Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet, take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil (Proverbs 4:25-27, NIV).

They counted me out because I grew up in East St. Louis, a town with a very high poverty rate. They said I could never be Division One running back because I was 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed 190 pounds. They said my future was bleak because I was from the projects. But I had a dream that I believed came from God.

Since I was a child, I have always wanted to be the CEO of a big company. So, I defied the odds to achieve my goal. I ran 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash. I starred for the East St. Louis Flyers. I lettered for the Iowa Hawkeyes during the 1990, 1991, and 1992 seasons. I proved myself as a student, as a football player, and as a person.

In 2016, I was named Honorary Captain for our game against North Dakota State. While other athletes were only interested in playing football, I joined a fraternity and other organizations on campus. Never settling for others’ opinions of me and staying focused on my goal helps me on the path to fulfil my dream. I have been district manager of three pharmaceutical companies and the regional sales manager for another one. I am the CEO of my own marketing consulting company. I am well on my way to fulfilling my God-given dream.

Dream big, regardless of your circumstances. Never settle for what man says is your path but be faithful and trust the path that God lays out for you. Stay true to you and God will cause you to succeed. It will take a minute, but it will come to pass.

Prayer: Thank you God for giving us life goals and showing us how to achieve them. Thank you for the strength, wisdom, and focus to stay true to your divine plan for each of us. Amen.

  • Share a goal God has given to you that the naysayers do not believe you can accomplish.

  • Reprinted with permission, this week’s blog is an excerpt from “Praise from the Pews: A 70 Day Devotional” (2017). If you were encouraged by this devotional, you will really be blessed by the other 89 devotionals offered in “Praise from the Pews.” It may be purchased on the home page of this web site and will be shipped to you speedily.

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