Category Archives: Personal Health

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Three Relationships Everyone Needs in Life

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Two men stand beside one another, loudly discussing and debating various points from Talmudic text and commentaries. They passionately analyze, debate, and defend their points of view in order to arrive at a mutual understanding of the text. 

The method of study is called Chavrusa (literally “friendship”), a traditional rabbinic approach to Talmudic study where two students are paired together to discuss and debate texts. While students could certainly learn on their own, according to William Helmreich, the chavrusa relationship is “the best way to ensure preciseness and clarity of thought.”

I love learning about Jewish tradition so it is interesting to me that rabbis have found a variety of relationships are needed in order for students to develop wisdom and gain genuine understanding regarding their faith. 

As Christians, we too need a variety of relationships in order to grow and thrive spiritually. Today I will outline three types of relationships that everyone needs:

1) Mentor/Pastor – everyone needs someone older and wiser than them to provide wisdom, guidance, and skillful teaching in areas where they are not yet experienced or learned. Paul is a great example of this in Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 4:15, he shares “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” 

A mentor or pastoral relationship is one where we feel nurtured, taught, guided and cared for in a fatherly/motherly way or even as a big brother or big sister. These relationships are crucial to our growth in Christ.

2) Peer/Friend – this is similar to the Chavrusa relationship in Judaism. We all need a friend or two who we can be honest, vulnerable, and transparent with about our own thoughts, struggles, and questions regarding faith.

This person can be likened to a Barnabus in Scripture, whose name means “Son of Encouragement.” This is someone we can pray with regularly and discuss what we are learning in Scripture. This is also someone we know is committed to our spiritual growth and we are committed to theirs. We know we can turn to this person when we face discouragement, confusion, or failure with assurance that we will find encouragement and love from them.

3) Mentee/Disciple – If you have a younger sibling, you probably have been a mentor without even knowing it. Your younger brother or sister may have followed you around and imitated your every word and action. We all need to be willing to come alongside those who are younger in the faith in order to instruct and encourage them. 

Timothy is a great example of this in Scripture as he followed Paul’s example in all things. This is someone who looks up to you and can learn from your own life experiences and wisdom.

While our society today may not organically produce all three of these types of relationships for us, we must seek them out. We tend to live individualistic, segregated lives that may not always send the signal to others that we are looking for these relationships. 

What can you do to pursue all three of these relationships in your life? How have you benefitted from seasons when you did have these? I would love to hear your stories!

Photo Credit: Alden Jewell (Bond Car)

 

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Three Great Reasons to Keep A Spiritual Journal

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I have been keeping a diary since I could write in full sentences. Even though it was a Hello Kitty one with a lock, I was certain it was the perfect place to document all of my deepest thoughts and dreams.

As I got older and began to have regular times of personal prayer and Bible study, journaling became my preferred outlet for writing down prayers, lessons I was learning, Scriptures that had ministered to me, and important events in my life. Over the years, I have accumulated several boxes of journals which I have dutifully lugged from house to house each time I’ve moved.

My husband, on the other hand, is more of an in-frequent journaler, but still makes it a habit to write down all the wonderful things God has done in his life in a yearly summary on his birthday. Whether you love or hate to write, there are some great reasons to take time periodically to reflect upon and document the works of God in your life.

1) We are Prone to Forget – I often have a hard time remembering what happened yesterday, much less last year. And it seems that this is a common human dilemma. Psalm 106 speaks of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and their prompt forgetfulness:

“He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert….But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for His counsel.” – Psalm 106:9, 13

It’s proven that when we write things down, we are more likely to remember them. We make a choice to remember lest we forget. It’s really that simple.

2) To Increase our Faith in God – In Psalm 77, the psalmist writes with despair about his current circumstances, wondering if “God has forgotten to be gracious?” or if “His steadfast love has forever ceased?”

He turns from despair to hope through remembering, “Then I said, I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” – Psalm 77:10-11

When we write down and remember how God has delivered and helped us in this past, we have faith that He will help us through our current difficulties as well.

3) For Generations to Come – Some day when I am gone (or maybe before, if they find them!) my girls will likely sit down on a rainy day with a pot of coffee and read over my journals. They may laugh or cry or both – and they will remember me. They will even be able to know me as a young girl – my thoughts, struggles, and prayers to God at 13, 16, or 19 years of age.

When we document what God has done in our life and share it with our children as well, we pass on a legacy of faith – a testimonial that remains alive through the decades of the active work of God in our lives.

So, how about investing in a journal, picking up a pen, and let your thoughts flow? Who knows whether 30, 60, or even 100 years from now, your grandchild will pick it up, read it, and say, “What God did for Grandma, He can do for me, too.”

 

 

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