what is it? #graceupongrace

What is discipleship counseling you may ask?

Valid question.

Discipleship is life-on-life, following one who goes before, listening and living and learning and growing alongside. There are questions to ask from one to another, prayers to pray amongst the two, and it’s “team.” (BTW, this is my verbal flow of a definition; stay tuned for actual definitions of words – that may come at some point.)

Counseling is the process of reflection on the past, discussing current life circumstances, and taking ownership of one’s own part of the process. It’s re-training your thoughts to think Truth, rather than lies. It’s receiving honor and accountability from the counselor, and taking initiative and placing forth intentionality. It’s pursuing wholeness. Which leads to a more vibrant future. (Again, my verbal flow of definition here, of things like cause and effect! Can’t wait to learn more too.)

The intimidating part of this for me could easily be a few things:

            I Love to talk. So, how am I to be a life-on-life listener?

            If I place myself in a position as a counselor, do I have what it takes to offer wise counsel?

Truthfully, though, ya’ll; I am not The Counselor. I am me.

And praise God he has brought me to a place of humble confidence (a place of making simple agreement) with Him about whom He says I am.

I am me, and the Spirit of the Living God lives within me (1 John 4:4).

I am ready to walk with my God in this new adventure. It’s been rumbling for a while, even since college, if you will, when I created my own B.A. for the sake of people, families, and communication.

So what will you talk about?

Yeah, another valid question.

Discipleship counseling poses different questions and follows through a varied process than other kinds of counseling or therapy.

Our topics can or may include (as well as current life issues):: Concept of God, Identity in Christ, Brokenness, Guilt, Shame, Fear, Abundant Life, Freedom, Acceptance, Forgiveness or whatever the God gives…

It’s all stemming from Truth in the Word.

I am going to serve as a guide and a shepherd to those who desire abundant life, to understand their identity and position with Christ (the BEING before the DOING), freedom (Galatians 5:1). And we’ll make creative altars of remembrance, we’ll giggle and play (yeah, free INDEED!), and see where the adventure of the Spirit takes us! 

Today, I rejoice in the God who literally did this all, when it took me awhile to catch on. I rejoice in the fact that He will usher in freedom and joy back into lives that may have lack right now. I am honored, TRULY, to be a VIP witness to His Story through His people.  I am listening.

Isaiah 60:1-3 (NKJV) ::The Gentiles Bless Zion

“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.”