How to Grow Your Fatih in College

Being a Christian in college can be challenging.

There seems to be not enough hours in the day and an endless supply of distractions. I totally get it. I'm with you. It's hard to find balance amongst the stress and busyness. If you're a Christian (or a person of any religion), there's another 'S' added to the already daunting 3. Sleep, social life, studies, plus spirituality. How do you fit God into your day when your mind is already fixed on other things? Hopefully these few tips can give you an idea on how you can put God first while still staying on top of everything else in your chaotic life.

I go to a Christian university. We are required to go to chapel everyday (it's actually the best thing ever) and fulfill a bible minor. There are discipleship groups, prayer nights, worship concerts, and so many other Christian activities constantly happening around campus. It can be easy to attend these things and think you're doing good in the spirituality corner of your life. You're spending time on God, but not with God. Personal time with God is essential for anyone who wants to be a follower of Christ. How can you follow if you're the one taking the lead?

Even more so if you go to a secular college. You're in a completely different environment. You have to make more of an effort to stay devoted to the Word and worshipping Him. Alongside the distractions are temptations. Everyone else is living a life that is easy to fall into. It's hard to set yourself apart, but that is what God has called you to do.

Whatever your surroundings or your schedule looks like, there are some things that each person can apply to their own lives to grow their faith:

• Set aside time every single day to read the Bible - mine is in the morning right when I wake up. Starting my day off with God sets up my day. If I don't, I am a mess.

• Play worship music while you go about your day - don't just have it playing in the background though. That's not worship. Let the words speak to you and sing them to God.

• At the end of the day, write down what you're grateful for - remember the blessings God gave you and be sure to thank Him for it.

• PRAY - by yourself, with and for other people. When you take the time to focus your prayer on other people, you have a moment of selflessness and that can make all the difference in how you look at your life and handle your spirituality.

• Talk about God - bring Him up in your normal conversations with your friends, believers and non alike. When you talk about your Savior with other people, it rekindles the passion within you that has been snuffed.

• Surrender yourself to Him - nothing else matters apart from Him. We were made to love Him and think about how much He hurts when we ignore Him! Remember all He has done and surrender yourself to Him. We always have time, we just have different priorities. Make God your #1 priority.

One of the many great things about God is that He makes everything work out for our good when we come to Him (& stay there). When we make Him our main priority and main focus, everything else just falls into place. But when we don't, it's like our lives are falling apart all around us and there is nothing we can do about it. That's because we can't do anything without His help. Don't think that if you spend more time on studying the bible than calculus that you're going to fail. He will not let you fail. He will reward you for giving yourself to Him.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)