Daily Encouragement: Day 365

Adapted from Handbook to Spiritual Growth

SOUL CARE

In addition to large and small group experiences, and ministry that is part of a local church structure, another important dimension of life together in Christ is one-on-one ministry. God uses fellow believers as instruments of growth, and this is true of spiritual friendship, guidance, mentoring, and direction. We are simply too close to ourselves to see things as they really are, and there are times when our self-deception and insensitivity makes us vulnerable to becoming “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). All of us need the insight, hope, affirmation, and tenderhearted engagement that soul friends can offer.

Mentoring is not about sin management in another’s life. A mentor takes pleasure in seeing potential in others and enjoys the process of equipping them to attain it. Mentors can be living, or they may be historical mentors whose writings still speak to us and guide us even though these people are now with the Lord.

Consider whether you have both aspects of a spiritual relational network: mentors (those further along in the spiritual journey than you) and peers or co-mentors. Consider, too, that mentoring relationships are most effective when there is compatibility, clear purpose, regularity, accountability, open communication, confidentiality, a definite lifecycle, periodic evaluation and revision of expectations, and closure.