What Is coaching and mentoring and why is it necessary?
Coaching and mentoring are an alliance, partnership, or covenant relationship between two people aimed at producing exceptional results. It is a journey in the pursuit of excellence. God created coaching and mentoring and is the original Master Coach. It was a part of His original plan for man.
The first coaching relationship was born in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:26-32; Genesis 2:15-25), where God coached Adam and Eve. In our society, parents coach and train their children about life (Proverbs 22:6; Colossians 3:20-21); friends coach friends on how to deal with relationships, emotional difficulties, and personal challenges at home, school, and work (Job 2:11); teachers coach students about academic excellence and the power of learning (Matthew 13:52, 19:16, 22:36; John 14:6); managers and supervisors coach employees on work and career issues (Colossians 4:1); brothers and sisters in Christ disciple less mature Christians and equip, teach, and motivate them to grow and prosper in every area of their lives according to God’s Word (1 Thessalonians 5:11-12); and couples coach each other through difficulties and challenges in their marriage (Ephesians 5:22-25, 28). Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Coaching and mentoring is a natural part of life.
What is coaching and mentoring God’s way?
Coaching and mentoring God’s way:
- Is founded on a model of servant leadership–serving others faithfully and unselfishly (Matthew 20:25-28; 22:37-40).
- Motivates you to stretch and grow (1 Peter 2:1-5)
- Encourages you to always strive for excellence (Hebrews 5:12-14)
- Helps you to reach your full potential by challenging you to tap into the vision your heavenly Father put inside of you before you were born; (Jeremiah 1:5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
- Challenges you to seek and obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your daily decision making (Joshua 1:5-9; Luke 12:12; John 14:26; Romans 8:5)
- Provides a godly support structure (Psalms 1:1-3; Ephesians 5:20-27)
- Transforms your thinking and behavior to align with God’s Word and helps you to achieve supernatural success (Jeremiah 29:10-14; Matthew 4:17; Romans 12:1-2)
Do I need a coach or mentor? What are the pitfalls of flying solo?
Working alone (flying solo) without a coach or mentor is dangerous because it:
- Limits your focus and perspective (you can’t see the forest for the trees)
- Makes it easier to revert back to old habits (wrong thinking and behavior); repeating old patterns which cause you to make the same mistakes you made in the past
- Allows you to become insulated and self-focused. You begin to assume your situation is a model for the world. “The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment. He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray” (Proverbs 10:16-17).
Summary
Do you have a coach or mentor in your personal or professional life? Pride, ego, arrogance, and self-reliance will cause you to think that you can succeed and prosper without the Lord’s help. Remember, Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God’s instructions in the garden of Eden led to the fall of mankind. While fear can make you shy away or reject a helping hand from others, we encourage you to be humble, open, and willing to receive their guidance and godly counsel. After all, coaching and mentoring was part of God’s original plan to help connect us with Him and others.
