Let Us Mentor Others
Wouldn’t our sphere of influence be enriched if each of us would earnestly mentor another person?
We could encourage someone in practical and spiritual ways, passing down our experience, knowledge, and wisdom on a one-on-one basis? Don’t overlook the opportunity to mentor others online when person-to-person meetings are impossible. Pray about such a possibility.
My first advice: Be yourself, using your own special gifts. Don’t be afraid to mentor out of your own trials and failures as well as your triumphs. Thank God every day for the creative gifts He has put within you and be a good steward of them.
Peter advised: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10 NKJV)
You will set your own mentoring guidelines, but some I have used include:
Discuss goals with your mentoree. What does she/he want to learn from you? Decide when and how often you will be in contact (once a week, once a month?). Will you study a certain book? Does mentoree need to purchase special tools to learn/improve a skill you will be teaching? Pray for those you mentor as they learn to apply new things. Teach in such a way that each person can later mentor others. Make it a fun learning experience too.
The late Jamie Buckingham, author of 42 books and my writing mentor, said to me: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” It was my mandate to teach what he and others had taught me. As well as to share from my own experiences. (See Luke 12:48 NKJV)
Over the years I have been blessed by being mentored and by mentoring others. Computers and smart phones have become helpful devices for me to use in mentoring those who don’t live nearby. Up for the challenge? Let’s go do it!
Prayer: Lord, open doors for us to mentor the people of Your choosing and give us wisdom and discernment to carry out that privilege. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scripture: [Paul writes]The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians. 4:9 NASB
See my book Cast Your Shadow: Influence on Purpose on mentoring. Available on Amazon
Comments (0)