I am often asked, “How do you cope? How do you achieve what you’ve achieved? How do you combine lecturing, medical practice, preaching, Bible teaching, public lectures, homemaking and others?” I majorly answer by saying God directs and helps me; I follow His leading and instructions. I do many things just because I believe God is instructing me to do them. It starts out as mere obedience to God’s instructions but turns out to be a great achievement for me.
When I say God helps me, it’s not magic. He uses different methods to help us. One of them is mentorship. God places some leaders in our lives who influence us to achieve greatness. If you cooperate and obey such people, you will achieve great things. On the other hand, if you limit your life and activities to only what occurs to you, you are not likely to go very far.
Long before I knew the meaning of the word mentor, I developed the habit of deferring to people who know more than I do. I respect them, ask questions and obey their instructions. I practice this in every aspect of my life: spiritual, academics, marital and others.
I have spiritual mentors who guide me, whose instructions I follow as long as they don’t contradict God’s written or spoken word.
I also have career mentors and social media/business mentors. Though a University Senior Lecturer now, I submit to my Professors and follow their guidance. Much thanks to all my academic mentors at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos and others in the fields of Medicine or Public Health or Nutrition who have counseled me before. I also deeply appreciate Engr Leye Oluwaleimu, my social media and business mentor.
Who is your leader? Who is your mentor? If there is nobody in your life that you ddeliberately submit to and follow his instruction; you may operate below your capacity. Many things you need to do in life may not occur to you directly. You have to obey some mentors.
Please note that just as it can be highly rewarding to have godly mentors, it can also be dangerous if the mentors are not godly or sensitive to the Holy Spirit. They may give you the wrong instructions that negate the plan and purpose of God for your life.
If you want to succeed in life, be filled with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide your affairs. Beyond that, prayerfully choose mentors who have achieved what you desire, are willing to guide you and ensure you obey them.
I pray that you fulfill your purpose in Jesus’ name.