I have told the story of how someone I respect almost manipulated me out of my relationship during courtship. That was a period of my life when I had nothing but faith in God who called me into the ministry. Also, those were days when I had my eyes on career development.

That period of my life, I got close to a prophetess who was based abroad.  Someone close to me introduced her to me and we got talking. We became closer when I discovered she loved outreaches, something I am passionate about. We got talking generally.

In the course of our interaction, she introduced her eldest daughter to me with the intent of starting a relationship with her. I told her I was engaged to be married but she said it doesn't matter as long as I wasn't married yet, the pendulum could swing either way. That was manipulative.

My wedding was in-view already and the option she was presenting to me could make me call off all wedding plans to realign with hers because she meant it. For an ambitious young man like me, marrying an American citizen was a sure route to becoming a citizen and to achieve some of my academic dreams. If I had accepted her offer, I would have gotten the famous green card but lost my ministry and the will of God.

This offer came from a prophetess, someone whom I felt knew God better and must have heard God clearly. The devil was playing some dirty games that period and I needed calmness of mind to know God's mind.

I stood by my convictions and I rejected the offer politely. Thereafter, she became cold about me and it has been like that ever since. What will you do If you were in my shoes? That's a test of conviction there. Your conviction will be tested. Satan will use seemingly better opportunities and people you respect to test your convictions. If you fail, you'll be derailed from God's plan.

This story reminded me about the young prophet the Lord gave specific instructions to but was misled by the old prophet in Bethel who also claimed to have heard God. He was misled and that was the end of his ministry(1 Kings13:11-25).

In your life's journey,  beware of "senior prophets" who will counsel/ instruct you out of God's will for your life.

"Senior prophets" could be that old minister you revere and respect so much. It could be that person you call mentor or spiritual father. It could be that person you think is right at all times in his/ her counsel.

We'll always need the counsel of mentors but they are to fine-tune and guide us within the confines of God's will for our lives and not to take us out of it.

Beware of mentors who become tormentors. A mentor becomes a tormentor If he manipulate you out of God's will. When mentors make ungodly demands, they become tormentors.

In as much as I believe and teach that people should submit to someone ahead of them and in tune with God, it should be noted that mentors should not play God in our lives. Some ministers missed it because they abandoned the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives and ministry. They simply followed the leading of a mentor.

Be convinced about what God want you to do and how He want you to do it. Run from seemingly better opportunities that can derail you from God's plan. Honour mentors and respect them but obey God's leading.