What are the Benefits of Having a Spiritual Mentor?
As you seek to grow in your spiritual walk with Christ, there are many benefits to having a mentor along the way. When life seems confusing and the road is tough, having someone there to encourage you from a Christian perspective can help you to keep your focus on God. Here are just some of the many benefits that come with having a spiritual mentor:
Affirmation and Encouragement
As humans, we desire to receive affirmation and be encouraged. A spiritual mentor can be someone who believes in you, despite your shortcomings. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” In life, there are ups and downs. When you are at a low point, a mentor can remind you of your value in Christ and encourage you to keep going.
Role Model
A spiritual mentor leads by example. They realize it is not necessarily the words they say, but it is their actions that speak the loudest. They seek to honor God in the choices they make on a daily basis, and this provides guidance for those they mentor and encourages them to do the same.
Accountability
Unfortunately, it can be easy to fall into sin and lose sight of your relationship with Christ. A spiritual mentor can be someone who is honest with you and tells you when you need to turn your focus back to God. As a result, they can keep you from continuing in a life of sin and encourage you to live in a way that is honorable to God.
Advice
A spiritual mentor can offer wise counsel when it comes to some of life’s toughest decisions. As someone who has walked the road before you, a mentor can guide you in the right direction and steer you away from mistakes they previously made. They can prepare you for what is to come and offer advice from a Christian perspective.
Listening Ear
We all need someone who listens to us and shows support. A spiritual mentor does not necessarily speak into your life all of the time. They realize that sometimes, you just need someone to listen without judgment. They show understanding because they have most likely experienced similar things, and they are there for you during both good and bad times.
Spiritual Growth
A spiritual mentor is someone who cares about you and wants the best for you. They know that the most important thing in life is to have a personal relationship with Christ, so they encourage you to invest in this relationship. As a result, you can grow spiritually and become mature in your faith.
The College of Theology at Grand Canyon University offers a variety of transformative degrees with real-world relevance, including graduate degrees offered by Grand Canyon Theological Seminary. To learn more, visit our website or click on the Request More Information button at the top of the page.
Written by Lauren Abraham, a senior earning a communications degree at GCU.