My first shot at the pulpit ministry in a local Church came in my teen years. I was told to lead a five minutes prayer or so. I did not know what to do or how to do it. After spending some time to pray, meditate and prepare, I got to the pulpit and simply led the way I saw my pastor lead. It was a great outing with positive feedback to the glory of God. I had learnt by observation.

Friend, observation is one of the powerful tools in the school of learning and destiny. We can learn more through observation than we would learn through conscious, formal, classroom learning. God will be faithful to always put models and examples before you to help you in your journey of becoming (1 Corinthians 11:1).

There would be many unconscious teachers in life but you must make up your mind to never be an unconscious learner (Philippians 4:9). Some would teach you by their life and examples. Some would teach you by their carriage. Others would teach you by their silence as well as their speeches. In all, you must pick vital lessons that would be helpful on your own journey.

“And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah” (2 Kings 2:14)? Did you notice that Elisha began his ministerial journey by doing exactly what he saw Elijah do? Sometimes you would have to be a copy before you can become an original. You would have to be an echo before you can be a voice. You would sometimes find your true self by patterning your life after an existing model (Acts 4:13, 11:26).

God is intentional about putting us around places and people. The Samuel that would later be a major prophet would begin by learning the prophetic from an old Eli (1 Samuel 3:1-7, 20-21, 4:1). God deliberately placed him in the temple for that purpose. What are you doing with the people and places that God has sovereignly placed you around? Are you picking the right lessons and becoming the right person?

What you are learning is more important than what you are earning. If you are earning without learning you would soon go broke. But, with time, what you are learning would soon bring earnings. Whether as an employee in an organization, a young lady in her parents’ house, or a member of a local Church, you need to maximize these platforms to acquire critical lessons and skills for where you are going.

© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria