During the school year we have chapel, small groups, the Potter's Place, and our friends to keep us on top of our spiritual life. In the summer, we are away from all of this, so how do we continue to grow our relationship with Christ during the summer? Each person's walk is a little different, so this means that everyone has slightly different ways that they worship. There are many ways you can find God when you don't have two chapels a week and professors who pray at the beginning and end of class.
I think the first thing a person should do is set aside time every day just for you and God. This can be anytime you choose; in the morning when you get up, during lunch, before bed, or truly anytime you want. You should give yourself some time to get the most out of your time. You never know when God will reveal something to you that will change your life! I know that for me it makes it easier to spend time with God if I have the time set, so that I don't schedule anything else during that time period.
Another thing you can do is reconnect with your home church. This is the place that you first started your relationship with God. Everyone in the church will want to know how school is going and how you are physically and spiritually. Just be honest and tell them how you feel, and if the need is there, they will want to help in any way that they can. Going back to your roots can help remind you why you fell in love with God in the first place.
Pick a place where you can go to be alone; where no one will bother you. If you go away from your house, you can leave the phone in the car so that there won't be any distractions. I like to go to a lake that is near my house so that I can see some of the amazing works of God while I am spending time with Him. Doing this helps me focus on being with God and letting go of the things that are happening in my life.
Get a new devotional. When you don't know what part of the Bible you want to study, getting a new devotion book can help you figure out what you want to learn about and maybe give you insight into your relationship with God. Another thing that devotionals can do is give you some perspective about things that are going on in your life.
One more thing that I like to do is talk to my grandparents. They have lived longer than I have and I love to hear how they got through things and the wisdom they have gained through their relationships with God. I also love talking to my pastor and asking about things that I wonder about in the scripture. There are many more ways to strengthen your relationship with God. I hope that everyone who reads this will continue to grow in Christ and spread His love.
