Back when my friend Angie was a young wife and mother she asked me if I would mentor her.  I had been married for a little over 15 years.  I felt honored and humbled that she asked me. I prayed and felt God was giving me the go ahead with Titus 2:4-5.

Titus 2:4-5 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

From the journal . . . February 1988

Speak to me Lord, tell me what is on Your heart.  What is Your burden?

And I Believe God Said:

Angie

What does Angie need?

Support and encouragement.  Give Me your critical attitude and I will replace that with what she needs from you.

Eph 4:29 Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. NASB

O Lord.  Forgive me.  Take this critical attitude.  I don’t know exactly how to give it to You. Every time those critical thoughts come, let me know how to rebuke them.

Encourage her to come to Me.  Don’t criticize and be very careful with advice.  Continually put the focus on to Me.

Matthew 6:33.  Seek the Kingdom of God^[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. .John 5:19. ¹⁹ So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

Okay, Father. That shouldn’t be hard.  Thank You.  What else?

(I was also involved in a couple of support groups with other women at this time in my life.)

Do the same thing with Sheri, Christy, and Jean.  You are not an advisor. You are an encourager and sometimes I will give a caution or admonishment, but it will be clear and not critical.  Be free to give your opinions when asked but you need to be patient and listen.  Mark can teach you.  Observe and take note of him.  I care about your relationships.  I know your heart and I will teach you how to relate to others so they can receive Me more fully.

1 Thess. 5:11. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Okay, I receive that.  Help me to practice these things. Oh Lord, it’s so good to learn from You.  I’m grateful and so glad that You love me.