Double Portion Mentors

I’ve always struggled explaining what it was like meeting Jesus for the first time. When someone asks me how I came to know the Lord, suddenly; I hear The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air intro song playing in my head.. (ha) 

 “Now, this is a story all about how

My life got flipped-turned upside down

And I'd like to take a minute

Just sit right there

I'll tell you how I became the….. 

It’s never an easy thing to answer, I've often heard people say the cliche, “I was lost, then I was found..” However it's probably the best way one can explain it.

I absolutely believe that even mustering an explanation, means you have to experience it first. 

For me personally, it was radical, unexpected and overwhelming. 

As young as I can remember, I knew my family was Catholic. When I was a child I went through a few of the common steps of being baptized and had my first communion. The only thing was, I had no idea who Jesus was let alone God. Looking back through my innocence, I remember always knowing that He existed, but I didn't know where to find Him.

I was 29 years old when I met Jesus. I had already been married for 8 years, I had 8 and 5 year old sons. 

This encounter with Jesus pretty much derailed everything I thought I knew. I was desperate to understand everything that was happening in me. I didn't know anyone in my circle who had the same experience. Most people I knew who believed in Jesus, grew up in the church and I was afraid of what people would say about my encounter. Thank God for journaling; I spent most of my time journaling my thoughts and questions.

I’ll never forget the first person who gave me a bible. Her name was Frances. We worked together. I remember always appreciating who she was. She was the kind of person you wish you could be, so intentional about everyone and everything. She watched me grow up, I was 19 when I started that job. She had that way about her where she could speak to me with just one look. I remember sometime after I came to know Jesus, she must have noticed the fruit of that in me so she showed up to work one day with a little leather pocket bible. She signed the inside with a special note and for some reason that moment felt so important. I remember going to my car that day to eat my lunch and so that I could sit in the stillness with Jesus. I pulled the Bible out of my bag, I held it close to my chest and cried tears of gratitude. I understood in that moment that the Lord was actively working in my life. 

I guess I can say that, this was the moment the word MENTOR had a significant meaning in my life. Something in me knew that I needed one. I needed someone who walked through this before me. I felt like my friends as well as my own family just couldn’t understand what I was going through. I knew I didn’t want to lose grip of Jesus, I didn't want this fire in my heart to go out in discouragement.

During that season I felt like I was reaching for God every single day. I was like a baby who just knew she was HUNGRY, something in me knew there was more. I could feel it when I’d watch people worship at the altar, I could see it when I’d look into the eyes of a seasoned believer. I could hear it when I'd listen to my pastor preach. I knew there was more because of the dreams I was having, the whispers from the Holy Spirit throughout the day. The compassion for others I'd never had before. 

Years passed, I attended all the Bible studies, ladies retreats and even served wherever I could. Yet I knew there was more. I believed (I had to believe) the Word of God. 

John 10:10 says that “Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep rustlers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

I wanted the MORE and the BETTER life than I ever dreamed of! 

Then one day, one of my mentors or as I like to call it (spiritual mothers) told me a story about how she was mentored by someone for many years and before that mentor passed she prayed with her and asked her mentor to bless her with a “Double Portion” of her Spirit. 

For some reason when she said that, something in me LEAPED up and said MEEE TOOO!! I want a double portion of my spiritual mothers anointing! She was an amazing mother, wife, friend, sister, teacher & wisdom bearer. When she would pray over people, mountains were moved, chains were broken, lives were changed. She had this incredible way of teaching the Bible and anytime I’d call her with questions about biblical truths she always had an answer. She was really living 1st Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 

She was & still is my double portion mentor, however through the years I have had many in different seasons. I can't imagine my journey without them. I am so glad I seeked them out and made time to sit with them and glean wisdom from them.

Recently I was thinking about them. I sort of looked up at that moment and said to God, “Lord, I want a double portion of their anointings”. But then I heard Him in my heart say, “you are asking a hard thing”, Immediately I was like, “ugh; what am I asking for?!.” The Lord reminded me that their anointings ALL came with the good and the bad. They have trudged through obedience, unanswered prayers, being set apart, judged harshly by others, illnesses, loss of loved ones etc and still they are standing; more like soaring. 

I had to get real with myself for a moment and ask myself, “do you really want this?!”. 

After all these years I know, I really do because wisdom has taught me that everything else is pure vanity. There is nothing more life-giving than being a life-giver.

“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will He show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. John 5:19-23

You see, when the Lord has anointed you and I with a plan and a purpose, we KNOW Him. We are given eyes to see who we really are, and understanding as to what we have been created to do, and then the steps to enter that MORE and BETTER. 

Early in my walk with the Lord, as church service ended, I began to walk towards the exit when an elderly woman reached out and touched my arm. I turned toward her and she pulled me close. She spoke just once and then let me go. “Jesus has NEVER failed me”. This one sentence pierced my heart as it was confirmed with her honest eyes.

Here was a woman who served God her ENTIRE life. Her and her husband pastored a large church until he passed away unexpectedly long before her, for years they shared their home and food with the homeless who often came and went. Some broke their hearts and others soared. They lived very humble lives and most of her adult life Parkinson’s disease twisted up her body making it impossible for her to run the isles like she used to in praise. How could someone say such a statement with such a strong conviction, and mean it? It baffled me, but more it intrigued me as I began to learn that in Christ, there is so much beauty in brokenness.

She was definitely a double portion mentor.

In the book of 2nd Kings, we see one of the first biblical accounts of a double portion mentor. Elijah. Elijah is known as a prophet of Israel for 24 years who didn't die, but was taken up to the heavens by God. Before this event, he was a mentor to Elisha, a prophet who was from Israel for 6 years. Elisha admired Elijah and followed him as a disciple everywhere Elijah went, he witnessed every miracle. In Elijah's ministry there is a record of 14 miracles performed through him. The 14th being when he was taken up in a whirlwind in 2 Kings 2:11.

When Elijah told Elisha that he was going to leave soon. Elisha requested that Elijah give him a double portion of his spirit. He wanted to operate the same way for God while he remained on earth. 2 Kings 1:1-2:25  (Key Verse: 2:9)

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’ Elisha replied.”

So it was so, Elijah was taken up and Elisha continued by carrying the same mantel, however the mantel carried a double anointing. 

Elijah and Elisha operated in the same gift but they were different because Elijah fought idol worship in kings and people; this was necessary because of what was happening in Israel at the time. Elisha was a shepherd who served with God’s truth and power while teaching other prophets. Though they were different, God worked in them the same. God used Elijah in his time and God used Elisha in his own time. You see God has used all of my mentors in their time and now I have fire in my bones because God wants to use me in my time. 

Elisha was blessed with a double portion of Elijah's (God) Spirit, because it was necessary for Elisha's generation. We can also see this is John 14:12 when Jesus is speaking to his disciples. 

“12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Elijah was such a good mentor because he taught Elisha to trust God completely for EVERY need. He could testify that He went to live near Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan River. Ravens brought him food every morning and every evening, and he drank water from the stream.

Elijah was a good mentor because he taught Elisha that sometimes you just have to stand ALONE. You can see this pattern all through the Bible. Elijah had to prove to the King of that time, that he was the only prophet of God left in Israel, 1 Kings 18:22-24. He was up against witch doctors and others praying to their God Baal to send down fire to scorch their bull. Of course fire only fell from heaven to scorch the bull that Elijah stood next to. GOD WAS FAITHFUL. 

After Elijah was taken up by chariots of fire. Elisha returned to the city and everyone could see that the anointing of Elijah was on him. God performed 28 (DOUBLE) miracles through Elisha.

We all have a mantle to pick up. We all have a double portion just waiting for us to receive it. Do I know what mine is yet? I’m not sure.. but I can tell you that it sure feels a lot like writing this….

I’ve settled in my heart that there is NOTHING better than living for God and walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit. 

5-7 And how blessed all those in whom you live,

    whose lives become roads you travel;

They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,

    discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!

God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and

    at the last turn—Zion! God in full view! Psalm 84

Nothing better than knowing God and sharing Him with others. Cheers to all the double portion mentors out there! What a beautiful earthen vessel you have become…