#5 Discerning the voice of God

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 ESV

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

The Next Level

Many great Bible heroes found their success by learning from and being encouraged by people God had placed into their lives.

Anytime you’re about to go to a new level, God will bring new people into your life. These people become the relationships that God uses to release you from the old and move you into the new. 

The apostle Paul was a wonderful man of God, yet he still needed the encouragement and support of other people, and God brought the right people into his life for specific reasons.

When Paul needed to be healed, God sent Ananias. If God hadn’t, Paul’s ministry would never have begun. (Acts 9:10-18). When Paul was discouraged, tired, and afraid. God again sent someone to encourage him and lift him up.

2 Corinthians 7:5–6 ESV

5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

Somebody out there is already at the next level where you need to be. Somebody else has already made it through the mess that you’re struggling to get through.

When you connect with that person, the power of God begins to flow in a new way in your life and you find yourself moving from where you are to where you need to be. 

If you don’t have a mentor, ask God to bring one into your life. A mentor is a person who speaks to that element of potential inside of you and leads you to become the person God has created you to be.

They expose you to new orbits of ministry, new habits, and new levels of expectation. A Godly mentor will keep raising the bar for you, asking for a little more effort and for better results, and teaching you to expect more from yourself.

Joshua was always hanging around Moses.

Elisha’s success was found in his relationship with Elijah.

2 Kings 2:2–4 ESV

2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” 4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.

Timothy sat at the feet of Paul and caught his spirit.

Be open and willing to learn as God uses relationships and connections with other people to move you to a new level. 

Do you have people in your life who lift you up, encourage you, or help you on your journey?

Is there someone who has successfully made it through the struggles you are facing?

Do you have a Godly mentor in your life?

Ask God to reveal to you the people and relationships that will help you overcome and reach the next level. When He does, don’t hang back and wait for the person to approach you; you may need to reach out and ask him or her to mentor you.