Staying Close to God: College Edition

It’s back to school season, but for many of us, including the writers of The Daily Bread, things are going to be quite different. Whether you are studying abroad, doing school online, or attending college in person, you are going to be exposed to all sorts of opportunities. These choices can either help you progress forward in your walk with God, or it can cause you to stumble and fall. Temptations are going to always be everywhere, but at the end of the day, it is your responsibility to be obedient to God’s will for you. Down below are some tips and tricks to make sure your relationship with God doesn’t break during your first year of college!

·       Study the Bible just as you would for your textbooks. Put in the effort to comprehend, connect, and apply the verses that you have read. This can look like highlighting verses you find interesting or important, taking notes, and defining unknown words/phrases.

·       Take advantage of the new environment. Creating new habits can be difficult, especially since a fresh start is hard to achieve in the same place you are everyday. But as you walk into a new chapter in your life, you may feel motivation to let go of those old habits and bring in new ones! Start of the school season right and set goals and challenges for yourself. Let go of those bad habits and create new ones that will fill your soul and bring you closer to God.

·       Calculate the cost of falling into sin. Denying your flesh won’t always be easy, especially when you are going to carry a newfound weight of independence. However, you need to have the discipline to stay strong and stay in touch with God’s will and word. By setting boundaries with yourself and others, you can avoid certain opportunities from even arising.

·       Let go of the pressures. Being stuck with the same people and same routine may “force” you into being a certain way. Maybe your friends go partying every weekend and you fell into the same habits. Maybe your parents have certain routines you don’t agree with, but the pressure forces you to do it. Especially  as a college student moving out, let go of those pressures you had from friends and family! Being on your own now allows you to find yourself and who you truly want to be. Pray for discernment as you behind to traverse the world on your own.

·       Find communities that give godly lectures. You go to each class 1-3 times a week for over an hour to learn. Make time to find people who want to use this method for gaining wisdom from the Lord. This can look like joining a faith-based club, a church, or creating friendships with people who are walking with Jesus as well. Where do you find these people and communities? Probably not at the nightclub or the frat parties.

·       Be true to yourself. While you’re starting over and you have the opportunity to find yourself and make new habits, do not fall into bad ones! Do not allow peer pressures or FOMO to take over because you’re missing out on the crazy college life. Stay true to who you are and your morals. Stand by God always and allow Him to guide you in the right direction!

Although these tips can be applied for any school year, as college freshmen, we reach an age and level of life where we are expected to know what is right and wrong. We are given more options, and with that, we gain more outcomes. Make the most out of your college experience by using your faith as motivation to excel in school and to grow in Spirit! It can be nerve-wracking with all of this freedom being in our own hands, but know you aren’t alone and that God is always there.

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.