We all have to start somewhere! Whether it’s going after a God-inspired dream, reading the Bible for the first time, or lacing up our sneakers to begin a health and fitness journey, it’s perfectly okay to be a beginner. Starting something new can be uncomfortable, and that’s something to be proud of. It means you're stretching and growing into a greater version of yourself.
Embrace the journey! Yes, embrace the journey a little at a time. One scripture that the Holy Spirit often brings to the forefront of my mind is Exodus 23:29-30: “But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land.” Often, when we start something, we want to be great at it immediately. We don’t want to go through the process because it’s usually hard and uncomfortable. I love this scripture in Exodus because God didn’t tell the Israelites, “I will give you everything all at once!” If He did, they would take it for granted, they wouldn’t need to rely on Him, and ultimately, they would be left with nothing. Verse 30—“a little at a time”—are the words the Holy Spirit highlights to me. Just keep doing the small things, even though they seem insignificant. Eventually, they will all compound together, and hello results!
As you’re working a little at a time, keep your blinders on and focus on what God has called you to do. Keep your earplugs in and listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Don’t look right or left wondering what the person next to you is doing. When you do that, you start to compare. Stay in your lane. What God called you to might look like the person next to you, but it’s not your unique plan.
Celebrate the small! Did you complete day one of a workout? Celebrate—you did it! Read one Bible verse? Rock on! God will use that verse in your day. Took a step to write out a plan for your God-given dream? Celebrate it and know that God’s going to use it! Sometimes the journey might get hard, but keep going! Keep doing the small things that seem insignificant every day because one day, you will look back and say, “WOW, God! You took my little and turned it into something amazing.”
I remember when God gave me the dream for this ministry. I had a black “dinosaur” computer, as I called it. I’d be at the coffee shop working, and it would overheat and shut off on me several times. As frustrating as that was, I pushed through and used what I had. Eventually, I was blessed with a new laptop to pursue my God-given dream.
I remember looking at the Bible and thinking, “This is a BIG book; there’s no way I’ll ever be able to read the entire thing.” But I picked it up and read it anyway. I didn’t always understand what I was reading, but I did it. I continued, and now I can say I have read the entire Bible cover to cover—twice.
Starting my health and fitness journey was another challenge. I ordered supplements that were foreign to me at the time. I was scared to take them and left them sitting on my kitchen counter for a week before I got the courage to try them. When I started working out, all I could lift was 5 lbs, and I couldn’t even do one push-up. Eating healthy was also new to me—I couldn’t cook to save my life and was unfamiliar with the grocery store.
A fun story: I was told to get ground beef, 90% lean, 10% fat. I thought, “How hard could this be?” I went to the store and was so confused by the 90% lean, 10% fat labels that I called my mom for help. Feeling confident, I returned with what I thought was ground beef—only to realize I had bought pork! I’ve also accidentally cooked a pizza cutter into a pizza. But eventually, I learned to cook. Now, people ask me to make dishes and desserts for them. I can lift heavy weights, do push-ups, and I take those supplements every day—they’ve changed the fitness game for me.
I want to encourage you: whatever you are pursuing, take it one step at a time, and you will reach your destination. If you're considering starting a health and fitness journey, pray about joining Shift Worthy Fit. This program will meet you right where you are, and little by little, you will see progress.
Shift Worthy Fit Launches July 25th
So very encouraging!