What Are You Called to Pioneer?

Have you ever felt like God was relentlessly trying to get a message to you?

About 5 days ago I shared this quote with the Facebook group for my 2017 event:

“What if the reason you don’t know what you are called to do is that you are called to do something no one has ever done before.” – Lisa Bevere

The same day I posted this I was at a business event and one of my business buddies and good friends told me that God had been speaking to heart about being a pioneer.  A few days after our conversation I heard two different sermons about unrelated topics where both Pastors mention being a pioneer. Were all these instances coincidences? I don’t think so. These instances made it clear to me that God is reminding me of something he’s been telling me for years.

5 years ago when I had just re-started my running journey I signed up to be a group leader for a national running group, Black Girls Run! During that season I also started a personal improvement blog that I had intended to us to track my running journey. I only posted on it a few times. It was called Tales from the Hips. Clever, hunh? Little did I know how much leading that group would change my life.

3 years after leading a running group, I hosted my 1st women’s event and began writing my first book. In that book, You Are Stronger Than You Think: Lessons of Endurance in the Race of Faith, I write about God calling each of us to PIONEER something. There is no road map when you’re in unchartered territory. You have to stay the course and have faith that it’s working together for your good and His glory!

I don’t believe it’s any coincidence that 5 years ago I wrote a blog post of what it’s like to pioneer and that God would bring what I wrote back to me. What I wrote 5 years ago is encouragement that I need right now. AH-mazing!

On our first run out as a group, one of the ladies that I knew would keep us on a great pace was asked to be the lead runner for us. She accepted the role and we were off. Because she had no experience with running that particular path, there were several times where either I or one of the other ladies had to yell out to her to keep her on the right path. As we were running I realized this must be what it must be like to pioneer anything. When you are the first to do it, you’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to go in directions that will make it take longer than it would have if you were already familiar with it. You’re going to have to risk the possibility of failure-that because you’re out front other people will have a front row seat to your mistakes. But are you going to let that stop you? Or are you going to look at the fact that because you keep going you end of up blazing a trail for others to follow?

I realize that some of the things that I’ve been called to do, may not have a clear path that I can follow, because I’m the one who’s supposed to blaze the trail. With the Holy Spirit as my guide, I’m supposed to tread over fear, discouragement and complacency on this path to the rich and satisfying life that God has promised us in John 10:10. By doing so, my husband and I, both, leave a path for generations that will come after us to follow.

It’s Your Turn: How are you blazing a trail in your own life? What are you called to pioneer for the generations after you?

(1) Register and join us at the 2017 You Are Stronger Than You Think Women’s Event:  www.StrongerThanYouThinkEvent.com

(2) Enter the #STARTSTRONGCONTEST for your chance to be awarded $1,000 to start a business, a ministry or jumpstart your career: www.StartStrongContest.com. Hurry! Contest entries close: Wed, 11/30/16.