A Mentoring Mindset
May 17, 2021By Nancy Lindgren
Someone recently prayed with me that God would give mentors a mentoring mindset. I love those words! It really does start in our minds and how we think. Do you see yourself as a mentor? My prayer is that you can say these words with confidence, “I am a mentor. I have something to offer. God has uniquely made me and written a story over my life that someone else needs to hear.”
As Pastor Craig Groeschel has written in his book, Winning the War in Your Mind: Change your Thinking, Change your Life, “Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts.”
If we are constantly thinking, “I’m not enough. My life is too messed up to be used by God. My story is full of pain. I’ve made too many mistakes. I’m not really needed. I don’t have a purpose,” our lives will move in that direction. We will shrink back. We won’t step out in faith. We will let feelings of fear and insecurity rule rather than thoughts of boldness, courage and confidence. We will trust more in the lack of who we are rather than the fullness of who God is.
My friend, Karen Zummo, had a mentoring mindset. She was always looking for and pursuing people who needed a word of encouragement, hope or truth spoken over them. Her heart was moved with compassion for people and she couldn’t help herself. She leaned in and she loved well. The beautiful thing about Karen is that her story was far from perfect. She actually walked through some really hard things but here’s the key: she allowed God to use her story for His glory. Even though she is now in heaven, her mentoring mindset will have an impact for years to come.
Recently, I read through my text thread that I saved with Karen in her last days. The final verse I sent her was Hebrews 10:35-36 (AMP), “Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward. For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.”
Karen carried out the will of God so beautifully. She has received her glorious and great reward. She is now enjoying to the full what God has promised her - being in the presence of Jesus forever, and bringing with her, one by one, those who will follow after her because of her faithfulness in loving God and loving people.
Time is short, and the time to act is now. We are called to be mentors. Why wait another day? Someone is longing for an invitation from you. She needs you to point her to Jesus..
What shift will you make in your mentoring mindset?
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. - Philippians 4:8,9
Nancy Lindgren is an author, speaker and the Founder of MORE Mentoring, whose mission is to inspire women to love and encourage others through prayer-focused mentoring. She and her husband, Mark, have midwestern roots, but now call Fairplay, Colorado home. They have four grown children and a well-worn welcome mat at their front door.
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