Keeping Your Faith In College
Starting college can play a tricky one on your faith, especially if you end up in a non-Christian college. Inasmuch as the word “college” signals independence and adulthood, it is also an experience filled with challenges, triumphs, new friendships, and adventures that help shape your life.
College is an academic environment for students and teachers who may differ in opinions, belief, orientation, and faith. So, it is necessary to protect your faith at all costs. Remember that you are in Christ. You are adopted into Sonship when you believe and receive the Holy Spirit. Hence, no matter the pressure, influence, or stereotypes in college, your relationship with God should be maintained through faith in Christ.
Here is what you can do to keep your faith, and not get carried away by life in college:
- Constantly renew your mind: Do not copy trends that do not glorify God and are unworthy of a good report. Instead, take a different approach; renew your mind by daily studying of God’s word, praying, and meditating. It completely changes the way you think, so that you live differently (Romans 12: 2).
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
- Join a community of believers: The college community consist of smaller communities; the Christian community, the basketball community, the hip hop community, etc. It is crucial you find a community that reflects the values of your faith and plug in for support and accountability. This could be a small group of friends who share the same belief, a church or campus fellowship. You risk being vulnerable and an easy target for perversion if you are a lone ranger. Join the sheepfold and be mutually edified.
- Put Christ on display: The word of God in your life is not for hiding. It is for expression (Matthew 5:13-15). Live the word!!! When you express the nature of God in you, you are giving light to darkness and adding flavor to blandness.
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Matthew 5:13-15 NKJV
- Listen to gospel songs: A gospel song is simply God’s Word on a musical combination. It stirs up your soul and reaffirms your conviction. You could normalize filling in the gaps of your day with songs that contribute to keeping your faith candle burning. It is a refreshing feeling.
I am confident that you gleaned one valuable thing or two from this piece on keeping your faith in college. I hope that you shine brightly in your new sphere of influence and may nations come to your rising.
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