Relational Environment

Yesterday, I received an invitation to go with two girlfriends to get my nails done. I was so excited to have some girl-time, down-time and yes, some me-time. We arrived at the nail shop, picked out our nail colors and were seated. We had such a rich conversation of what was going on with each of us, laughed, told stories, and learned quite a few things about each other. My friend that invited me was intentional about who came, where we went and leading the conversation as her other friend and I are still getting to know each other.
 
1 John 1:7 – If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
 
Walking with the Lord is another way of saying how we live or how we conduct ourselves – in my time yesterday, I was able to see the love for Christ they both have in how they shared their lives with me, included the ladies working at the shop and other customers in our conversation and asking them about themselves. The authenticity of what they were sharing and the genuine interest in others created a safe relational environment.
 
As we are disciples who make disciples – we need to be intentional leaders, creating relational environments and show a reproducible process. What I’d like for you to take away from my experience yesterday is that there was an intentional leader creating a relational environment (the place can be anywhere). The environment that was relational was her.
 
As we are being relational – remember that it is us driving the relational environment. Are you relational? For those that you are discipling what do you know about their story? I want to encourage you to invite someone along with you this week – do life with them. I would love to hear from you – send me an email and share how you were relational this week.
 
Your Sister In Christ,
Naomi J. Dingle