Mentoring Makes the Difference
When I was growing up, I had no mentors to help get me ready for what I'm doing today. I was already aware that I had a call on my life, but I didn't see any women preachers out there. Or if they were out there, I didn't hear about them. I just didn't see very many strong women of God except my own mother and sisters, and naturally their example was limited. Can you relate to my situation?
I've learned that you can get wisdom in two ways: through a mentor or through mistakes. I’ve been the mistake route, and I have all the T-shirts to prove it. It’s not fun to learn everything the hard way.
It’s also not a very good use of your time to learn everything the hard way when you can learn the same things more quickly and with less pain through someone else’s experiences. That’s why you either need a mentor or need to become one.
But mentoring doesn’t just happen. It is a process of seeking. You have to seek until you find the right person. After you find someone to mentor you, your seeking is not finished. Now the mentoring relationship itself requires you to seek more impartation. You have to stick with the relationship as you seek to learn everything your mentor can teach you.
A mentor is important because she can love new life into you. She will fill you up with God’s love with her own life as an example to you. She gives God’s love away and keeps the flow going long enough for you to begin to do the same thing.
A good mentor passes on the keys of the kingdom of God. The keys of the kingdom unlock the riches of heaven. She will be able to show you how to live your life in agreement with God, as well as how to eliminate the things from your life that are not from God.
And one more thing: you are never too old to keep on being mentored. No matter what your age is, keep seeking out mentoring, even if sometimes you have to resort to old books and distant female preachers to fill in as your mentors.
Needless to say, you’re never too old to mentor others either. Even if you have to do it a little here and a little there because it’s not a major “mentoring season” for you, keep yourself in that giving mode. Mentoring is all about receiving and giving--and receiving some more. That’s the way it works.
God is looking for a few good mentors. Will you answer the call?
Judy Jacobs is known for her dynamic, inspiring and anointed ministry. She is the host of the television program Judy Jacobs Now! She is also the author of Take It by Force! and Stand Strong.
I've learned that you can get wisdom in two ways: through a mentor or through mistakes. I’ve been the mistake route, and I have all the T-shirts to prove it. It’s not fun to learn everything the hard way.
It’s also not a very good use of your time to learn everything the hard way when you can learn the same things more quickly and with less pain through someone else’s experiences. That’s why you either need a mentor or need to become one.
But mentoring doesn’t just happen. It is a process of seeking. You have to seek until you find the right person. After you find someone to mentor you, your seeking is not finished. Now the mentoring relationship itself requires you to seek more impartation. You have to stick with the relationship as you seek to learn everything your mentor can teach you.
A mentor is important because she can love new life into you. She will fill you up with God’s love with her own life as an example to you. She gives God’s love away and keeps the flow going long enough for you to begin to do the same thing.
A good mentor passes on the keys of the kingdom of God. The keys of the kingdom unlock the riches of heaven. She will be able to show you how to live your life in agreement with God, as well as how to eliminate the things from your life that are not from God.
And one more thing: you are never too old to keep on being mentored. No matter what your age is, keep seeking out mentoring, even if sometimes you have to resort to old books and distant female preachers to fill in as your mentors.
Needless to say, you’re never too old to mentor others either. Even if you have to do it a little here and a little there because it’s not a major “mentoring season” for you, keep yourself in that giving mode. Mentoring is all about receiving and giving--and receiving some more. That’s the way it works.
God is looking for a few good mentors. Will you answer the call?
Judy Jacobs is known for her dynamic, inspiring and anointed ministry. She is the host of the television program Judy Jacobs Now! She is also the author of Take It by Force! and Stand Strong.
posted by Valerie G. Lowe at
8:28 AM
5 Comments:
MENTORS
Thank you, Judy, for your insight on mentoring. Truly mentoring can be beneficial as long as it is handled with wisdom. It is essential to go to the Lord in prayer before developing close relationships.
We need to ask God for discernment, and be sure not to allow mentors to replace God as our Most High source. I have witnessed Christian “friendships” become dependencies. Also, what can occur is that there can be extremes of giving, and receiving.
In particular, baby Christians need to be much in prayer because they often believe that anyone that comes to them with a “Christian” label is truly a Christian. They also often believe that everybody in church is saved. They entrust their hearts to wolves, and as a result, they get deeply wounded. Some depart the faith because of wounds received from Christian “mentors.”
May God give us wise counsel about how to engage in mentoring.
Sandra Renee Hicks
P.O. Box 1210
Washington, DC 20013
cleaveg@hotmail.com
September 26, 20013
I completely concur with Ms. Hicks additional comments. I myself have been wounded by "wolves" and am struggling to keep it from interfering with my faith and relationship with Jesus. I would very much like to have a trustworthy and non-judgemental mentor to stand beside me as a sister ... but alas, it seems the Lord has me on a walk of solitude for the time being!
Thank you for this. I have a mentor that not only walked with me into a deeper place of maturity but opened her heart and her home to me for the past 11 years. You may know her. Her name is Veter Nichols. She has been a dynamic force in my life as an example of godly living, teachable lessons, and at times rebuke when needed. But most of all she has helped point me to God as my source for abundant living. I do not think I would be where I am today without the intervention of this woman in my life when I needed her most. And now I mentor teenage girls that are coming up behind me. It wasn't always easy but it was necessary.umkdwu
Thank you for timely message. Like many,I also been wounded and misunderstood. Left alone with no one to talk to except our Lord and Savior. Today, I believe that being mentor is a gift that the women of the gospel as those who are seeking his will. Like others, I am still looking for a mentor. Until then, I will trust only in the Lord.
Beverly Gill
Baltimore, Maryland
Deaconbev46@yahoo.com
Good message.
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