College should be one of the best times in your life because you are out on your own and making your own choices. BUT college should NEVER be the time you ditch God and your faith in order to experience the world. I read recently where 70% of college students quit Christianity during college … despite growing up in Christian homes. Ugh! Don’t buy into the lie that Satan feeds you, “This is the time you should be experiencing the world, drinking, partying!” Instead live for God … even when no one is watching.
They say every college kid struggles with the freshman 15 (15 lbs of weight gain the first year of college) … so let me give you 15 ways to keep from bailing on your faith during college…
- Keep your relationship with God your #1 priority … not school, not work, not the opposite sex or anything else.
- Read your bible everyday.
- Make it a priority to find a church to attend … and then get your rear-end out of bed and go.
- Hang with the right crowd. Run with the wrong crowd, in the wrong places … and you’ll do the wrong things.
- Get involved with other college students that have the same spiritual goals.
- Don’t believe the lie that “everyone is doing it….” whatever someone tells you “it” is.
- Pray every day for strength.
- Remember daily how good God has been to you. Why would you want to turn your back on that?
- Find an accountability partner who will help keep you spiritually accountable.
- Don’t hang out in the wrong places… places where you’ll be tempted.
- Serve others. Look for a place to volunteer.
- Find a campus ministry, college ministry or bible chair to get involved with.
- Communicate and give regular updates to your parents, youth minister or mentor on how you are doing spiritually.
- Find a weekly bible study to get involved in or host one in your home.
- Remember that Satan is going to do everything he can to get you. He’ll use people, places and things to tempt you … keep an eye out for his schemes.
College kids … stay strong in your faith!
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 23 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
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The church I’m attending is doing a relationship sermon series. The time they covered singles, they shared that nearly 80% (don’t recall the specific quote) of college kids are sexually active. 50% of high schoolers are. I think maybe an addition for parents, the church family can be added asking them to pray for those going off to college, asking them to keep in touch with them too.
Julie …
Sounds like good material that your church is sharing. Those are spooky statistics. I’ve heard those stats before.
16. Make your faith your own. I read a study that says a majority of people stop challenging themselves once they move away from home, where their faith has been carved out for them by parents, youth ministers and other various leaders in the church. Question your beliefs, challenge your idea of God daily, broaden your mind by learning about other cultures (not being part of) faiths and belief structures. Done in the search for truth will strengthen your faith.
17. Remember you are a sinner too. You fail daily, you will fail again tomorrow. Strive to be better and ask for forgiveness, but don’t allow one failure to ruin any relationship you have with God, no matter how embarrassing or tragic.
Caleb … Well put on 16 and 17. Thanks for sharing them.
Number 1 or 2 TRY AND GO TO A CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY OR
COLLEGE, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. THE EXTRA COST IS WORTH IT.
Great advice Trey. I don’t know how these kids today do it: After working even part time and studying full time, or a combination of both it would seem they have little time for anything else.
Good stuff. I agree with the comment about going to a Christian University. But I always tell our youth group kids that just because they’re going to Christian college, doesn’t mean they can’t find trouble. If you’re looking for it, you’ll find it.
Also, welcome back to blogging. We’ve missed you.
I’d add: Remember that God loves your professors and classmates, regardless of how much you might disagree with them. You being right on certain points doesn’t make them wrong on all.