Fulfilling Your Calling in Two (Not So) Easy Steps--Part II

Last week I talked about hard work as being irreplaceable in fulfilling your calling, but this week's step is one of the passions of my heart. Finding a mentor is the second important step to fulfilling your calling.

The Bible gives us so many examples of mentor pairs: Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth. These are just a few.

This passage from Titus 2 gives us God's consummate plan for the older generation teaching the younger:

"1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." (Titus 2:1-7)

God has given me mentors over and over again to guide and inspire my spiritual growth, and He's also generously given mentors to lead the way in my calling. There's a woman in my church who spoke to a large study group for years and our Proverbs 31 speaker team has been a boundless resource for me.

I've had lots of women tell me that they haven't had the opportunity to have mentors. I'd encourage any of you that fall into that category to do two things: 1. Actively look for (and pray for) a godly woman who is further down the path that you want to follow. 2. When you find her, attach yourself to her like a crazy stalker-girl.

I'm only half kidding!

I remember hearing a story from a young woman who was on Beverly LaHaye's staff. On one trip, the younger staff member asked Mrs. LaHaye if she would mentor her. Mrs. LaHaye's response stunned her. She said, "I'd be so honored to mentor you. No one has ever asked me."

Not everyone will respond that way, but I think most women would be honored to be asked and sadly most have never been asked.

I'd love to hear about any mentors you've had!

This blog post at "Lateral Action" stoked the last two blog entries. You can enjoy reading more about mentors here.