I noticed that my younger daughter watches me and my wife each time we are having our family devotion. Amazingly, she repeats what she hears us say while we pray. By that, she flows easily and participates all through our prayer time. Now, because of her, I do all I can to pray the most powerful prayers in the simplest language possible.
“Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:9). This is one of the most profound scriptures on learning. Here, Apostle Paul pointed out to the Philippians how to get the best out of their relationship with him. They need to learn by observation.
Most of the things you would learn as you journey through life will not be from the four walls of the classroom; they would be by what you pick in informal settings, and perhaps, casual moments. Truly, learning begins after school This is why you need to open your heart and mind to learn. You need to be a conscious learner.
Did you noticed that Elisha struck Jordan the same way he saw Elijah did (2 Kings 2:12-15)? There was no point tying to reinvent the wheel. He has watched Elijah do stuff over the years. He simply repeated the same thing and he got the same result. When you see a man who is confused in his platform in destiny or manifesting lesser than expected, you are seeing someone who probably missed the opportunity to learn by observation.
I will forever thank God that I did not waste the years I spent under my pastor. Most of what I do today in the ministry were learnt as I observed him pastor us. I saw the way he handled people, the pulpit/preaching, prayers, and other activities of ministry. I simply followed the same steps when I began pastoring, then I grew from there. Don’t miss the golden opportunity you have to learn while observing your pastor, boss, parents etc.
One of the ways to catch the spirit of great people is to follow their steps. It was said of Elisha, that, “…the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha…” (2 Kings 2:15). Elisha walked in the spirit of Elijah by simply taking the steps of Elijah. Titus walked in the spirit of Paul by taking the same steps; “Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?” (2 Corinthians 12:18). Who are you learning from and what are you learning?
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria