Since 2009
THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION
The Guest List
Some of you have heard me tell this story, but during a week of naming traits, remembering blessings and jotting down unique lists, I think it works. About five 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: In a week spent celebrating and listing the gifts He's given us, I know full well that my greatest trait is my dependence on Him being home. Indeed, my life's highest meaning is my heart's manifest. End of story. As I type, I think it's neat to think that my guest list is yours. Have you enjoyed this week's theme? Has a look at your personal blessings and gifts helped shape your week physically or spiritually? Talk to me.
He gives us something we could never afford on our own -- Himself -- saying we don't have to live here anymore, alone.
HAVE YOU TRIED "THE PRAYFIT DIET?"
What It Is: It's a biblical recalibration of your relationship with nutrition, complete with a waistline-friendly plan for eating healthier forever. If you haven't tried it yet...here's a bit more info that might sway you!
Jimmy Peña, one of the nation’s most sought-after fitness experts, has been trusted by the most prominent names in the entertainment industry, including Tyler Perry, Mario Lopez, and LL Cool J, to help them look and feel their best. His highest calling, however, is transforming the bodies and souls of people all over the country through his powerful combination of faith and fitness called PrayFit.
In The PrayFit Diet, Peña offers an easy, effective program-including shopping lists, daily menus, and simple, delicious recipes. A healthy body, he explains, is not about restriction of either calories or food groups. Instead, it’s all about eating in equilibrium -- a perfect 33% macronutrient balance of carbs, protein, and fat every day, which will allow you to make dramatic changes to your health and your waistline. The balanced approach of The PrayFit Diet is not only inspired by biblical principles, but it’s also supported by today’s cutting-edge science, and Peña gives you a plan to shed weight and the motivation to keep it off for a lifetime.
In The PrayFit Diet, Peña shows us how faith is the most powerful tool we have to conquer all of life’s obstacles, and that includes our health. More importantly, God wants you to be at your best, physically and spiritually. By combining perfectly proportioned meals with biblically based motivation, The PrayFit Diet will give you all the tools you need to live a life that will both inspire you and honor the Lord.
Care in the Corners
The Bible says, "We all have different gifts each of which came because of the grace God gave us." (Romans 12:6) I can just see Michelangelo painting his chapel when I read that verse. It's well-docuented that if you were to ask Michelangelo about his gifts, he would tell you that he could taste the stone cutter's tools in the milk of his wet nurse. He knew what he was born to do. The last couple of days, we've looked at our unique, God-given gifts. Some of you even took the time to think about your specific lists. And despite our vast differences -- as if it were a mystery the other foot would fall -- we do have one amazing similarity. You can see it in every mirror. It rings in every ear. Do you know what it is? Between the singers among us, the writers, brick layers and those with the gift of hospitality, sales, law or manufacturing is a divine thread of commonality. The one trait all of us have is: choice. And I must say, choice becomes us all.
When Michelangelo was asked why he took so much time on painting the corners of the Sistine Chapel even though nobody would see them, he famously answered, "God will." Choice.
"Why does the earth spin? For Him. Why do you have talents and abilities? For Him. Everything and everyone exists to reveal His glory. Including you." -Max Lucado
It's no Sistine Chapel, and it won't summon sightseeing tours a hundred years from now, but when it comes to this little website, I take each word extremely seriously. Loretta will attest that not one word gets to you until it really gets to me. It's what I was born to do. And make no mistake, when it comes to the stewardship of the gift of health - our little corner of God's chapel on earth - we have a choice.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: Can you think of one of your gifts that you cherish with Michelangelo-like care? Even if nobody sees? If so, don't doubt for a second that it doesn't fill God's pride jar to watch you care for it in humility. After all, He made it especially for you to enjoy. And it's His delight that matters.
THE MESSAGE, DELIVERED
Jimmy Peña's message of health as a means of praise is being well-received by congregations around the country. His storytelling approach to how a healthy body can strengthen the body of Christ and inspire abundant living is a message you don't want to miss. For speaking appearances, ministry assistance, media inquiries, write us at [email protected]. Share this information with pastors, elders and influencers with the knowledge that there is never a speaking fee for churches!
What's My Line?
What do I do well? Ever asked yourself that question? Yesterday, when I encouraged you to begin jotting down your unique qualities and strengths, what made the list? If, for instance, you dislike running, I doubt wind sprints came in at No. 1. But if you love cooking, I'm betting that "recipe-creator extraordinaire" may be front and center. If so, what time's dinner? In one of my favorite movies, A Few Good Men, Jack Nicholson gives one of his best performances. And in a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of it, cast members recall the first time they all sat around reading the script together. Everyone was simply reading and going about the business until it was Jack's turn. In character, holding nothing back, Jack delivered the line as if the camera was in his face. Witnesses say the room immediately sat up in its collective seat and rehearsal took on new meaning from that day forward.
Max Lucado once wrote, "Nobody else has been given your lines. The Author of the human drama has entrusted your part to you alone. Live your life, or it won't be lived."
Friends, what do you well? What do I do well? Answer: Our life. Nobody does our life like us. And those qualities of yours, your gift of giving, your ability to memorize, your high endurance, your heart for the homeless, your mind for math, your quick wit...those are the things that God used to form your role. And the world around you -- kids, friends, parents, teachers, spouses, bosses, staff -- they need you to speak your lines like you mean them.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: The world will sit up in its collective seat when believers speak their lines. And when in comes to health, it's no different. When the Pastor tells a church to consider physical stewardship, we sit up. When a fitness-minded believer says full armor isn't half naked, we sit up. Our lives, our lines, our roles have to be lived. Nobody else can. Nobody else will. God is life's Casting Director, the world is His stage and our parts are ours to make a big deal about Him. Ask yourself, "What's my line?" and live it.
NOW RECRUITING FELLOW SOLDIERS: I'm not just the founder of PrayFit, I'm a customer. Here I am in our latest t-shirt in the "I Fought" series. Neat, huh? Ladies, if your husband or boyfriend would want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me, the shirts are awesome and I could use some company. Fight with me. Cool reminders of the spiritual and physical goals of life. And pardon the low-res image, but Ms. Josey took this pic. Please don't disappoint her or blame her. She has no thumbs.
>> Click here to browse all the new merchandise offerings from PrayFit!
God>You>Mold>Broken
Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work." What a powerful verse, don't you think? Good for us all on a Monday. I want you to keep this verse close to your heart this week, because everything we talk about is going to point us back to a pretty unique idea. What is it? That nobody else on earth was given your unique dreams, abilities, disabilities, faults, pitfalls, troubles, successes, weaknesses, fears (and the list goes on and on.) God>you>mold>broken. Speaking of special, this Friday I meet with PrayFit's production partner to put some finishing touches on an idea I've been thinking and praying about for a few years. This meeting will be merely the end of the beginning of the process, and yet, everything I'm about -- my nerve, heart and sinew -- will be poured into those few hours. Why? It's what I was made to do. God>me>mold>broken.
Yes indeed. Keep the verse close this week, because the unique idea? It's you. It's me. We're originals. Classics. Rare sightings. Precious findings. And you and I have a special work to do. That work guys -- no matter what it is -- has a purpose; to make a very huge deal out of the God who gave us the life to fulfill it.
Jimmy Peña
Homework: Be thinking of some of your unique qualities. Start your list. Are you....organized? Have the gift of singing? Writing? Are you a leader that people follow? Are you a listener that people pour into? Jot some things down. You'll need them this week.
PRAYFIT SUMMER GEAR: Please be sure to check out our Summer tanks and t-shirts!
Thank you so much for your constant support of our little ministry and for wearing the PrayFit gear to the gym, on the road, beach, bike ride or wherever you health takes you. You're a blessing to us and to those around you for doing so. >> Click here to browse all the new merchandise offerings from PrayFit!
Help Is Near
I confess, I tried to avoid it. Honestly, I did everything I could, but I just couldn't shake the flu that bit me last weekend. So yesterday, I dragged myself to the good doctor. Had a good streak going, too. I hadn't been to the doctor for something normal since 2010. And as it turns out, I now have a nice little pneumonia to deal with. This is me making a bluuhhhhh sound. Not good guys. But aren't you thankful for good doctors? Granted, I avoid medicine like Ms. Josey avoids the vet, but if you've read my latest book, The PrayFit Diet, you know I have a great spine surgeon as well as colon surgeon (both of whom I kept well-clothed and fed over the last four years) but I also have an amazing general practitioner. His office is lifted right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. "Neeeext?!" My name is called, and I know help is near.
Is it just me or does simply describing symptoms to your doctor make you feel a little better? Before anything is administered, as we sit on that bed and that thin, weird paper, just verbalizing what's going on inside seems to help. I don't know, maybe it's chemical. Maybe it's the assurance we get from the row of diplomas on the wall behind him. Or maybe it's because I trust him and he really knows me. Not sure, but simply expressing my hurt is healing.
Must be one of the reasons God wants us to pray without ceasing -- even on days when we can't pray without sneezing. Next? He's calling us. Help is real near. Let's tell Him where it hurts. His healing never ends. Have a great weekend everyone. Be safe and healthy, serve each other.
--Jimmy Peña
P.S.For those who aren't familiar with who "Ms. Josey Wales" is, here you go. She's helping me get all better. #mybestpal
FAMILY CIRCLE: Social networks are like our extended digital family and we'd like to invite you to invite others! So "like," "join," "tweet" and "watch" PrayFit through our various channels. Click the links below to get plugged in with the rest of the PrayFit community in 2014!
Facebook
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But Even If He Doesn't
But even if he doesn't, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. --Daniel 3:18
Read: Daniel 3
Dr. Charles Stanley says, "Be obedient and leave the consequences to God." Kinda sums it up doesn't it? Go ahead and apply it to any circumstance you're facing. Trouble in a relationship? Making a decision about money? Need to trust God with a health issue? Be obedient and leave the consequences to God. Stands up, doesn't it?
Speaking of standing up, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego lived it. At the edge of a fiery furnace, they had a decision. Bow to an idol or be thrown in a furnace. They chose faith, believing that God would deliver them from the very fire that tested it. But then they said, "But even if He doesn't." That part of the verse has taken up residence inside my heart.
They didn't jump knowing they'd be delivered. They jumped knowing The Deliverer. I'm shaking my head as I type this sentence. I want an "Even if He doesn't" kind of faith. Save me, help me, heal me. But even if He doesn't...
--Jimmy Peña
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM! Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego taught us, grace doesn't make us soft. Click on the image or simply follow on Instagram. Thank you so much for supporting what we do.
HAVE YOU TRIED "THE PRAYFIT DIET?"
Spoiler alert: It's really not a diet at all. It's a biblical recalibration of your relationship with nutrition, complete with a waistline-friendly plan for eating healthier forever. If you haven't tried it yet...here's a bit more info that might sway you!
Jimmy Peña, one of the nation’s most sought-after fitness experts, has been trusted by the most prominent names in the entertainment industry, including Tyler Perry, Mario Lopez, and LL Cool J, to help them look and feel their best. His highest calling, however, is transforming the bodies and souls of people all over the country through his powerful combination of faith and fitness called PrayFit.
In The PrayFit Diet, Peña offers an easy, effective program-including shopping lists, daily menus, and simple, delicious recipes. A healthy body, he explains, is not about restriction of either calories or food groups. Instead, it’s all about eating in equilibrium -- a perfect 33% macronutrient balance of carbs, protein, and fat every day, which will allow you to make dramatic changes to your health and your waistline. The balanced approach of The PrayFit Diet is not only inspired by biblical principles, but it’s also supported by today’s cutting-edge science, and Peña gives you a plan to shed weight and the motivation to keep it off for a lifetime.
In The PrayFit Diet, Peña shows us how faith is the most powerful tool we have to conquer all of life’s obstacles, and that includes our health. More importantly, God wants you to be at your best, physically and spiritually. By combining perfectly proportioned meals with biblically based motivation, The PrayFit Diet will give you all the tools you need to live a life that will both inspire you and honor the Lord.
Breathless
"Weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head..." --Luke 7:38
Back in graduate school, we had our share of underwater weighing assignments. Underwater weighing is regarded as the most valuable tool at determining body composition. However, in order for the subject to be seen accurately, it takes an extreme amount of effort and courage on the part of the person being tested. See, as you're lowered into the water, you have to empty your lungs, breathing out every drop of air possible.
The woman in Luke 7 defied ridicule and disregarded the rules to do one thing: to pour everything she had at His feet. Broken, she just had to break free and nothing was going to stop her from seeing her Lord. After her tears cleaned His feet and her hair dried them, she courageously emptied her alabaster bottle of valuable perfume for Jesus to breathe in.
Friends, don't miss it today. When we're empty, we allow Him to see us. When we breathe it all out, He breathes it all in. If only for today, let's pour our health at His feet like perfume and tears. Lord, here is all our praise, expressed from the top of our lungs.
--Jimmy Peña
LOTS IN STORE: Thank you for the feedback on the first of our new additions to the store! Hurry and order your "I Fought" t-shirt or tank, because soon we're going to roll the next one out and these will be gone! Thanks so much for supporting our site and for praying for us.
Praise in Pictures
Rather than write you a novel describing my joy, I thought I'd let a few pictures do the talking. Given my permission to engage in more activity, last Saturday I reached for dumbbells. (Five pound dumbbells may as well have been a ton.) And I worked virtually every upper body muscle using these dumbbells and a bench. Nearly 1.5 years since being able to train, I can't...quite...describe. (I'll let you know when I graduate to ten pounds.)
The next picture shows me getting creative. I can't sit and lean over on a preacher bench, so I kneel on the floor and stabilize myself with my non-working hand on the wall, then I sit back and straight, and then use the bench as my platform. Fun stuff.
The final pic shows me at the exact moment I failed on my plank. You can't see my face, but I'm smiling because I'm actually able to fail again. Anyone want to take a stab at how thankful I am?
And as the Lord is seeing me out of this valley, I hope this pic is a helpful reminder of my perspective, both from a spiritual and physical one. In a word, grace.
--Jimmy Peña
FOR DISCUSSION: What praises do YOU have to share? I don't want to do all the talking and sharing. Let us know so we can celebrate with you.
MY WORKOUT: Seeing as I used weights and actually targeted body parts, in case any of you were curious what the moves work, the first exercise you see is a chest-supported dumbbell row. I can't bend over with weight just yet, but as long as I am supported, it's ALL mine. For this move, I like to primarily use a wide rowing motion, with what's called a pronated (palms-down) grip. The wide grip (as if I had a bar in my hands) helps target the highest part of the lats (upper lats) as well as the rhomboids and the middle traps. Had I used a neutral grip (palms-toward my body) and pulled the dumbbells up and toward my hips, I'd be hitting primarily the lower lats with little middle back involvement.
The preacher curl, of course, is a biceps exercise which targets the short, inner head of the biceps. Although, I can't quite see mine anymore!
The plank you see me failing on hits the core, specifically the transverse abdominis which is one of the most important muscles we have to help protect the spine. Trust me on that one.
NOT SHOWN: I also hit chest, shoulders and triceps. Next week I'll show you those exercises. You guys want to see my workouts? This is me doing a poll. Also checking who actually read this far down the page!
Mr. Irrelevant
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last." --Matthew 20:16
Some of you might be football fans. And if so, last week's draft was exciting. A lot of hoopla surrounding Johnny Football being passed over, and over, and over again made for a brow-raising draft, even for us baseball fans. Interestingly though, some of football's greatest Hall of Fame legends were some of the last picked on draft day. Curtis Martin, the NFL's fourth-leading rusher of all time (and PrayFit endorser) was selected 74th in 1995. Joe Montana, arguably one of the top three quarterbacks to ever throw a football didn't make the Top 10 of his draft. Try 82nd. And as far as Tom Brady, three-time Super Bowl Champion and multiple MVP award winner? Only 198 players were chosen before his name was called.
Just goes to show that what the world sees as a long shot can be a winner in disguise.
Interestingly, do you know what they call the last person picked in the draft? In 1976, the tradition began of giving the last man standing a name. They called him "Mr. Irrelevant." And every year since, Mr. Irrelevant and his family are invited to spend a week in Newport Beach, California, for a golf tournament and a ceremony awarding him the Lowsman Trophy -- depicting a player fumbling a football. In short, it's a gala for the one they say is immaterial, not pertinent, not germane, unimportant, inconsequential and insignificant.
Paul persecuted Christians, Moses had a stutter, and when others saw David as a simple shepherd boy, God saw a king. So if you're feeling like a long shot -- a Mr. or Mrs. Irrelevant -- have faith that you're a winner, not in disguise, but in His eyes.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: As we begin the week, are you feeling like your job doesn't matter? Your status? Your title? Perhaps your health? Make no mistake, that we are divinely made by a God who loves us and makes us relevant through Himself. We can can do anything God wants us to do. Who you are and what you do is divinely relevant when we're living in His will. And He's able.
NEW GEAR! Spiritually and physically, grace puts faith to work. Grace is why we "fight the good fight." We're blessed to be rolling out some new designs for shirts, tanks and caps and we hope they bless and capture your heart. In its powerful simplicity, this first one off the line will represent many things to many people. Some of you are coming off of a layoff, injury or illness, and you know you were able to get through it ONLY by His grace. For others, it's not a claim, but a goal for the day, the week or the rest of your life. Whoever you are, whatever your story -- physically or spiritually -- we're thankful to be on the battlefield with you. For His Renown.
Significant to the Kingdom
Flying back from D.C. last week, I took my usual aisle seat. Here's the thing, I have to get the aisle. With as much water as I have to drink, not to mention the need to stretch my back and these hips -- unfortunately -- I'm that annoying guy on a plane. You know, the one who walks the length of the aircraft the entire time? Yeah, that's me. But at this point, I'm in my seat, buckling up and here she comes. With the help of her daughter and a couple of flight attendants, the elderly women needed lots of time getting to her seat. The scene literally brought tears to my eyes but she finally got situated and everyone proceeded to their respective posts. I was leaning, chin in my hand looking at her, when she glanced my way. I smiled as she widened her eyes and gave me an almost "Whew, I made it" look. I could tell she had a good sense of humor. Sweet thing. I don't know why, but I reached over and touched her sweater and nodded as if to say, "You did good." I liked her right away.
Well, midway through the flight, after a few hours of glances and grins, she had to use the lavatory. I watched the interaction between her and her daughter. I listened to the prep work, the planning, what to hold on to, what not to do, where to put her feet, how far away it was. Folks, I was in the presence of a fighter, strategizing at 30,000 feet.
But I close the week with this quick story because as we taxied to our gate and we began to exit, I felt a pat on my forearm. "You're such a nice person" she said. (Gulp, lump in throat, c'mon Peña, hold it together.) We exchanged "God bless you's" and I went on my way. Friends, I can't tell you what that pat on the arm did for me. Trust me, it's never too late to make an impact on someone. Your health is significant to the Kingdom; through your impact on others, your specific calling, your ability to serve and more. It took work for this silver-haired saint to raise her arm and reach mine. But while it was shaky and frail, it landed. And the impact was eternal. No matter your age or ability, your health is significant to the Kingdom.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: That sweet lady made such an impact on me. Who made an impact on you this week? Care to share someone you may or may not know that lifted you this week? Please share.
ATTENTION PASTORS: You lead, they'll follow. Church leaders across the country have worked with us to help them develop curriculum and small groups geared toward physical stewardship. If you're looking for a book that you can be sure eschews vanity while celebrating grace, then look no further. We were blessed to receive this endorsement from one of our nation's most celebrated pastors.
Practically everyone I know wants to lose weight and get more fit—myself included. This battle is as much spiritual as it is physical, and most exercise and diet specialists miss this, but not Jimmy Peña and his PrayFit Diet plan. Getting fit God’s way ensures you have the proper perspective on how and who God made you to be. When you have this foundation firmly in place, you will not be motivated to get fit to prove you are a somebody, but to express the somebody you are in Christ.
--Randy Frazee, author of Making Room for Life, The Heart of the Story and senior pastor at Oak Hills Church
>> To order your copy of The PrayFit Diet, click here!
FAMILY CIRCLE: Social networks are like our extended digital family and we'd like to invite you to invite others! So "like," "join," "tweet" and "watch" PrayFit through our various channels. Click the links below to get plugged in with the rest of the PrayFit community in 2014! Facebook HeavenUp Twitter Instagram YouTube
Kid Stuff
"And he said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.'" --Matthew 18:3
Read: Matthew 18
What a memory. As a little boy, I was too afraid of what was underneath the bed, so to say my prayers I'd get on my knees on top of it. I remember it like it was yesterday. To say I was scared would be like saying Beethoven wrote some music -- an understatement to say the least. I even remember hoping I wouldn't hurt Jesus' feelings. Kid stuff. But all I knew at the time was 1) my biggest fear was underneath my bed and 2) Jesus wanted me to talk to Him; a tricky situation for a kid my age. (Oh, give me the faith of a child again, amen?)
You know, Jesus more than wants us to be like children, He commands it. Not sure why it happens, but as our childlike fear diminishes, so goes our childlike faith. And I'm not sure exactly when that little scenario of mine ended, but the truth is, even though my fears today aren't awaiting me under the bed, I should be no less desperate to talk to Him. So if I think about it, those were actually my best moments, because our best trait is our dependence on Him.
In the area of health, what is your childlike prayer today? Desperate to be healthy for your spouse or family? Are you or one of your loved ones suffering unimaginable pain? If so, let's go to Him. Let's be kids again. Despite what's under the bed of our hearts, let's clasp our hands and shut our eyes. Kid stuff. List your prayer request or simply say "unspoken" and I promise, that little boy will pray for you.
--Jimmy Peña
WHAT IS "THE PRAYFIT DIET?"
Jimmy Peña, one of the nation’s most sought-after fitness experts, has been trusted by the most prominent names in the entertainment industry, including Tyler Perry, Mario Lopez, and LL Cool J, to help them look and feel their best. His highest calling, however, is transforming the bodies and souls of people all over the country through his powerful combination of faith and fitness called PrayFit.
In The PrayFit Diet, Peña offers an easy, effective program-including shopping lists, daily menus, and simple, delicious recipes. A healthy body, he explains, is not about restriction of either calories or food groups. Instead, it’s all about eating in equilibrium -- a perfect 33% macronutrient balance of carbs, protein, and fat every day, which will allow you to make dramatic changes to your health and your waistline. The balanced approach of The PrayFit Diet is not only inspired by biblical principles, but it’s also supported by today’s cutting-edge science, and Peña gives you a plan to shed weight and the motivation to keep it off for a lifetime.
In The PrayFit Diet, Peña shows us how faith is the most powerful tool we have to conquer all of life’s obstacles, and that includes our health. More importantly, God wants you to be at your best, physically and spiritually. By combining perfectly proportioned meals with biblically based motivation, The PrayFit Diet will give you all the tools you need to live a life that will both inspire you and honor the Lord.
>> Click here to read what others are saying about The PrayFit Diet.
This Soul Is Guarded
Last week in D.C., one of the most important sites I promised to show Loretta was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. And while I described the scene to her prior to our arrival -- much like the case of this entry -- she'll tell you I didn't do it justice. If you're unfamiliar, the Tomb of the Unknown is a monument in dedication to the services of an unidentified soldier and to the common memories of all soldiers killed in any war. And it's guarded. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded by sentinels, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and under any weather condition. Sentinels -- all volunteers -- are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment.
The amazing process is breathtaking to watch. He takes 21 steps, stops and pauses for 21 seconds, turns and marches another 21 steps. To and fro, back and forth with the utmost precision, and he doesn't stop his duty until another sentinel arrives to relieve him. The changing of the guard deserves an entry by itself. Unbelievable.
The tomb has been guarded with such reverence every second -- day and night -- since 1937. But what I find so motivating and thrilling is just exactly what they're protecting. And here begins the lesson.
Buried inside the Sentinel's Creed is a line that jumps off the page to me, and one I hope we can all apply to the body God gave us. It says, "I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability. It is he who commands the respect I protect...This soldier will - in honored glory - rest under my eternal vigilance."
Chills anyone? Maybe it's just sentimental me, but these men march day and night in humble dedication and service, not to protect the marble tomb or the manicured lawn. No, they're protecting respect. (Read that sentence again, slowly.) What does it mean to protect respect? And can anyone reading this sentence apply that to the duty you and I have about our health? It's something, isn't it? They've dedicated a life of allegiance because of every soldier who's ever filled a tomb. We've committed our lives because of an empty one. And in humble reverence, it is He who commands the respect we protect.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: The scene is dripping with so much symbolism, I can't quite type. Of course it's not about aesthetics, but when we consider our lives -- our impact on others, our personal calling, our ability to share Christ -- it's an awesome reminder that our health is significant to the Kingdom. Our temporary diligence has eternal consequences. As I type, I can't think straight. Friends, all I hope is that my effort in caring for a frail body -- one that's built to ultimately fail -- is a worthy salute; one that humbly says this soul is guarded.
NEW PRAYFIT GEAR! If you're looking to sport some gear that reflects your commitment to health-focused stewardship, then you need to head over to the PrayFit store. With a robust assortment of tees, tanks and hats for guys and girls, you're sure to find something to suit your needs. While you're there, you can browse our selection of faith-centered exercise and nutrition resources, including our books and DVDs (which also make for great small group tools!).
THE MESSAGE, DELIVERED
Jimmy Peña's message of health as a means of praise is being well-received by congregations around the country. His storytelling approach to how a healthy body can strengthen the body of Christ and inspire abundant living is a message you don't want to miss. For speaking appearances, ministry assistance, media inquiries, write us at [email protected]. Share this information with pastors, elders and influencers with the knowledge that there is never a speaking fee for churches!
26.2 (The Finish)
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." --1 Corinthians 9:24
Loretta's half-marathon in D.C. last week brought back memories of her first-ever 26.2 race. Hope you enjoy my memories.
Twenty-six miles. Well, 26.2 to be exact. Driving back from San Diego, Loretta checked the online results for her first marathon. The four hours and 14 minutes it took her to run a little over 26 miles represented the culmination of countless days and weeks of preparation and sacrifice. And for a non-runner like her husband, it represented four hours and 14 minutes of pride and excitement.
Finding my perfect place on the course, I hunkered down. With camera in hand, I anxiously awaited the love of my life to turn the corner and head for home. And as I waited, I took some notes, some of which I'll share with you this week. It just so happens that a marathon is to a fitness writer what a farmer's market is to a chef; plenty of ingredients from which to choose.
Oh, and yes, Loretta turned the corner indeed. Just like I knew she would. With a flushed face, she put one foot in front of the other and ran right to me. Well, she finished the race (of course), but I took her home. All things being equal, somehow I think God understands the marathon.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: Yesterday, we celebrated our smallness. What does it mean to you that while you and I run our little race, He has His eye on us, caring for us, rooting for us! He understands our short marathon! Maybe tomorrow I'll share with you an old entry from my one and only race but the thought of the Lord cheering me on as I run the vapor-quick life He gave me just helps me put one foot in front of the other. Love to know your thoughts.
FOR THE RUNNERS: Are you a runner? Marathoner? Half-marathoner? Hope to be? Well, whatever your experience level, please visit the store for some of our latest items in our black and white collection (and share with your running friends). We have new hat selections, new tanks and tees and other resources you need to run your race! Thank you for supporting our ministry. Be blessed. And keep running.
A 33-DAY MAKEOVER
The simplicity of The PrayFit Diet -- perfect caloric balance with protein, fat and carbs -- can help you get incredibly healthy and find your motivation for a lifetime to stay that way. Here are a few of the more frequently asked questions about this effective eating plan
Q: Is the PrayFit Diet a diet?
A: The PrayFit Diet is only a diet in name. It is more accurately described as a lifestyle adjustment that addresses our relationship with food. It is a 33-day program that calls for balanced caloric intake from the three macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates). Research shows that when food is eaten in these proportions, health is maximized, fat loss is optimized and inflammation is minimized.
Q: Why is it 33 days?
A: The PrayFit Diet was built out as a 33-day plan because it pays tribute to the 33 years Jesus gave us and because a month-long plan is proven to by research to be highly effective time frame to create change within the body and to develop positive eating habits.
Q: How much weight can I lose on the PrayFit Diet?
A: This is perhaps the most asked question when it comes to any nutrition book. Those who follow the program to the letter, particularly those with more weight to lose, can lose up to 20 pounds in 33 days in combination with regular activity. But this book goes so far beyond the pounds and inches that you stand to lose this month. Because we don't ask you to eliminate any macros, as is the case with some "diets," you are not left feeling deprived. You will be getting enough carbs to fuel workouts and daily activity, enough protein to repair and build muscle and enough fat to cushion joints and bolster heart health. Because of this, the PrayFit Diet is utterly sustainable. No need to cycle off and come back to it. By following the principles outlined in these pages, you'll have the only manual you need to feed yourself and your family healthy, wholesome meals, day in and day out, forever.
>> To order a copy of The PrayFit Diet for yourself or someone else, click here!
Embrace Your Smallness
Truth is, I can't be reminded of it enough. Although some days present scenarios that help me realize it better than others, life has a way of offering a million visible souvenirs of one simple, solitary, certain fact: I am extremely small.
This picture I took of Loretta at the front door of the National Archives building in Washington D.C. last week provided such a jolt to my ever forgetful memory; a memory that wants pride to drape its blinding and extremely convincing veil across my eyes. As if any amount of temporary success, or healing, or health could somehow add height or depth to my otherwise feeble self. Cue the memento. As I snapped this pic of Loretta pretending to reach for the handle, I immediately remembered something Louie Giglio wrote:
"You and I are tiny. Miniscule. Microscopic. A momentary and infinitesimal blip on the timeline of the universe. Among us, the strongest of the strong can be felled in one faltering heartbeat. We are fleeting mortals. Frail flesh. Little specks. If this fact makes you just a tad bit uncomfortable, you're not alone. Invariably, when I talk about the vastness of God and the cosmos, someone will say, 'You're making me feel bad about myself and making me feel really, really small,' (as if that's the worst thing that could happen.) But the point is not to make you feel small, rather to help you see and embrace the reality that you are small...Really, really small." --Louie Giglio, excerpt from I Am Not But I Know I Am
Of course, it's not so much about how small we are but all about how big God is...really, really big. And yet despite how tiny we are relative to the cosmos, God, who can line up every planet of every galaxy in the palm of His hand, sent His Son to willingly die on the cross as penalty for my mistakes -- and for yours. All because a great, big God loves us.
So welcome to Monday. I hope you have a week full of great, big reminders of just how little you are. In fact, embrace your smallness. Relish it, celebrate it. Thank God for it. Can't open that door? He can. Can't close that one? He can. Can't seem to reach the handle? Yeah, that's okay, He can handle that too.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: Will you promise to look for big reminders of your smallness this week? If something comes to mind, I'd love to hear about it.
NEW SHIRTS AND CAPS!
Spiritually and physically, grace puts faith to work. Grace is why we "fight the good fight." We're blessed to be rolling out some new designs for shirts, tanks and caps and we hope they bless and capture your heart. In its powerful simplicity, this first one off the line will represent many things to many people. Some of you are coming off of a layoff, injury or illness, and you know you were able to get through it ONLY by His grace. For others, it's not a claim, but a goal for the day, the week or the rest of your life. Whoever you are, whatever your story -- physically or spiritually -- we're thankful to be on the battlefield with you. For His Renown.
>> Click here to browse all the new merchandise offerings from PrayFit!
His Work, One Year Later
"But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." --Romans 5:20
Don't bend, twist or lift anything heavy. Avoid slipping and falling. Those were my instructions 365 days ago. See, by sticking to those rules, the odds were in my favor for solid fusion between the new hardware and bones. Simply, the surgery needed to take. No pressure. The doctor did his thing, but now it was up to me. Stick to the rules, and I won't ruin his work.
I can't tell you how many times over the last year I wondered if I messed things up. Did I twist too much at the waist? Bend down too far? And yes, I stumbled a time or two. Oh the fear that set in. I wanted to go back to the surgery date and start over. This time with no mistakes, no tumbles, no wrong turns.
Have you ever wondered if grace "took?" After a mistake, a tumble, a stumble, have you ever thought, "Surely God can't forgive me again" or "When I got saved, did I mean it enough? Like, enough enough?" After my slip and fall, the first thing I imagined was that I ruined the doctor's work. He gave me a brand new chance and I blew it. But I have good news. Yesterday at my one-year check-up when my surgeon looked inside, he saw fusion, healing, and progress. Grace happened.
Aren't we glad that God gives us a brand new heart? His. And thankfully -- gracefully -- when God looks inside and looks at your life and mine, He doesn't see our sin, He sees the blood of His Son. He doesn't see a heart held together by a very thin thread; as if one more fall would sever the relationship. No, when you and I accept Him as Lord, there is perfect, permanent fusion; based not on our ability to stick to the rules but all because of what He did at Calvary. We try to avoid slipping and falling, yes, but there is peace in knowing that grace took. We can't ruin His work.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: I think the fact that our health is our responsibility is a healthy reminder that we can't earn grace. A show of hands of those who feel motivated to take better care of themselves physically because of what God did for you spiritually? Is there a better reason to take care of ourselves? I guarantee there isn't.
BRING PRAYFIT TO YOUR CHURCH
Jimmy Peña's message of health as a means of praise is being well-received by congregations around the country. His storytelling approach to how a healthy body can strengthen the body of Christ and inspire abundant living is a message you don't want to miss. For speaking appearances, ministry assistance, media inquiries, write us at [email protected]. Share this information with pastors, elders and influencers with the knowledge that there is never a speaking fee for churches!
Halls to Walk
"He never sleeps. He never slumbers." --Psalm 121:4
There exists within Wendy's parents' beautiful Craftsman-style home -- the home in which we are currently guests -- a single hallway that stretches the length of the home, ending in one of the home's two bathrooms. And for a child at night in search of a drink, this journey can seem interminable, fraught with danger, dancing shadows and creaking floorboards beneath each fearful step. Especially for my daughters, who seem to have inherited their mother's imagination.
Last night, as I sat typing at my keyboard, the last of my clan to turn in, I heard some footsteps navigating the hall. But something was different -- the steps lacked their usual, tentative pace. I rose to meet my youngest, Ella, as she walked in to grab her drink. Hair messed, she sat the cup down on the sink and turned to make the long trek back to bed.
"Are you okay, baby?" I asked her, turning to walk her back to her room.
"Yes, daddy," came the hushed reply.
Just then, as my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the hall, I caught a glimpse of her older sister Mya standing against the wall.
"Mya, you too?" I asked, fearful that I'd be proctoring these hallway pilgrimages the whole night through.
"Ella woke me up and asked me to come with her."
That's why Ella's steps were sure. Because her big sister was standing guard. It was the perfect vantage point for this sisterly sentinel -- right there amid the onerous wooden floors and creeping shadows, a gesture of assurance that removed Ella's fear of the journey. Mya waited until Ella had passed her on the way back to bed before abandoning her post, and the two returned to the safety of their sheets together.
We all have halls to walk. And in the dark, our imaginations can easily get the best of us. The noise of our footfalls against the silence can make us doubt whether the journey is worth the danger. But there's water at the end of this walk and Who you ask along with you matters.
--Eric Velazquez
For Discussion: You know, the woman at the well went looking for water, too. Jesus, knowing her fears -- and her thirst -- gave her living water. She would never have to walk in fear again because He was with her. No matter your hallway, because of the One who walks with you, you can stride with certainty. As we wind down the week, what halls do you have to walk? Deadlines? Doctor's appointments? Does it comfort you to know Who is beside you along the way?
JOIN THE "DAILY" CROWD
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The Race With Grace
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." --Colossians 3:23-24
Her face said it all. As Loretta finished the Nike Women's Half Marathon this weekend, exhaustion met joy and mission met accomplishment. Now, I don't mean to over-dramatize the moment, but I think Paul was on to something when he talked about the Christian life as a race -- a race that believers are called to run with endurance and never aimlessly. Over the last few years, we've written entries after marathons, many of which are among my favorites. And with the week's race being almost over, I thought it appropriate for today.
For some of you, the week was steep. The phone never rang, the e-mail didn't arrive, or your health didn't cooperate. For others, everything was downhill, and you could do no wrong. Either way, I think our dear friend Sandie Powell said it best when she said, "The amazing thing is that He is as proud of our attempt (to run) as he is in our finish." And she's right. Did Loretta win the D.C. Half Marathon last weekend? Well, maybe only in my eyes, but my eyes are the only ones that mattered. She wasn't the fastest, but she gave it all she had and there was no doubt where she was headed...straight to me.
I want to live like that, don't you? I want everything I do and say, how I treat my health and how I love others to show the world that I'm on a road that leads to the only One that matters. From start to finish, I'm in this race with grace. And after the uphills, the downhills and even the pitfalls, when mission meets accomplishment -- not ours, His -- I want my face to say it all.
--Jimmy Peña
P.S. Fresh off the D.C. Half Marathon, there may be a couple of race-themed entries next week. In the pic above, Letta has just found her name on the Nike wall. Neat moment...
"The amazing thing is that He is as proud of our attempt (to run) as he is in our finish." --Sandie Powell
PRAYFIT DIET: CARB SWAPS Making simple switches can help you to slow down digestion and boost your health
When it comes to the age-old struggle between white rice and brown rice, which one comes out on top? In The PrayFit Diet, we take to answering this question and others like it.
While white rice is not necessarily bad for you, it can be higher on the glycemic index -- meaning a higher spike in blood sugar -- which is not ideal for weight loss. But provided you are not dousing it in butter and other calorie-rich sauces, you're not doing too bad for yourself. However, since eating two servings or more per week of brown rice has been shown to decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 16 percent or more, brown rice holds the edge.
>> To get more healthy-living carb swaps like this, pick up a copy of The PrayFit Diet today!
Grace Defined
"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, so no man can boast." --Ephesians 2:8-9
How much work does it take to transform your health? If you asked a hard-gainer how much work it takes to add muscle, they'd tell you it's pretty tough. Or ask someone who's struggled their entire life to maintain a healthy weight and you may get a similar response. We need help. We get educated, seek council, take cooking classes, hire trainers, study video. And we're not even discussing unforeseen illnesses, or even problems with immodesty or pride. Whether it's for motivation, specific guidelines, disease control or humility, we need assistance in our effort of Godly, physical stewardship.
So with our focus on grace this week, I decided to look it up. Webster defines grace as "Divine assistance given for sanctification." Now, if you think about how much help we need when it comes to health, how much assistance do you think we need when it comes to Heaven? A little? A lot? A lot, alot? That's why Webster's take on grace falls short, doesn't it? Did you catch it the first time? Assistance, right? So while I was at it, I looked that up too. To define assistance, Webster uses synonyms like "a boost, helping hand, a leg up." Makes sense to the world. We do our share of the work, and God does His. We try our best, but when our best isn't good enough for Heaven, He gives our souls a boost.
But grace is more than what Webster might call a hearty helping of chicken soup for the soul. No, our souls need more than help. In fact, we don't need help, we need Him. If grace were just a boost on God's part, then you and I could boast in our works. His share. Our share. But we don't share. Health is never earned. What would ever make us think grace could be?
--Jimmy Peña
PRAYFIT DEVOTIONS ON AUDIO
Are you a fan of the PrayFit Daily devotions? Were you aware that many of our best devos are now on audio? Click here to give a listen to a selection of inspirational entries from PrayFit founder Jimmy Peña.
BRING PRAYFIT TO YOUR CHURCH
Jimmy Peña's message of health as a means of praise is being well-received by congregations around the country. His storytelling approach to how a healthy body can strengthen the body of Christ and inspire abundant living is a message you don't want to miss. For speaking appearances, ministry assistance, media inquiries, write us at [email protected]. Share this information with pastors, elders and influencers with the knowledge that there is never a speaking fee for churches!
The Promise of Grace
"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." --2 Corinthians 12:8
Read: 2 Corinthians 12
This being "Grace Week," I wanted to share (or remind some of you) of a phone call I took from a listener while I was on Moody Bible Radio a while back.
She struggles with a physical ailment -- one she can't shake. Lord only knows how many times she's gone to the foot of the cross for healing. The sleepless nights, the prescriptions that don't help, the brokenness untold. Perhaps she asks Heaven if this is how she'll have to endure earth. Maybe you can relate because you've whispered similar on your own tear-stained pillow.
Paul could. We don't know for sure what Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was but we do know he was soul-stricken by it. Whether it was physical or spiritual, Paul begged God to remove it. God's response? Let's hear it from Paul:
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
Paul mentions that God said, "No" in order to prevent him from becoming conceited. And yes, it's only God who knows what He's protecting you and me from or, like Paul, what God is enabling us to do in an even better way when the answer is no.
Today you may be searching for the answer to the question Why? If so, rather than strain to see clearly through that prism of uncertainty, shut your eyes and pray for God to be seen through you instead. Though many of us are hurting, be encouraged. If your body is failing, He won't. If your limbs have stopped working, He hasn't. Let's stand close to Paul and let our pain be bathed in that same promise..."My grace is sufficient for you."
--Jimmy Peña
Worn-Out Tools
"So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart." --Nehemiah 4:6
Like it was yesterday, I remember walking out of my English professor's office angry, upset and embarrassed. Gritting my teeth and holding back tears I marched, but I didn't get very far. "Excuse me, Mr. Peña!" And Coach Jim Loweree proceeded to alter my life. See, I had poured my heart into a project. Gave it everything I had. I stayed up late, studied early, went the extra mile. That's just what you did at the prestigious Cathedral High School in El Paso, Texas. It was the home of The Fighting Irish -- a place of faith, unparalleled scholastics, sport, and most of all, tradition. But alas, I bombed it. To make matters worse, Coach Loweree was a man I idolized. I wanted nothing more than to maintain a perfect GPA and impress him along the way. And in a matter of seconds, both goals were gone.
Speaking of goals, earlier that year, I successfully recited the famous poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling to Coach Loweree. I never missed a beat when it came to recitations. I loved that part of class. Speeches by President Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. and others, all by heart, not one word missed. But a line from "If" has been rolling around my brain lately:
"Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, and stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools."
Worn-out tools. One week away from my one-year spinal surgery check-up, we're just praying that the new hardware is still a "go" with the bones and that the same success we saw with my neck replacement occurs in my lower back. God's will we pray. And then it's on to the next level my friends.
I wonder, have you ever had to rebuild anything? A business or a home? Perhaps another aspect of your life and maybe even your health. Well, rebuilding is a faith issue. Not in our ability to make things as they once were but for Whom we build. Because when things fall apart, when we watch the things we gave our life to break, He's why we stoop.
And remember how I mentioned that Coach changed my life? Well, he did. In the schoolyard that day, he told me that I was going to have to start all over. Yep, he stole a line from Kipling himself. But Coach also told me not to take grades so seriously, to keep working hard, keep honoring my parents and to stand up straight after a test if I did my best, regardless of the grade. Funny, I took his advice. I never made straight A's again. But after six book projects, 15 years of newsstand articles and my highest honor -- this website -- I hope Coach knows his freshman English class and that afternoon talk in the yard changed a kid. So thanks, Coach. I'm still stooping. Still rebuilding. My life's work is my faith and health. Perfect for worn-out tools like mine.
--Jimmy Peña
ATTENTION PASTORS: You lead, they'll follow. Church leaders across the country have worked with us to help them develop curriculum and small groups geared toward physical stewardship. If you're looking for a book that you can be sure eschews vanity while celebrating grace, then look no further. We were blessed to receive this endorsement from one of our nation's most celebrated pastors.
Practically everyone I know wants to lose weight and get more fit—myself included. This battle is as much spiritual as it is physical, and most exercise and diet specialists miss this, but not Jimmy Peña and his PrayFit Diet plan. Getting fit God’s way ensures you have the proper perspective on how and who God made you to be. When you have this foundation firmly in place, you will not be motivated to get fit to prove you are a somebody, but to express the somebody you are in Christ.
--Randy Frazee, author of Making Room for Life, The Heart of the Story and senior pastor at Oak Hills Church
>> To order your copy of The PrayFit Diet, click here!
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