Free Fallin

"Come, follow me." -- Matthew 4:18-20 Whew, Friday. Looking back down the week's mountain, some of us wonder how and why we made it. I know I do. That Monday meeting, Tuesday's test, Wednesday's disappointment. You get the point. But it's ok to look back. Moses looked back at the sea he crossed. Daniel looked back at his bed in a lion's den. And Jesus? He looked back too. Of all the memories He had on Friday, our future was one of them. Nestle yourself around that last sentence for a second, it's ok.

Jesus finished His toughest week to give us purpose in ours. How did Gideon, Moses, Daniel, Peter and Paul become conquerors? He's How, He's Why. Of all the things Jesus said, "It is finished" is one of the toughest to remember or even believe some days; at least the way my sinner's heart works. To think He fought my battle for me and gave me victory! Glory. Before He conquered sin and death, He was thinking about me and He was thinking about you.

If that doesn't put a smile on your face! Hey, remember that scene in Jerry McGuire when he's so happy while he's driving he can't find the right song on the radio to sing along with until he was....."Free Fallin! Yeah I'm free!.....free falling. I'm FREE!!! That's what grace does to us. So as we finish out the week, striving to honor God with our bodies, be conquered. Be conquered by Jesus and the price He paid to set us free; free from everything that would cause us to look back and see anything other than His finished work.

Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Neat week, huh guys? Say amen if you're free. Me first. I'm free. Free falling. Have a good weekend. Grace.

Imperfect Me

Been a good week for me personally. Hope it's been the same for all of you. (Say 'amen' in the comment section if hearing something about Gideon, Moses and Daniel BEFORE they became "Gideon, Moses and Daniel" has been a blessing.) Well, in the heart of our week's theme, I came across a list of Biblical characters that had their share of "before" moments.

--Noah was a drunk. Abraham was too old. Isaac was a daydreamer. Jacob was a liar. Leah was ugly. Joseph was abused. Moses had a stuttering problem. Gideon was afraid. Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer. Rahab was a prostitute. Jeremiah and Timothy were too young. David had an affair and was a murderer. Elijah was suicidal. Isaiah preached naked. Jonah ran from God. Naomi was a widow. Job went bankrupt. John the Baptist ate bugs. Peter denied Christ. The Disciples fell asleep while praying. Martha worried about everything. The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once. Zaccheus was too small. Paul was too religious. Timothy had an ulcer…AND Lazarus.....was dead! (Author Unknown)

I admit, I could have (or probably have) written devotions on each character and story. However, please be sure and tune in tomorrow for just...one...more.

And lastly, this week's theme is perfect for a song I shared with you about a year ago. It's called "Imperfect Me" by my friend Smokie Norful. Bless your life and download this song on iTunes. Read the sweet lyrics. Similar to our "Before They Were Conquerors" week, this song asks the Lord, "Why Me? How do you see the good in imperfect me?" And tomorrow, we'll answer it. - Jimmy Peña

For so long I've tried to figure out the reason why You used my life as a sign and a guiding light. I'm a bird with one wing, A song with no melody, But somehow I fly and sing Because of how You see me. What do you know that I don't? And how do you hear that song in me? I say I'm lost. You say I'm free. How do you see the good in imperfect me?

Go Back and Ask

"God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites. I AM has sent me to you." --Exodus 3:14 Back in high school, I had a basketball coach ask me if I’d come back to the team. It had been a couple years since I’d played, and by then I’d become a one-sport athlete. His question was as brief as it was surprising when he asked, “Jimmy, we need you back. Will you play?” My response was only a little less expected than what he said next. I replied, “Wow coach, thank you. I just need to check with my Dad first.” To which he smiled and said, “No Jimmy, I was only testing you, seeing if you’d be there for us.”

He shook my hand and thanked me. (I admit, I was relieved.) A little test, I guess. Whether I passed or not, I’m not sure. But I’ve thought about that moment over the years. His question - my response - his reply. And I remember telling my Dad about it later that night. He loved that my answer required his blessing.

When Moses needed a name, he got one. "Tell them I AM sent you." Before Moses did any conquering, before he became one of the greatest leaders the world ever knew, he needed guidance. The leader needed leading. So he went back and asked for it. Not the run-of-the-mill, garden-variety, Twitter-savvy kind of guidance, but he needed what only God could give; Himself.

Notice, Moses didn't gather his wits, self-confidence or assurance. He didn't look in the mirror or take a selfie and repeat to himself, "You're Moses, you're strong, talented, you're handsome and happy. You GOT THIS!" No, Moses knew what was up. And he wasn't up for the task without the Lord. Who are we to think otherwise? Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Isn't it reassuring to begin a task knowing you've been praying about it? But if you're like me, you can remember times (even as recently as yesterday) that you began something without going back to ask. Before we can conquer anything for the Lord, we need the blessing from the Lord.

Not A Scratch

Continuing our "Before They Were Conquerors" series, Danny was class president. Voted most likely to succeed. He was large and in charge. His name topped the list. Yes indeed, he out-shined them all. And they hated him for it. In fact, Danny's enemies resented him so much that they looked into his past to find at least one skeleton to bust him; just one scandal to try and ruin his reputation and bring him down a notch or two. But alas, not a scratch on him. The bullies in his life couldn't find one bad thing about him. No dirt. So they figured the only way to bring down this "goody two-shoes" was to trap him and find him breaking the law; a law they were about to write. THE DECREE: "For the next thirty days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you, O king. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions’ den." (v. 6-7)

THE RESPONSE: "When Daniel learned that the decree had been signed and posted, he continued to pray just as he had always done. His house had windows in the upstairs that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt there in prayer, thanking and praising his God." (v.10)

This is where this gets good for me. Walking out of the lion's den without a scratch on him, Daniel said, "God sent his angel who closed the mouths of the lions..." Yes sir. He praised God. The first thing he did was the very thing that got him thrown down there in the first place. And as far as his enemies, the decree that was meant to shut the mouth of Daniel did not have the effect they had hoped. (You have to read the rest of the chapter six to find out what I mean.)

Maybe you're taking a stance. Could be for better health, maybe it's your stance on humility, your decision not to gossip, or your inability to quit on a dream you know God inspired in you...either way...you will not flinch. Is that you? Are you praising God despite the rules? Maybe Daniel is your Biblical counterpart. Before he was a conqueror, he worshiped. My, what company you keep. - Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Eventually, Daniel even had king Darius himself worshiping God. Can you think of a better legacy?

I Am The Least

Last week we mentioned we were going to take a look at Biblical characters at the moment before they became conquerors, and well, Gideon's story is so cool. To get somewhat of a sense of a backdrop, read the first part of Judges 6 with me: "Yet again the People of Israel went back to doing evil in God’s sight. God put them under the domination of Midian for seven years. Midian overpowered Israel. Because of Midian, the People of Israel made for themselves hideouts in the mountains—caves and forts. When Israel planted its crops, Midian and Amalek, the easterners, would invade them, camp in their fields, and destroy their crops all the way down to Gaza. They left nothing for them to live on, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. Bringing their cattle and tents, they came in and took over, like an invasion of locusts. And their camels—past counting! They marched in and devastated the country. The People of Israel, reduced to grinding poverty by Midian, cried out to God for help." (v. 1-6)

Pretty bleak times for Israel. Well, enter Gideon. Hiding in a wine press, Gideon is threshing wheat in private to avoid being seen by the Midianites when the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "God is with you, mighty warrior." Now, this exchange is where this gets good for me, because first, I can imagine Gideon looking over his shoulder when he replied, "Who, me? My family is the weakest, and I am the least of them." But the angel of the Lord knew what Gideon was capable of - and probably knew the future - and addressed Gideon by his God-given character and future reputation and said, "Go in your strength." (v. 14)

Wow. This wasn't some pep talk: You can do it, Gideon. This was a description: God is with you, man of valor and you've already done it.

As we start the week, what's on your plate? Big meeting at work? School stuff? How's your health? Let's go to Him together as a family. List your prayer requests for the week or simply say "unspoken" and we will all pray for each other. Gideon knew he was the least, but with God he had a future. Like us. Jimmy

Before They Were Conquerors

In my men's Bible study this semester, we're studying the books of Joshua and Judges, and this week we began our discussion on Gideon. Many of us are probably familiar with the story of Gideon, but what was Gideon doing right before God called him? It's a question I learned the answer to earlier this week, and I think I'd like to wrap our hearts around its idea. We'll get into it further, but Gideon said, "I am the least" after the angel of the Lord told him, "Go in your strength." It's pretty cool. If you can, read the first 6 chapters of Judges this weekend (or listen to them on our app.) The Bible says that you and I have been made more than conquerors, overcomers in this life through Jesus. Past tense. We've been made conquerors, because to God our future is history, and when Jesus said, "It is finished," He was not only talking to us but He was talking for us. Like my pastor Shawn Thornton says, "Jesus didn't just die for us, He lived for us too." What relief.

You know, as I learned -specifically through Gideon's life this week - I don't always pray with that kind of comfort, let alone that kind of faith. As a matter of fact, I wonder how I would pray if I knew what God knew. How would you pray if you knew what God knew? That thought may deserve an entry next week, but beginning Monday, we're going to take a look a few Biblical characters and examine their lives before the glory in their story. I think we will all learn something pretty valuable about our own lives and how we deal with our health. I hope you'll join me. Have a great weekend everyone. Grow in grace. - Jimmy

Oxygen Debt

As athletes, you know the feeling; hands on your knees, trying to catch your breath after a grueling set of wind sprints. You try and stand tall, putting your hands on your head, desperately gasping for air. Before you know it, coach blows the whistle for the team to get back on the line to do it all over again. In exercise physiology there are all sorts of wonderful phenomena going on inside your body immediately following an intense bout of exercise. One of the more traditional terms tossed around, and one that was hammered into my head during graduate school, was the term "oxygen debt." And for the sake of the conversation, you can think of oxygen debt as recovery time, or the amount of oxygen required during recovery to get your body back to a steady, normal state. The thing of it is, while it's called oxygen debt, it's not something you can actually pay back.

Rev. Scotty Smith says, "Breathe in God's grace like you breath in air. It's just as vital, actually, more so." Reading that makes me think back to those old days of training. If you're a swimmer, maybe the gasp just above the water is a better picture. Either way, air is vital for our survival. But even more so is the grace that God offers us through Jesus. And the sin debt He paid in full on the cross of Calvary is a debt we can't repay. Good works -- when performed to try and keep us in good standing -- will only leave us gasping; think of a fish out of water. That's us without grace.

So while we're in the midst of the Lenten season, keep that in mind. Grace allows us to breathe easy while we work. Because no matter your success or failure at whatever commitment the beautiful Holy season inspires in you, God can't love you any more or any less than He does right now. So don't try and repay Him. Simply accept His grace, take a deep breath and sigh.

--Jimmy Peña

Our RSVP

Last week around this time you would have seen me polishing my shoes and straightening my tie, as Loretta made some last minute decisions on earrings. We dressed up. Yes sir. Although my beautiful bride and I were likely the most unrecognizable pair at the pre-Oscar party, we dressed to the nines. Granted, our names are not in lights or surrounded by a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, so I know full well that our presence wasn't because of anything we'd done, but only because of who I know (and who knows me). One of my favorite writers, Pastor Tullian said, "Grace is the gift with no strings attached." Like our presence at the party, nothing we've done merits the invitation, but because the Host wants us there, our acceptance is enough. And I like to think that our temporary health - our life - is in many ways our opportunity to proclaim our RSVP (and to invite others to join us.) Jimmy Peña

P.S. And you know what's cool? We spent a good portion of our time with some folks who didn't merit the invitation either, but who also loved Jesus. We sat and realized how blessed we were to be there, and we talked about Jesus a lot. (Good practice.)

--Jimmy Peña

45 DAYS! Speaking of RSVP, there are 45 days until PrayFit RISE Los Angeles; a time discussing our health as it relates to service, evangelism, worship, stewardship, discipline and more - and of course - seen through the gospel's lens. We're wanting nothing more, and we're praying for nothing less than for Jesus to be glorified in all we think, say and do. We hope you can join us. (www.prayfitrise.org) (If you can't, you may have friends on Facebook and other social media that may not follow PrayFit but who may live in the Los Angeles area. Would you share this just in case?) They may want to attend and we'll enjoy serving them. Thanks everyone and pray for us!

Grace In Numbers

"But he gives us more grace." --James 4:6 Max Lucado once wrote, "Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off." I thought of that quote yesterday while going through the vast number of prayer requests for those needing to come to Christ; each name was mentioned out loud and every need lifted by all of us at PrayFit, not to mention a countless number of all of you that went through them. Thank you for your prayer support. Grace in numbers.

Speaking of, how many of you reading this today are hearing the voice of grace? You eat right, get your exercise in, take your vitamins. But there's something that's been missing. Something more important. Something...deeper. A show of hands of those that have taken care of the body, but you hear God knocking on the door of your heart, letting you know He misses His time with you. Or maybe the voice inside is urging you to improve your relationship with your spouse, someone at work, or "that" neighbor. Until now, you've shrugged it off. You've done the math and you can't figure out why bother. Besides, the mirror still agrees with you, the money isn't bad, and you suppose that "If that neighbor wants to talk to me -- then, well -- they can come talk to me." But that's what grace is. It's the solution to our toughest equations.

I know sometimes the math of life just doesn't add up. We scratch our heads. We multiply our hurts and subtract our days. We feel divided, because it's not always easy to forgive, or cope, or strive, or to be modest, or patient, or try harder, or quieter. But the longer I live, the sweeter the proof is that when you carry the One, grace always solves for why.

--Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: What is the voice of grace urging you to change? Your health? Bible study time? Other? Remember, if the Lord is urging us, He gives us the power to pull it off.

That Is The Technique

Watching a friend's conference online this weekend, I had the enormous pleasure of listening to various teachers and preachers address students at Wheaton College. The topic of the weekend was evangelism, and Matt Brown (author of Awakening and PrayFit RISE LA special guest) assembled all the speakers for the gathering. It's amazing how powerful words are, because even though I was a thousand miles away, I was impacted tremendously. There I was at my laptop, watching worship leaders play and sing, when they called their next speaker, Will Graham; the grandson of Billy Graham. Oh guys, I can't explain how good it was. He sounded so much like his grandaddy, first of all, but some of the things he said reminded me of last week's entries. And something in particular caught my heart's attention. He said, "If anyone knows it's not about him, it's my grandfather. Billy Graham has nothing special in him to call anyone to Jesus Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can do that." He went on to say, "Faith comes by hearing - and hearing by the Word of God. My friends, THAT is the technique. You'll never lead anyone to Christ without words. You'll never live a good enough life to lead someone to Christ." (Wow. Go ahead and take all that in again.)

Evangelism: The Preaching of the Gospel of Jesus. As we start our week, let Will Graham's words echo in your heart as they echo in mine. We talked about evangelizing the fitness industry last week, but let's make sure we actually talk about and say the name JESUS to those we run with, stretch with, and train beside. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we want to talk about Him. And the more we want to talk about Him, the more opportunities we'll find to do so. And the more we do so, the more we'll actually evangelize our industry. THAT is the technique. Jimmy Peña

Prayer Requests: I have some friends I am hoping come to know Jesus as their Savior, will you help me pray for them? And if you have friends you're working on, raise your hand here by saying "Yes" in the comments section and your name and those you're hoping come to know Christ will be raised in our prayer time.

The Missing Peace

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." --1 Corinthians 14:33 I've never been very good at riddles. My brain just doesn't work like that. Crosswords? Forget 'em. For the life of me, I can't keep from looking up the answers in the back of the book. But puzzles? Well, that's a different story. Loretta and I enjoy a good puzzle. Shopping for one is easy too. You just find a cool picture, and that's it. You bring it home, spread the puzzle out on the table, prop up the photo and get to work. It's not long before what used to be in pieces begins to take the shape of the goal.

But how easy would it be if you took away the box with the picture on it? Tough, right? Or what if you turned off the lights, what then? How easy would it be to put that puzzle together?

For those without Christ, that's life. They piece together hours, days and weeks, assembling their lives -- on feel alone -- without Christ. As Christians, our lives are not easily assembled either. (If you're with me, say 'amen'.) Though we have Christ as our picture of perfection and more than enough light for a million-piece-life, we still stumble and struggle to put it together. Yet deep inside, we have that missing peace, don't we?

You know, Loretta and I can both be looking for the same piece of our little puzzle and when one of us finds it, what's the first thing we do? We show it to each other. We share it. Then we watch how it fills the empty space. And it's not long before what used to be in pieces begins to take the shape of the goal. You and I have the missing peace, and someone we know is searching for Him. Someone at the gym, in spin class, at the yoga studio. No more riddles. Let's tell them.

--Jimmy Peña

Have a good weekend, kids.

Lent is a Heart Issue

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God." --Ephesians 2:8 As you'll soon see, we love this time of year. Longer days, better weather (baseball)...all help put a spring in my step. Maybe you're the same? It's just a good time of the year for fresh starts and new beginnings. Which reminded me yesterday, Louie Giglio once said, "For Lent, I'm giving up."

Naturally, we think there's something missing from his sentence. Um, Louie? You forgot something buddy. When in truth, "period" is exactly what should come next. As we begin the Lenten season, let's remember that it's all about Jesus and what He did for us; not about what we can do, give up, commit to, or accomplish. (Or about our failure to succeed at any of that.) Nothing to prove, lose or hide.

Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: Knowing the pressure isn't just off - it's non-existent - how does that help you prepare your heart for the Easter season? If part of your heart's preparation is indeed physical as part of obedience and humble stewardship, will your commitments to healthier choices take on new meaning? Will it help shape not only the goals you set, but how you prepare and execute them? Lent is a heart issue, because when Jesus said, "It is finished," it was and still is. Aren't we glad we don't have to measure up? (And that actually makes me want to work harder in all areas of life. Isn't that incredible?)

A Prayer For Lent

For the first day of Lent, I wanted to let Rev. Scotty Smith lead us in prayer: Dear Lord Jesus...Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. For the next forty days we’ll have the privilege of surveying your all-sufficient cross and acknowledging our present need, as we worship our way towards Easter Sunday — Resurrection Day, the foundation of our hope and the fountain of eternal joy.

For your glory and our growth, we ask you to inundate us with fresh grace in the coming weeks. We don’t want an ordinary Lenten season, Lord Jesus. Saturate it with the gospel. It’s all about you, Jesus. It is all about you, what you’ve done for us, not what we’ll promise to do for you.

Over these next forty days intensify our hunger, our assurance, and our longing for the day of your return—the Day of consummate joy—the wedding feast of the Lamb. Fill our hearts with your beauty and bounty, that we might freely confess and gladly repent of the ways we contradict the gospel — with our thoughts, words and deeds. So very Amen we pray, in your holy and loving name.

--Rev. Scotty Smith

With YOU: Friends, as we begin the season, we're here for you for all the ways you'll celebrate and prepare your hearts. From all of us at PrayFit, be blessed this first day of the greatest season God ever gave man to enjoy.

I Train Alone, But I'm Not

During college, my small band of training brothers was a tight-knit, crazy group. Whenever someone new would ask to train with us, we'd place bets on how long they'd last. Actually, I remember the non-verbal looks of recognition of knowing "this one won't last." We just went too heavy, too hard. We were too ferocious, asked too much, went too far. Mind you, I'm not smiling. This is not a moment of pride for me. I thought of that today as I was doing my bodyweight stuff. I'm doing push-ups and planks now, a few prescribed yoga stretches for my hips, as well as dumbbell work from the floor. I'm coming along, guys. And my workouts are as much worship as work. I get so into my music and praise that I often have to stop and talk to the Lord and love Him for His grace. Yeah, I train alone, but I'm not. Not that getting into "the zone" is wrong, but I've been so far in the zone in my life that you'd think I tuned out the Lord. Funny, after college, and the boys went our separate ways, I became the guy in the gym with his head down, music in, cap covering his eyes - leave me alone - I'm in the Jimmy zone. (Adding "Jimmy" right there just makes it sound even more silly.)

Call me crazy, but if we're going to evangelize our local gym and the fitness industry in general, we have to have the kinds of conversations - and asking the kinds of questions - that run the risk of sounding crazy. We have to speak to people. Train diligently, sure, but we are Christians - first and last - and that needs to be our resolve as we train. Reminds me, my grandmother had a great way of witnessing to people in public. She was a master at it. Whether to a waiter at a restaurant or to someone working at a grocery store, inevitably she'd ask them, "Are you a Christian?" And if they said yes, she'd say, "I knew it. You're so sweet." And if they said no, she'd say, "Oh you'd make a WONDERFUL Christian." (Always with an emphasis on the word "wonderful.") In either case, they felt great that someone noticed something in them that reminded her of Jesus. That's what we need to be doing wherever we train. Call me crazy, but love just makes us do crazy stuff. Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: What would Paul do if you took him to the gym with you? He'd talk to everyone, right? A captive audience. :-) Will you commit to training outside your comfort zone this week and get to know those around you? Maybe steal my grandmother's line? It works, and it will help break the ice as you witness to others. Just remember, you're not alone.

Let Us Use Them

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them." --Romans 12:6 If you have any classical music at the ready, go ahead and cue it up. (This reads better with it.) Ready? Now, imagine him. With only a candle to light the room, Mozart furiously scribbles with one hand while playing the piano with the other. His fingers can't keep up. Face buried in the music, he puts the finishing touches on a masterpiece. Although he's alone, he can hear every instrument lending its unique sound to the opus. Before a soul ever hears a note, he raises is head, closes his eyes and then...he's conducting.

Mozart left us his sheet music to follow, but if we play it out of key, it not only sounds wrong -- making dissonance out of harmony -- but it's not what the composer had intended. Friends, God gave us the instructions on how we should build our lives and how these bodies support that purpose. Are we being worthy craftsmen, fulfilling His intentions? He certainly didn't intend for us to worship ourselves in the mirror, but we also weren't designed to sit idle in front our TVs.

No, some of us are the hands -- the reachers and the helpers. Others are the feet -- the seekers and doers. You may be the ears, the good listener or the tongue, a fine speaker. But whether yours is the back that carries, or you have the shoulders that bear burdens, we are the body. And like the Bible says in Romans 12, "Let us use them."

--Jimmy Peña

Prayer Requests: Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes on Friday. You made my day. And guys, as we start the week, let's pray for each other. Let's go to the cross. Is someone you know sick and hurting? Maybe you have a big meeting this week. Whatever it is, let us know. If you'd rather not be specific, simply say "unspoken" and we promise to lift your name in prayer.

Numbered Days and Grace

Here's to 43. Today is my birthday. In some ways I feel younger than the math would report, but in other ways I'd say the math seems just about right. And my birthday falls at an ideal time, don't you think? During the days leading up to it, flower shops are buzzing and heart-shaped chocolates are everywhere. Love is in the air. And the older I get, the more I notice it. Thank you, Lord, for my life, my wife, family, friends, my health. Thank you that you've numbered my days. Whereas when I was younger that truth seemed limiting, these days it's liberating. As the years claim their increase on me, so does my dependence on you. Thank you for another year to try and live like you and love like you. Your grace amazes me. And thank you for enough health to keep fighting the good fight. Thank you that the fire you lit in my belly is still burning. Again, your grace still amazes me. Where some may think that faith grows when physical goals are achieved, my faith in you is increasing with every goal I can't reach. Lord, I just love you. Please bless each reader; each seeker of your heart on this site. Please bless their health and the health of their loved ones. Here's to 43, Lord. You gave it to me. I'll do my best to give it back. For it's in Jesus' name I pray, amen.

A Prayer About The Ultimate Romance

My friends at Revelation Wellness and Holy Yoga both love - and live - the phrase, "LOVE > fear." Appropriate I think at the end of fear week, don't you? And with Valentine's Day this weekend, I think I'll let Pastor Scotty Smith lead us in prayer. A Prayer About the Ultimate Romance "I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me." --Song of Solomon 7:10 Dear Lord Jesus, it’s the weekend in our culture in which red hearts, overpriced cards, dark chocolates and cut flowers abound — Valentine’s Day is upon us. For some, it’s a day of incredible kindness, sweetness and gratitude. For others, it’s a day in which brokenness, loneliness and emptiness are magnified. For all of us, it should be a day in which are deepest longings for intimacy and connection find their way home to you, Jesus, the consummate lover.

I praise you for how generous you’ve been to me, in giving me rich tastes, tangible expressions, and a sensate celebration of genuine love in my marriage. There’ve been times when I’ve wondered how heaven itself could hold more joy than what I’ve known with my spouse…

But I equally praise you for showing me, time and time again, that no one human being (or any number of them)… no human romance story… no torrid love affair can possibly fill the vacuum in my soul that’s uniquely Jesus-shaped. Even the best marriage is two broken people, two redeemed sinners who will ultimately not be enough for the other.

Grant me, no, grace me with a deeper and richer experience of belonging to you, Jesus. You’re the ultimate Spouse. I know this, but I want to know it. One moment I believe you truly desire me, and in the next I’m filled with disconcerting unbelief. It’s in those times when I’m not alive to your pursuit of me, love for me and delight in me that I place unrealistic demands on other relationships. Instead of a steward, I become a user of others. Instead of a servant, I take up a scorecard to measure them by my expectations. Forgive me and free me from all such nonsense.

Let me love as you love me, until the day my betrothal becomes the day of great banqueting — the Day I long for more than any other… the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. So very Amen, I pray, in your tender and tenacious name.

--Scotty Smith

Scotty Smith is the Pastor for Preaching, Teaching and Worship at Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee and will be delivering the keynote speech at PrayFit RISE Los Angeles on April 11th.

When Fear is a Friend

"Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God..." --1 Peter 2:17 You may have anticipated today's entry -- for the other shoe to drop. Well, you'd be right, because there is a healthy kind of fear. Back in my heavy lifting days, after the warm-up and light sets, we'd gradually load more and more plates to the bar. As I wrapped my wrists and knees for the heavy stuff, the fire of fear would build inside me.

By the time I put my belt on and chalked-up, it was an inferno. A slap across my face and a deep inhale through the nose, and I'd get under the bar for battle. Indeed, I respected the bar too much not to respect it. Plainly said, fear dictated my posture for the moment, kept me sharp, alert, strong. Fear was a friend.

When the Bible talks about fearing the Lord, it's not referring to a scary fear -- it's talking about a reverence, an awe, a holy respect that brings wisdom. When we seek Him daily in prayer and Bible study, we gain wisdom from a love that's born through awesome fear. As Christians with a mind for health, our fear of the Lord should dictate our posture -- first in our kneeling and quiet times, and then in how we conduct ourselves in humility and diligence. Our fear of the Lord is what separates us from other fitness enthusiasts or athletes. In other words, we respect Him too much not to. Fear keeps us sharp, alert, strong. Make no mistake, fear can be a friend.

--Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: How else can fear be healthy? What do we fear more, not getting the approval and applause of others or not having God's approval? Is our life as health-minded believers a posture that proves it?

Serious Courage

Jesus takes our fears seriously. In fact, he takes our fears more seriously than we do. Imagine that for a second. Before He left earth, He left no doubt about it. More than any other command, Jesus urged us to not fear. Of everything we know the Lord said to us while dwelling among us, "fear not" topped the list. If you think about it, what stops us from sharing our faith with strangers? What hinders us from loving the unlovable, forgiving the unforgivable or attempting the impossible? Fear, fear and more fear. It's no wonder He encouraged courage. Fear paralyzes us. Bringing up the rear of the group at the haunted house from yesterday's entry, I was able to see things as they happened. And the one constant that fear forced the group to do was stop. Stop walking. Stop moving. Stopped cold and frozen. Predictably, at the stop sign of fear, we slam on the breaks.

Fear fools us. In one of the mazes, we were asked to wear 3-D glasses. Things appeared to be coming straight for us and fast. Better duck or get gobbled! But halfway through that maze, I took my glasses off. Turns out that things were actually much further away than they appeared. What a difference it was to see the source of fear with clear eyes.

Dear friends, Jesus takes our fears more seriously than we do. At a stop sign of fear? Run it. Blinded and confused? Try it with clear eyes. In the face of today's fear, let's take Him seriously, allowing courage to be our default reaction.

--Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: What has fear stopped you in pursuing today? Something about your health has you confused? Will courage be your default reaction? Friends, prayer is the key. What do you need courage for today? Whether for health-related issues or otherwise, list them below or simply say, "Unspoken...serious courage needed."

 "Awakening" Hits Stores Today!

Guys, please get this book. I've had the unique honor of reading it, and I was blessed to be asked to endorse it. It's awesome. And for those coming to PrayFit RISE, you'll get to meet and talk with Matt about it. Here's a short synopsis.

We keep hearing about weakening faith in our country, but God is alive and well in America. He is working right here and now in people of faith. This book will awaken your heart and soul to his presence and to the power of Christianity today, which will in turn ignite your faith and change your world. Christians in America are inundated with negative stories and statistics about the decline of the faith. Awakening is a very encouraging counter balance of astounding stories of God at work all around the world, and it will inspire you to take part.

Brown shares a collection of stories from his own experience that will deeply move and inspire Christians burdened over the state of our nation. He shares detailed descriptions of movements of faith reaching countless numbers of people for Christ--movements of deeply grounded faith in America led by the next generation.

This is a book that at every turn awakens believers to God's amazing work, and how they can be inspired to see the touch of God in their own community and church.

A Maze of Grace

With Friday the 13th approaching, I thought we'd tackle "Fear" this week. I'm reminded of the time a couple years ago when Loretta and I joined some friends at the haunted house at Universal Studios. To be honest, we're not huge fans of Halloween, and I was fresh off a surgery, but we enjoyed getting out with the gang. After dinner, the dozen of us like Scooby-Doo and friends, gathered our collective courage and dared the various mazes designed to haunt and scare. Like, Zoinks! Of course, I was hesitant. Not fully healed and still unable to move well, I was fine to sit it out and meet everyone at the end. And I would have gotten away with it were it not for my pesky friends. But in truth, a few things helped my decision to dare it. First, our group had private security in all directions to help keep us together. And second, the characters - whose job it was to frighten us along each path - were not allowed to touch us. Spook us, yes. Lunge at us, absolutely. But as long as I kept calm, I could walk in a straight line without fear; no need to react, wince or balk.

So like -- "gangway!" -- off we went. As we entered each maze, I literally found myself going through both a physical and mental checklist. First, I stood up tall, drew my core in tight and thought to myself 'nobody can touch you Jimmy. Don't react, just walk.'

Well, I foiled them. As the skeletons in the closet attempted to trap me and the shadowy unknown tried to paralyze me, I thought of each of you. So this week, let's unmask fear -- the good fear, bad fear and the beginning-of-wisdom kind of fear. Hopefully when all is said and done, we can echo the psalmist when he wrote, "When I am afraid I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal men do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4)

Let's have a good week in this maze of grace. Oh, and one more thing, let's remember to stick together.

--Jimmy Peña

For Discussion: On one of Louie Giglio's "Passion" CDs, Chris Tomlin sings, "I know Who goes before me. I know Who walks behind. The God of angel armies is always by my side." Does that bring comfort to anyone as we start the week?