God’s word gives us much instruction on mentoring. In Titus 2, elder women are called to mentor the younger women. There are certain qualities to look for when seeking a mentor. Follow along to learn some important things I look for when I’m considering a wise, elder woman for mentorship over me.
What exactly is a mentor?
As defined by Google dictionary, a mentor is a “trusted and experienced advisor”. In other words, a mentor is someone you look up to and can learn much from.
For this blog post, I will specifically be talking about mentors within a biblical context. That is, someone who is a Christian and models their life after the examples given in The Bible.
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#1 Attribute of a biblical mentor, she knows God’s Word
The number one thing I search for when I’m seeking out someone to mentor me is their knowledge of God’s word. Finding an elder woman who clearly knows and understands scripture is of the utmost importance. This can be seen by how she talks and acts. For example, the women I have found to mentor me openly pray for me, immediately. They understand the importance of prayer and the impact it has on our circumstances.
Scripture memorization is also proof that that woman knows scripture. When I hear her speak God’s Word freely in everyday life, I can be certain I am dealing with a true lover of Jesus who knows His Word. When I come to that woman for advice and encouragement, she should be leading me to God’s word. If she doesn’t know it, then how can she point me back toward it?
Titus 2, in particular, is a chapter of The Bible that women should go to for encouragement on how to live. Proverbs 31 is another part of scripture that is a great example of how women should live. We would all do well to memorize these chapters of The Bible.
#2 A woman with a quiet spirit
Secondly, I search for a woman I can trust. One who is modeling the character of Jesus in that regard. They stay away from rumors and gossip. If I hear a woman talking about someone else, gossiping, then I know it is not a woman I want to openly share my struggles with because she could share it with others.
A quiet spirit is another way this attribute can be described. One that is quietly working hard in the background, only concerned with glorifying God.
#3 A woman I can connect with
I find that I am drawn to elder women who have similar interests. I am passionate about child rearing and homemaking. When I see a woman in the church who spends her time on those same things, I know it is someone I can connect well with. It makes it easy to talk to those you have something in common with. This also allows fellowship to come naturally and spending time with another also comes easier. This isn’t as important as other qualities to look for in a mentor but I do find that it is something I am naturally drawn to do.
#4 This woman respects her husband well
One of the most important things we can learn from elder, Christian women is how to love our husbands. This is something that should be important to every woman. God designed us as helpers for men. We need to be vulnerable to one another to allow other women to see even the private parts of our lives, how we love our husbands.
I have been so encouraged by those potential mentors in my life, who have the highest regard to respect their husbands. Submitting to a husband’s authority isn’t always easy, but it’s easier when I see someone I trust doing all she can to respect her husband well. The best way she does this is by praying for her husband. That is the number one thing we can do for husbands and it’s often forgotten, which is unfortunate.
#5 She’s available
In my post, A Great Way To Disciple Women, I talk about how important is is to just be available to let God work. It is so easy to get busy with life and allow inconvenience to come between having sister’s in Christ in your home and in your life. God calls us to fellowship with one another. What a blessing it is to have one another to learn from and laugh with. Being available to allow God to work in us is of being a godly woman.
Use the examples in The Bible
There are so many other characteristics that I look for when I’m searching for a mentor. There are many examples God gives us to follow, in The Bible. Women like Ruth, Esther, and Sarah are just a few examples that we can read from to glean wisdom on how to glorify Christ in our lives.
I pray that you have been encouraged to seek out a godly woman to ask to mentor you. I can’t even express the blessing it has been to have a spiritual mother to turn to for encouragement and wisdom.
God commanded His disciples to spread the good news and make more disciples throughout the whole world (Matthew 28:19). I pray that you would be encouraged to make disciples for Christ by mentoring women in the ways of His Word.
Book recommendations:
Leave a comment below with some other traits you look for in biblical mentors!
More encouragement from My abiding home:
I need a godly woman to mentor me