Soul Friends & Mentors (1 January 2021)

Morning Encounter:

READ

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I go over there and pray.’ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’”

Matthew 26: 36-38. English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

REFLECT

At the moment of greatest pressure Jesus asked his closest companions to be with him. They were a source of support and comfort when things got tough, but he had nurtured his relationship with them over the previous three years. We need these soul friends too. To laugh and cry with us and to help us in our training to become more like Jesus and enter a deeper life with God.

RESPOND

Loving Lord, help me to identify the two or three people who I can form an enduring relationship with in training to become more like Jesus. Show me the ones that I can trust and can meet with easily, and who will walk with me in this shared pursuit. Amen.

Midday Meditation:

Now think about someone who has done more training than you in becoming more like Jesus. Who would be good at 'encouragement always, challenge once in a long while, and judgement - never'? Ask God to show you how you could talk to them about being a mentor to you, starting with an agreed trial period.

Evening Reflection:

Soul friends and mentors have a proven value in spiritual formation. They need to be chosen carefully in the context of a local church, and who will "watch with me". Look for wise people you respect and who are good listeners rather than big talkers. Think too about who you could be an encouragement to yourself.

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