One of the best things about college is that it gives you a fresh start. Who you were in high school doesn’t matter; what matters is this day forward. I remember being 15 and not knowing where I stood in my faith. I was raised Catholic, but I didn’t consider myself practicing at the time. From what I have experienced over these past few years, having a strong faith results in a wonderful bond between you and Jesus. Somewhere down the road in life, you receive the message of the gospel, and it changes everything about who you are.
I am very blessed to say that I grew in my faith right before college began, and God has been my rock for everything in college. All my stress, worries and fears, I to give to Him, and see Him work in my life.
However, this isn’t to say that I haven't had my moments when I couldn’t feel God. I’d have periods of time when my prayer life was not consistent or when I wasn’t recognizing the Lord’s presence throughout my day. Yet, as many Christians know, it happens. We all fall away from Jesus at some point in our lives, but the best thing is, is that He is always there with open arms when we get back up.
Whether you’re Catholic like me, or Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, or maybe you don’t have a denomination, we can all agree that keeping our eyes on Jesus throughout college is the way to go. If you’re struggling however, here are a few tips to reconnect yourself to Jesus:
1. Go to service.
Some universities have a chapel on campus. If the chapel on your campus doesn’t fit your denomination, do a little research and see if there is another church in your area! It can be a great way to make new friends, too!
2. Join a Christian club.
Many universities have clubs for both the Catholic faith and non-denominational Christians. I happen to be part of both at my school, and I love it! It’s a great way to involve yourself even more in your faith without going too far. Even if your school is extremely secular, ask around or look online at the clubs offered on campus. What do you have to lose?
3. Become part of a Bible study.
Many Christian clubs on campus offer them. However, if their meeting time doesn’t work for you, study the Bible with some friends! It’s a great way to connect and share your faith with others on your campus. You can study by yourself, but studying with a friend or two can help, especially if you are having difficulty interpreting scripture.
4. Do a daily devotion.
Christian stores, even ordinary book stores, offer daily devotional books. Some of them have just scripture, while others have journal areas to write your thoughts down. Doing this either when you wake up in the morning or before you go to sleep will help set aside time to spend with God each day!
5. Download a Bible app on your smartphone.
I use the YouVersion Bible app. The app allows you to choose the version you want to read from, offers a daily verse and even reading plans! While I’m all for reading from a physical Bible, having one on your phone makes it a little easier to carry one with you around campus. It’s literally in your pocket! Read it while on the shuttle, waiting for your friends at the dining hall or while you’re waiting for class to begin.
6. Pray.
Prayer is a conversation with God, and He loves and wants to hear from you! Pray to Him throughout both your good days and your bad ones. Ask Him for strength before a presentation and thank Him for the little things throughout your day. You don’t need to pray long prayers either (but you can if you want to). Just having that frequent interaction throughout your day will help you to remember that He is with you.
7. Share His love on campus.
This isn’t giving you permission to shove your beliefs down someone else’s throat. Although it’s wonderful to be passionate about your faith, there is a right way to evangelize and a wrong way. A good idea is to ask yourself, “What Would Jesus Do?” when you find yourself in a situation. Be kind to people. Treat everyone equally, hold the door open, help someone up, offer service to someone and simply say, “I’ll say a prayer for you,” when you can see someone is in need. DON’T, under any circumstances, tell anyone, “you’re going to Hell,” “God wouldn’t approve of that” or anything along those lines. It’s uncalled for, will only push people away and honestly, everyone is precious in His eyes regardless of who they are or what they have done. Remember too that in the end, God is the final judge. If it’s not someone Jesus would say, you probably shouldn’t say it either. Remember His words in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Don’t judge, love.
