Heaven while beating our chest. C.H. Spurgeon once wrote, "We have nothing to be proud of; the lowest place is ours; but Lord, we often conceive ourselves to be something when we are nothing.” 

Indeed, this morning's sunrise says we have another day. Another day, another destiny on our never-ending road to Calvary. Isn't it something? We're called to care for bodies that are designed to fail. What a humble honor. Some days just feel more humbling than others.

One day more.

-Jimmy Peña

There Is A Life

Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men?It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again. When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes.

If you know this song, it has a particular cadence. Yes indeed. Grace has a certain beat. And it builds.

Scotty Smith once wrote, "Lord, thank you for giving me back the control that I had given to others over my heart." Amen and amen. "Others" can be people, insecurities, jealousies, (insert your "others" here). When we get out of step when it comes to our relationship with the Lord - much like when we get out of our physical groove - our hearts tend to miss the beat. Like rust to a gear, nothing is more paralyzing to our souls than being out of God's will.

But thankfully, Jesus paid our sin debt which means God loves us as much as He ever has or ever will. And He'll never love us less regardless of how good or bad we act. In fact, God loves us as much as He does His own Son because our lives are hidden in His. And that's what I mean about grace having a certain beat. We can count on it. It is life's inexhaustible incentive and our eternal metronome. Jean Valjean sang his music like a man who would not be a slave again, and he did so with the fight of his life!

Guys, the closer we get to the Lord - each day nearer to Heaven - the greater the unmistakable echo grows. We may be fitness-minded, sure, but we're marching in the crusade all the same. Let's give all we can as we join the fight. Hearts under His control. Stand with me as I stand with you. We have a banner to advance.

- Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Whether "others" is social media, opinions, the mirror....we can take back that control. This is a music of a people who will not be slaves again. Let's spend time just talking to the Lord today about those things that have muddied and muffled the sound to which we should be marching. May the beating of our hearts echo the beating of the drum.

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Answer The Question

For his entire life, Jean Valjean ran. From his past, from guilt, shame, and from his accuser, Javert. Javert - who preferred to address Valjean by his prison-issued convict #24601 - made it his life's purpose to never let Valjean forget the past, the guilt, the shame and the law he broke. And in a terrible struggle with himself, Valjean faced his darkest fears by remembering who he was and where his strength came from. He goes to court to free an innocent man by revealing that he himself is the one the law pursues. He admits his guilt. He stops running. (Enter genuine freedom.)

Who am I? Can I condemn this man to slavery Pretend I do not feel his agony This innocent who bears my face Who goes to judgement in my place Who am I? How can I ever face my fellow men? How can I ever face myself again? My soul belongs to God, I know I made that bargain long ago He gave me hope when hope was gone He gave me strength to journey on Who am I? Who am I? I am Jean Valjean!

Chills just typing that. Jean Valjean defined himself by the One his soul belonged to; not by staying silent or claiming innocence. Freedom happens for us when grace happens to us; when we face the fact that we are nothing unless we accept Jesus and admit our sin. And His extended grace is what makes life possible. It's how we forgive others, love others, pursue life, and yes, it even defines our pursuit of health. You are not defined by your fitness or your illness.

But rather, your health is worth the effort, your modesty is worth the privacy, your illness is worth the pain, and your struggles are worth the agony, because God says who you are; His. So stop running. Turn, face your accuser and answer the question.

- Jimmy Peña

Support PrayFit by joining iPrayFit!

By joining the iPrayFit Membership, not only will you allow us to continue delivering content to people in need around the world, but you'll also receive invaluable education on health, illness, recovery, culinary expertise and exercise physiology. Just click here, join us and help support PrayFit.org.
We are so grateful for you.
 

A Tale of Grace

Meet Jean Valjean. A just-released prisoner. A vagabond with a past. No room in the inn. Nobody to take him in. Until, of course, he knocks on the door of a bishop named Monseigneur Myriel. Valjean tells the bishop his story and the bishop gives him a seat at his table, feeds him and provides a roof. Valjean, however, just can't wrap his head around forgiveness. It's too much for him. Restless in the still of the night, he proceeds to steal what little the bishop had and rushes out into the dark. He doesn't get far.

Police: "Monseigneur. We have your silver. We caught this man red-handed. He had the nerve to say you gave him this."

Bishop: "That is right. But my friend. You left so early. Surely something slipped your mind. You forgot, I gave these also. Would you leave the best behind?"

I'm not the first and I won't be the last to hoist the story of Les Misérables as one of the best tales of grace ever written. The things that Jean Valjean endures, and builds, and creates, and struggles through are too much to fill a week's worth of devotions. But like us, Valjean had a choice. Believe his accuser and be chained to his past, or trust his forgiver and live a life of victory; choose to stare into the whirlpool of his sin or let another story begin.

This week, we'll begin answering questions like "Who Am I?" and "Has Life Started?" as it relates to the stewardship of health. But for today, here's a question I'd love for you to answer:

Are we breathing, living, forgiving, working, striving and training for results? Or are we breathing, living, forgiving, working, striving and training AS as result? One is fleeting. The other, endless. One has limits. The other, limitless.

Isn't it amazing? Grace didn't simply give Jean Valjean the key to his chains, nor did it merely open the jail's door. Grace said, "What prison?"

Welcome to a week of Les Mis.

- Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: I felt like hanging out with Jean Valjean again, amen? Maybe you're in need of a few reminders as well. What does your week look like? What can we be praying for today?