Today we continue our series, “Progress On Purpose.” I told you that God wants us to walk in “NEW LEVELS IN 2021!” But if we are going to do so, we must be intentional about our progress. With that in mind, as we lay the foundation for the year, I told you that I would discuss “Leveling Up” in five areas:
1. Spiritually
2. Financially
3. Physically
4. Internally
5. Externally
In the last area, I am addressing leveling up your external relationships. I will cover the following topics in this section:
1. The three people you need in your life (the roles you need filled)
2. Discerning when to let people go
3. The importance of choosing the right friends
4. Surrounding yourself with people of like-precious-faith
Setting the stage:
I have covered a great deal about relationships thus far. Today is Friday. As we close out the week, I am led to provide a short recap of some of what we have covered, and to then add some insight to it. I want you to think about all the roles you have learned about over the last couple of weeks. Let’s talk about them in what I am calling a “relationship inventory.” Think about the people you have in each of these roles in your life.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Coaches: these people speak TO you.
— They have proven experience, coupled with the ability to teach and motivate others.
— They know how to take someone without the experience and provide them proven principles, methods, and ways to create the desired outcome.
— They know the value of practice, and they drive drills that produce proven skills for success.
— You can have multiple coaches in your life (financial coach, fitness coach, business coach, etc.), depending on what you are attempting to accomplish in the different roles you fill on a daily basis.
— You may or may not have “formal” coaches, but if you think about it, you will more than likely realize the fact that you have some people in your life who are coaching you in different areas. Value their input and appreciate the investment they are making in your life. Just don’t expect them to be something they are not. When we look at the other roles, you will see the importance of each, and just as long as you know the role a person is filling for you, you won’t get frustrated by expecting something from them that they are NOT supposed to provide!
2. Mentors: these people speak WITH you.
— I have said a great deal about mentors thus far. I have benefitted greatly from amazing mentors.
— This is someone you consider to be at a position in life that you aspire to attain. Further, you consider this person to be worthy of emulation.
— You have a direct relationship with them, and they are willing to invest in you.
— If you are the mentee and have a mentor (you can have them in many areas of your life), please value the investment.
— Make sure your mentors know how much you appreciate what they do for you, and honor them every chance you get. The culture of God’s Kingdom is a culture of honor. If you honor your mentors publicly, you will be amazed at how much they pour into you privately.
3. Sponsors: these people speak FOR you.
— A sponsor opens doors for you that you cannot open for yourself.
— A sponsor can do something for you with one phone call that you could not make happen with 10 years of hard work.
— God will lead people of influence to move on your behalf. They wind up using their power, influence or money, to help you in ways you cannot help yourself.
— Favor can do more in a minute than labor can do in a lifetime.
— Sponsors can change your life significantly, so when God gives you favor with people, and they do things on your behalf, make sure you honor and value them!
— When someone puts their reputation on the line for you, please do not make them regret their decision.
— If you don’t have a sponsor who can help you in your business, career, etc., talk to your mentors about it. Mentors can help connect you with a sponsor. Of course, you can talk to God about it as well. God can give you favor with people who will go out of their way to help you in ways you can never repay them.
— This is a role you should ask God to fill. One phone call can get you access to something you may not get any other way. But once again, when God gives you favor with someone, don’t flaunt it (making people resent you), and don’t waste it (making the sponsor believe they wasted their time).
4. Models: these people inspire you from a far.
— You can model yourself after someone in the Bible, someone who wrote books, someone on YouTube, or just about anyone who makes their life and lessons accessible to the public.
— You can model any level of success you have access to.
— If someone is willing to share what they did to get to where they are, and you have access to that information, you can use their blueprint as a model.
— This is especially important to minorities or people who have been disadvantaged in some way. If you can see someone who looks like you, sounds like you, or has a last name that sounds like yours doing something that you have only dreamed of, God can use their success as a source of inspiration in your heart.
— You should have people you can look at, as models, that motivate you to want to go higher.
— You should also strive to be a model for those coming behind you!
5. Spiritual parents: this is a spiritual covering).
— This is a spiritual relationship, a divine covenant.
— God assigned Paul to be the Spiritual Father of Timothy.
— God assigned Elijah to be the Spiritual Father of Elisha.
— In addition to the direct counsel a spiritual covering can provide you, God is able to connect you to the anointing that is on their life (or lives). Further, there can be a spiritual transfer of their anointing.
— Timothy received (spiritually) what was on Paul.
— Elisha received (spiritually) what was on Elijah.
— When you have spiritual parents, and you submit to this Godly-ordained spiritual covenant, you become a partaker of the grace that is on the lives of your spiritual parents.
— When you have a spiritual father and/or mother, this is greater than having a pastor. This goes beyond teaching from the pulpit or counself from the office. This is a spiritual covering that can impact every area or your life!
6. Spouses: this is someone you get to “do life” with.
— I had not covered this one before.
— Who you marry is arguably THE MOST important decision of your life (outside of accepting Jesus as Lord).
— This person will be with you every day for the rest of your lives. I cannot overstate the importance of choosing wisely where your spouse is concerned.
— Your marriage can be the most rewarding relationship you will ever have.
— When you have the support of your spouse, you feel like there is nothing you can’t do.
— One of the greatest things Isabella does for me is believing in me.
— When I know she believes in me, and she does, I have the confidence to do whatever God is leading me to do.
— I know I am never alone. I know Isabella always has my back, and I have hers.
— I am her biggest supporter, and she is mine.
*** Please support your spouse, believe in them, pray for them, and become their biggest fan. It will help them, and in turn, it will also help you!
As you think of the six roles I just laid out for you, now think of how these people prepare you to BE a blessing to others. Remember, one of the greatest things you can do is GIVE BACK. Your goal should be to POUR INTO OTHERS the things that have been POURED INTO YOU!
That said, here are three things you can do for the people looking up to you:
1. You can help them get image of success.
a) Powerful things can happen when someone gets an image of themselves doing what God has called them to do.
b) Looking at you, when you are open to sharing with them, can help them get an image of themselves. This image is critical.
c) You have to SEE IT before you can BE IT. If you can’t SEE IT, you can HAVE IT!
2. Your life can help them figure out HOW!
a) One of the most frustrating things is to know that you are BIGGER than your situation, but not knowing HOW TO GET OUT OF IT!
b) Frustration sets in when you have BIG DREAMS, but you don’t know HOW to bring them to pass.
c) If you are willing to share your life with them, you can help them figure out HOW!
d) You don’t figure it out FOR THEM, but your life can help THEM figure it out!
e) When you believe you have a DREAM! But when you start to layout HOW, you then have a PLAN! Big difference!
3. Never underestimate the power of believing in someone!
a) When a young person sees a successful person INVESTED in them, I cannot overstate what this does for them.
b) If you believe in them, then they will believe in themselves!
So please, be a model and/or mentor for someone.
1. You will help them SEE themselves in a different light.
2. You will help them figure out HOW!
3. Your believing in them will help them believe in themselves in an amazing way!
This has been your relationship inventory. This is a great way to close out the week!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I will fill all the roles I need to fill in my life. I will have people who pour into me, and I open myself to their input. I thank You for giving me favor with people to fill all the roles you need to be filled in my life, and I will make myself worthy of the investment. I will then take what You pour into me and pour it into others. I will invest in others the way You sent people to invest in me. I honor every relationship, and I now better understand that I could never experience Godly success alone. I need others, and they need me. I LEVEL UP my relationships in 2021. GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
