There are typically 4 components to the counseling relationship with Rebekah:

1).  Friendship.  We will seek to cultivate a trusting, safe relationship where you are confident your hurts and heart are being heard, guarded carefully and your burdens are shared. 

2). Learning.  Rebekah will become a student of your life.  Through strategic dialogue, questions, and journal assignments she will seek to understand what significant people and events have helped to shape your view and interpretation of life.  Together we will uncover your heart desires and what drives you.

3). Mentorship.  Rebekah will aim to teach you what God’s Word says about your life and how to correctly interpret your circumstances from His perspective.  There will be weekly growth assignments with 6 key components:

a) Bible study/intake – Passages of Scripture will be assigned for reading with key study questions to explore its meaning.

b). Prayer – An emphasis on the ACTS model of prayer to help guide you in cultivating a properly positioned prayer life.

c). Journaling – Key questions to help you think through what you are learning and how you are applying it.  Transformation happens in the “doing” of God’s instructions – not in merely knowing/hearing them.

d).  Scripture memorization – It is wise to hide God’s Word in your heart and meditate on it throughout your day. This shapes your mind to be more like Christ’s.

e). Fellowship – Soul care happens within the context of, and under the authority of the local church.  Part of your inheritance as a child of God is the body of Christ in the local church.  You will be encouraged to regularly attend church, take notes during the sermons and fellowshipping with other believers.

f). Serving – You will be encouraged to look for ways to invest in and serve others.  Often our problems seem overwhelming because of the disproportionate focus we have on ourselves.  Jesus’ second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:39).  We will seek ways that you can live out this commandment in your life.

All this is empowered by the Holy Spirit and aimed at growing foundational spiritual disciplines in your life.  One hour a week together is not going to transform you; the Holy Spirit is, with your cooperation and partnership with him (Philippians 2:12-13).

4). Cheerleading.  As you begin to grow and are being transformed, we begin to transition from a teaching/counseling relationship to a more cheerleading, companionship relationship.  You will still need refining in your thinking, encouragement to persevere and discipleship in study.  However, your skill at growing in discernment for wise living according to the sufficiency and authority of God’s Word is producing fruit as you abide in Him.  Sessions will become less frequent at this point as you have learned how to rightly interpret and apply God’s Word on your own with the Holy Spirit.

A good friend once said to me, “Sharing the Gospel and how to apply it to our lives is really just one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread”. 

A.B.I.D.E Soul Care is committed to showing you where to find the “bread of life”, (John 6:35) and abiding with him (John 15:4-5) for the rest of your life.