School will be starting back up before you know it, and undoubtedly
there are concerns and uncertainties across the board. I was reviewing the content of this post that
I first released last year, and realized that despite COVID, and masks, and
social distancing, and all the other frustrating aspects of living through a
pandemic, I 100% believe everything I said here is still applicable (BUT I am
throwing in a 7th point this time around!).
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1 – Keep God First
“Always put God first in your life,” we
are advised when others give us school advice. It can sound cliché,
but it really is true. If we ignore God, we will burn out quickly
and become frustrated, anxious, and stressed. It is crucial that He
remains first in our lives. He is an ever-flowing fountain of
forgiveness, grace, and strength. Our relationship with God is our
number 1 priority, and we must maintain and grow this relationship.
2 – God is Trustworthy
We can trust the Lord to bear our burdens. All our anxious thoughts can surrender to Him. He died to save you from the slavery of your burdens and sins. Commit your life and your struggles to His care. He is trustworthy!
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7, KJV
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV
Song suggestion: Promise After Promise (Cameron Pollock/arr.
Jesse Bullard)
3 – You’re a Christian First, and then a Student
This is one of the wisest, most thoughtful things I’ve heard when it comes to choosing a college. The application of this statement may apply in different ways to different people, but it is something each of us need to keep in mind when it comes to all school decisions (including but not limited to choosing a college). For some of you, this might mean that you need to get up early to do your devotions before school. For others, this might mean you make the choice to attend a Christian college that will benefit and assist you spiritually, as opposed to a larger, secular university.
Your identity belongs to Christ, first and
foremost. You can find your identity in many things, but when
everything is stripped away, only one thing will remain: you’re God’s
child. Nothing can ever change that. So act, live, speak,
and make decisions that will benefit you as a child of God.
If you have godly parents, I cannot stress enough
that you need to include them in your life! You’ll be
launching into adulthood very soon. Glean wisdom and advice from
your parents and other godly mentors. God gave you your parents for
a reason. You need to honor and consider what they say, especially
if they are helping you financially with school.
5 – Learn to Appreciate Learning
I’ll admit, I’ve never really been a huge fan of school, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize how privileged I am to receive a high-quality education, earn a high school diploma, and have the opportunity to attend an excellent Christian university… all of this while staying at home! I still have a long way to go in learning to love education, and I definitely have a long way to go with my attitude some days! ;) But I’m thankful, and I hope you are, too.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the
Lord, and not unto men;” – Colossians 3:23, KJV
6 – Cherish
Wherever you are in school, choose to cherish today. You may not be where you want to be, but God has a purpose even now.
“Wherever you are, be all there!” – Jim
Elliot
7 – Reach Beyond Yourself
I know that at least
for myself, the struggle to look inward and dwell negatively on how COVID is
affecting me has been major. One thing
that I truly believe will help me stay others-focused is
constantly asking myself, “How can I reach beyond myself?” I think it would do us all well to look
around and see how we can reach out to others, instead of looking inward and
dwelling on our own miseries.
P.S. There’s still
time to submit to the FINAL Q+A! Submit
your questions in this post.
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