Faith, Family, Fitness, Focus - Jake Thomas

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read time: 10 minutes of gratitude

Welcome to Game On, a weekly newsletter where I share my journey as a former collegiate athlete, e-commerce operator, husband, father, and man of faith.?

Welcome back to Game On and Happy New Year!

Seven days in and I could not be more pumped for the year so far. One thing I’m most excited to kick off is this new format of the newsletter - with a new hyper-focus on faith and the habits that build a solid foundation of faith first, with elements of family, fitness, and focus surrounding it.

I launched Game On?to share my perspectives as a former athlete and how those experiences translate to my work at Mugsy or my role as a father and husband, all while balancing my health and fitness, ambitions, and drive. The more I wrote, the more I found an innate draw to speak on my faith alongside those perspectives.

I feel I can break my life down into four main areas...family, fitness, focus, and faith. Every time I write, those four areas are talked about or touched upon. As a dad and husband, former athlete, driven in career, and newly saved believer in Christ, these pillars have given me all I need in life, with faith newly being the foundation.?

I consider myself still young in my walk with Christ, having really found a true relationship with him in the last 24 months, and fully embracing that fact over the last 12. Writing about my faith felt naive and nuanced, I sometimes felt I didn’t have enough of a foundation to talk about.

So I had an idea, just as I did as an athlete, and early in my career, I wanted to learn from others. I posted on LinkedIn an idea to interview men of faith who had big goals and dreams and showed outwardly their love of family and fitness, on a platform that really meant to talk about career (what I call focus).

The response was pretty incredible, with volunteers and a full panel of interviews right out of the gate. Today kicks off the first of many and I hope to do a ton more!!

First up…Jake Thomas.

Jake and I met in early 2024 as we both jumped head-first into LinkedIn content creation. Jake worked in e-commerce SaaS, so we hit it off right away being in the same industry on both ends of the spectrum. Following his content I saw more of who he is, a father of two, a loving husband and provider, a Crossfit coach and competitor, but most importantly a great example of a man of faith who out Christ first.

Jake and I have had some great conversations as we've battled internal struggles through the last year. Many mornings I'd receive a passage from scripture, a helpful verse, or a prayer from Jake just at the time I needed it. When I had this idea I knew Jake would be on the roster.?

In our conversation, Jake and I dove into the profound relationship between faith, family, and fitness. We explored how faith evolves through different life stages, the importance of establishing spiritual habits, and the challenges of maintaining balance in life. We explored the intersection of faith, career, and personal growth. We discussed the challenges of comparison, the importance of being present, and how faith influences their perspectives on success and purpose. We both found that we need to trust in God's plan and focus on what truly matters in life rather than getting lost in societal expectations and pressures.

Hope you enjoy! Maybe this will be a podcast soon...

Mike:

Jake – what does your faith look like and how has it grown?

Jake: Honestly, I’m still figuring that out every day. My faith has grown and changed a lot through different seasons of life—being single, getting married, having kids, and now raising them. Each stage has deepened my faith in new ways because life challenges you, and scripture reminds us this journey isn’t supposed to be easy.

For me, it’s about staying connected to God through spiritual disciplines, like staying in the Word. I ask myself, "What do I need to take from this to strengthen me spiritually?" Whether I’m facing challenges at work, in parenting, or in my marriage, I rely on that relationship with God to keep growing.

I’ve realized it’s not just about spreading the gospel far and wide but going deep—building a strong foundation. Right now, I’m focused on deepening my roots so that I’ll be ready to share the gospel more effectively when the time comes.

Mike:

Let’s talk about habits - Talk to me about habits you’ve formed around your faith and routines there.

Jake: For me, fitness was the first major discipline I committed to—it’s been nearly seven years now, and it’s become a non-negotiable part of my mornings. It’s not just about staying in shape; it’s about honoring the body God gave me and setting myself up to be my best in every other area of life.

That routine has also helped me stack other habits, like spending time in devotion and reading through the Bible. Starting my day this way creates a rhythm that carries into the rest of my day—time with my kids, work, and everything else.

Life doesn’t always go as planned, though. Whether it’s travel or early meetings, things get off track. But I try to focus on harmony rather than balance. Even when things feel chaotic, I work to redirect and center myself through those core habits. They remind me of the fruits of the Spirit—self-control, peace, kindness—and help me reset when life pulls me in different directions.

Mike:

How have you evolved your thoughts around fitness with your faith, around your faith, what does fitness look like when you're thinking about your faith?

Jake: For me, fitness and faith are deeply connected—they both require daily discipline and a focus on the basics. Just like building physical strength takes consistent effort, growing spiritually takes daily time in the Word and living out those teachings.

Sometimes, I realize I’m great at showing up—working out, reading scripture—but I need to focus more on remembering and applying it, like memorizing verses or teaching my kids. It’s like training a muscle. You don’t see immediate results, but over time, the effort builds strength.

Both fitness and faith also involve denying yourself—resisting laziness, gluttony, or distractions—and leaning into the creativity and purpose God has given you. Challenges will come, whether it’s injuries in fitness or hardships in life, but having a strong foundation helps you stay grounded.

At the end of the day, it’s about taking it one step, one rep, or one verse at a time and staying consistent. That’s how I grow stronger in both faith and fitness, and I love seeing how they complement and reinforce each other in my life.

Mike

How do you practice your faith with your family? How do you view your faith when it comes to your family?

Jake: Right now, my faith with my family is about planting seeds, especially with my son, Parker, who’s four. We talk about things like why we go to church or what Christmas is really about. We even use tools like a calendar that tells the story of Jesus during the Christmas season. It’s a way to help him see it’s not just about presents but something deeper.

At his age, it’s a lot of small moments—asking him what he learned at church or explaining why we serve others. He might not fully get it yet, and that’s okay. What matters is that my wife and I have spiritual disciplines in place, modeling what it means to live out our faith daily.

My hope is that as he grows, he’ll start to notice and ask more questions, and we’ll have deeper conversations about faith. For now, it’s about being consistent, showing love, and keeping those moments open and natural when the time is right.

Mike

Let's round it out with focus. Career, ambitions, money, all those things that come into what we have to in some ways spend our time focusing on. How has your faith impacted your focus on your career, on what you do within your career?

Jake: My faith has completely reshaped how I view my career and ambitions. I’ve transitioned through different roles—from corporate America to coaching CrossFit and now working in SaaS sales—and my faith has been the constant guiding force through those changes.

One of the biggest lessons is that my worth isn’t tied to my numbers, deals, or metrics. Instead, my identity comes from who God has called me to be. That perspective has shifted my focus to finding purpose in the present moment. Whether it’s building strong relationships, staying disciplined, or being present for my family, I measure success differently now—it’s about my faith, my fitness, my marriage, and my role as a dad.

In sales, I’ve noticed a shift toward more meaningful connections—relationships and in-person interactions matter more than ever. For me, it’s about staying grounded in what God has called me to do and being content with where I am while striving to be my best. Faith gives me that focus to avoid chasing what the world defines as success and to stay true to what matters most.

Ended on a high note of "what matters most." Appreciate Jake for kicking this off! Anyone else want to join? Let me know.?

Game On!