* How to go into a meeting with your Pastor and actually get counsel
Pastor Les Hobbins In His Office Where He Often Counseled
1) Let Pro. 20:5 guide you.
“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
When you go to your pastor for counsel, don’t just chit-chat. Learn how to convince your pastor that you want to know his thoughts, opinion and advice. Draw out his counsel.
2) If you get counsel from someone else besides the Pastor, let the Pastor know.
So often people will go to as many counsellors as needed until they find someone who is willing to tell them what they want to hear. That is ear-tickling, not counsel.
3) The Pastor wants to know what you believe God would have you do, what you think you should do, what you want to do, or even, if you have no clue what to do.
This helps the pastor know how to direct his advice and what to tell you to help you overcome your own mental obstacles.
4) Go to him before your mind is made up so he doesn’t have to veto your ideas.
Your pastor will be glad to help you pick up the pieces of your life, but I’m sure he would rather help you before you ever get yourself into trouble.
5) Leave your opinions and feelings out of it. He can help you make a decision based on principle and fact.
One of the benefits of your pastor’s counsel is that he can help you make an objective decision. He is not emotionally attached to your situation.
6) Make it very plain that you want his counsel and don’t accept simple answers.
7) If you don’t get counsel in the right way, then you haven’t truly gotten counsel, so don’t try to ease your conscience by saying you talked to Pastor, when in reality, he had no chance to give you any counsel.
Pastor Hobbins' Blog 