There are moments in my life, as a college student, when I feel as though I devote more attention to my morning coffee than Christ. There are moments in college when I feel as though I have put my faith on the backburner in order to focus on every test, every quiz, every essay and every assignment. There are moments in college when I feel as though being a Christian has become my second nature, not my first priority.
I am not the best at prioritizing. However, I love planning. My planner is my best friend because it helps me lay out my day and figure out what needs to be done first. Actually, I have a physical planner and use two different online calendars… so I guess you could say I’m really obsessed with planning. There is no greater satisfaction that placing a check mark beside the last item on your to-do list, but lately, I haven’t been able to place as many check marks beside my faith-based to-do list.
As I was filling my planner for this week, I found myself writing out a bible verse along the margins, placing a reminder between the pages of prioritized homework to stop and pray. The verse that I chose ran through my mind as I prepared everything for school, and I found myself putting - okay, throwing - my calculus homework to the side in order to replace my textbook with my bible and have a chat with Christ.
Psalm 119:9-11 reads:
9 How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
10 I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
“Don’t let me wander from your commands” has pulled at my heart since I read the verse, and I figured that I would address an issue that I, personally, struggle with. I struggle with finding the space and the place for Christ in college. Of course, the place for Christ is everywhere; He reaches limits that we cannot. But finding time to focus on faith has been more difficult for me this semester than it ever has. In some ways, I feel as though I’m leaving Christ behind.
For anyone who feels the same way that I do, I have some reassuring advice. To assume that we have left Christ behind in our busy college schedule is to assume that Christ only stands behind us. But He doesn’t. Christ stands before us, providing light into the dark and reassurance that we have someone guiding us onto the right path. He is beside us, holding our hand and making sure that we know we are not alone through our struggles, and that someone is celebrating with us during our achievements. He is also behind us, but not because we have placed Him there. Christ stands behind us to catch us as we start to fall and protect us from all that is unseen.
After the stressful moment when I realized that I was paying more attention to my studies than to the love and need for Christ in my heart, I created an action plan for myself in order to feel closer to Christ, and I made a list of places, spaces, and ways in which I can call to Christ each day.
- Savior in the Shower - Why sing in the shower when you can have a morning chat with Christ? To be fair, I am guilty of taking forty-minute showers, so I’ve started integrating morning chats with Christ into my shower routine.
- God on the Go - I never listen to Podcasts. For me, it’s an app on my iPhone that sits in the “Extras” file along with the other apps - like Stocks and Wallet - that I do not use and, annoyingly, cannot delete from my phone. I downloaded the One Year Daily Audio Bible podcast because the first review for the podcast mentions that you can listen to the word and advice of God anywhere. Since Milledgeville only has 3 radio stations on a good day, it’s become my version of a road trip anthem.
- Friends in Faith - There are several friends whose names I could list here. There are friends who I have cried to about my stumbling through sophomore year. There are friends who I have relied on to give me strength when I forgot where to look for extra strength. And there are so many beautiful, empowered souls who have reminded me of the light that shines from a child of God. Praying with and for friends is such a powerful way to connect, both with Christ and those around you.
- Religious Reminders - You can set reminders on your iphone - to be honest this is another app that has sat in the “extras” file for a long time. Placing a bible verse as a reminder allows it to pop up when you think you would need it most. Me? I’m planning on placing 17 reminders before my first Calculus exam. The best part is, they don’t go away until you tell them to. Every time you check your phone, there’s a reminder that scripture is supporting you.
- Making Room Where it Matters - Sometimes, you just have to make room. College is stressful. College is loaded down with work, class, and social interaction… and for those who are awful at prioritizing, as I am, mending the places where your faith has begun to crack may not be at the forefront of your mind. Sometimes, you just have to make room. It is okay to set the Chemistry book aside to pray. It is okay to put down the calculator and pick up your bible. Studying is incredibly important, but Scripture touches the mind, the heart, and the soul in places that education cannot.
