Thursday, June 22, 2006
COLLEGE LIFE: GOD’S WAY
College is a uniquely important and decisive time in your spiritual development; a time when you find out who you truly are, apart from family and childhood friends, and what you truly stand for. It can be a time of exciting, unparalleled spiritual growth as you learn to depend on God daily to meet the new challenges of college life – or a time of backsliding and drifting away from God. Bombarded by all the attractive temptations the world has to offer, you will have to decide more clearly than ever before -- who sits on the throne of your life, and who you are living your life for – God or yourself? Thus, before you start college, I wanted to share with you some words of wisdom from the Bible. These are the five most important lessons that God taught me during my four years of experiences with Him at Stanford – four years that dramatically changed my life and strengthened my relationship with God in a lasting way. God used college as a four-year spiritual revival in my life, and He desires to do the same thing for you. I am typing these lessons up neatly for you so hopefully you will keep them somewhere that you can refer to them when you need some spiritual encouragement (say for example, around 3 A.M. during finals week of your first semester!). I hope and pray that these truths that God taught me during my ups and downs at Stanford will help you at some time or another, and that you will not have to learn them the hard way like I did. Anyway, here goes:
Lesson #1: FOCUS ON GOD’S PEACE, NOT THE WORLD’S STRESS.
Don’t be ruled by stress and get caught up in the hype. Your fellow college students will always be trying to tell you how stressed they are feeling, and how stressed you should be as well. Even though circumstances may lead you to feel that way at times, it is a deception from Satan designed to distract you and bring you down. Focus on God’s reality instead of Satan’s lies, and tap into His peace.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all human understanding, shall guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:6-7,13)
In other words, pray instead of worrying. Worrying is the opposite of faith, and never helped anything anyway. You should not live in the bondage of fear, which is really what stress is all about – fear of failure, rejection, not finishing something, etc. By God’s power we can overcome fear.
For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:7)
Lesson #2: PUT GOD FIRST ON YOUR PRIORITY LIST.
Do not be anxious then, saying “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “With what shall we clothe ourselves?” For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-33)
God knows everything you need (financial, social, academic, etc.) and cares about you more than anybody you know. Your job is to seek Him, not those other things. A pastor of mine once said, “You take care of God’s business, and He’ll take care of your business,” and I’ve always found that to be true. Put Him first in your schedule – give Him the best times in your schedule, and not the leftovers – just like the story of the little boy’s fish and loaves being used by Jesus to feed the multitudes, when you generously present God with the best of your time and energy, He will ensure that you get what you need. He can even supernaturally multiply the productivity of your time to help you get your work done, when you have been using your time to serve Him. And don’t forget to give Him the praise and glory for it – when people ask you how you got that paper written or why you’re not stressed about the test like everyone else, that’s a great natural opportunity to witness to them about the difference that God makes in your life. Everything that you do should be done in a way that glorifies God, and helps draw others unto Him, which is the ultimate goal of the Christian life.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble…For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved. (I Corinthians 10:31-33)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Lesson #3: FIND A CAMPUS FELLOWSHIP AND A LOCAL CHURCH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, JOIN THEM, AND BE A CONSISTENT PARTICIPANT AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage each other – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
God’s Word instructs us to meet regularly with other believers, not because church or Bible study attendance gets us into Heaven, but because it is God’s plan for strengthening us in our Christian walk.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Satan’s plan is to divide and conquer – if he can get you on your own, apart from the support and accountability of other Christians, he can get a strong foothold into your life and your way of thinking. Instead, make the choice to be an active part of God’s ministry on your campus and in your community – after all, from God’s perspective, that is why He put you there in the first place, not for your own selfish ambitions. We are all part of God’s body, and the body does not function properly when all of its parts (each with its own unique gifts) are not present.
Lesson #4: SATURATE YOURSELF CONTINUALLY WITH GOD’S WORD.
Immerse yourself in Scripture and read the Bible regularly, and those verses will start to habitually pop up in your mind to give you the strength to overcome the various temptations and difficult situations that you will encounter in life. Don’t let yourself be tossed around by circumstances, emotions, and natural feelings – stay focused on God’s reality, and the truths of His Word. The Bible instructs us to meditate on God’s Word day and night.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things…And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)
Be especially careful that the entertainment (music, movies, etc.) that you allow into your life meets this criteria. One good way to saturate yourself with God’s Word is to listen to Christian music. I’m not saying that secular music is necessarily evil, but please understand that music is a powerful force created by God to bring Him praise, and Christian music (of whatever style you prefer) can be an effective tool to help keep your mind focused on God. Instead of having song lyrics that worship other humans or glorify the quest for earthly satisfaction running through your head and occupying precious mind space, you can have meaningful scriptures bringing you peace, building you up, reminding you how to overcome daily obstacles, and praising God. With God’s help it is possible to stay in a Christ-like mindset around the clock – and suddenly the mountains you face in your life won’t seem so tall anymore, and you’ll even have the strength to reach out to others in need. It is a dangerous thing to allow carnal thoughts to get a foothold in your mind; they can desensitize you to the seriousness of sin.
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:12-14)
Lesson #5: DON’T EVER GET SO BUSY THAT YOU’RE NOT ABLE TO STOP AND HELP SOMEONE.
You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world…Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-14, 16)
Remember your role as God’s salt and light. God has placed you on that campus as a representative of His, for a specific purpose; it is not by chance or accident. It’s not all simply about you, your education, and your career aspirations; from God’s perspective, your college experience is about getting closer to Him, reaching out to others, spreading His kingdom, and bringing Him glory. Since God is not here in the flesh anymore, we are God’s arms, legs, ears, eyes, and mouths on this earth. Don’t forget that when you see someone who needs a word of encouragement, help with their homework, some prayer, or spiritual advice. You’ll be amazed at how God will even give you the right words to say, and how He will be speaking to you even as you’re speaking to someone else. Even worldly psychologists agree that one of the best ways to overcome depression or feeling down is to do something nice for someone else. God’s Word teaches us to live lives that are God-centered and other-centered, instead of self-centered. That is the secret to a meaningful life that pleases God.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:35-36,40)
P.S.-- Also, don’t forget to pray consistently for your non-Christian friends and acquaintances, that God will draw them unto Himself. You may be the only Christian they know, and God’s plan might be to reach them through you!
(by Noel C. Price, written 1999, revised 2001 & 2006)
College is a uniquely important and decisive time in your spiritual development; a time when you find out who you truly are, apart from family and childhood friends, and what you truly stand for. It can be a time of exciting, unparalleled spiritual growth as you learn to depend on God daily to meet the new challenges of college life – or a time of backsliding and drifting away from God. Bombarded by all the attractive temptations the world has to offer, you will have to decide more clearly than ever before -- who sits on the throne of your life, and who you are living your life for – God or yourself? Thus, before you start college, I wanted to share with you some words of wisdom from the Bible. These are the five most important lessons that God taught me during my four years of experiences with Him at Stanford – four years that dramatically changed my life and strengthened my relationship with God in a lasting way. God used college as a four-year spiritual revival in my life, and He desires to do the same thing for you. I am typing these lessons up neatly for you so hopefully you will keep them somewhere that you can refer to them when you need some spiritual encouragement (say for example, around 3 A.M. during finals week of your first semester!). I hope and pray that these truths that God taught me during my ups and downs at Stanford will help you at some time or another, and that you will not have to learn them the hard way like I did. Anyway, here goes:
Lesson #1: FOCUS ON GOD’S PEACE, NOT THE WORLD’S STRESS.
Don’t be ruled by stress and get caught up in the hype. Your fellow college students will always be trying to tell you how stressed they are feeling, and how stressed you should be as well. Even though circumstances may lead you to feel that way at times, it is a deception from Satan designed to distract you and bring you down. Focus on God’s reality instead of Satan’s lies, and tap into His peace.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all human understanding, shall guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:6-7,13)
In other words, pray instead of worrying. Worrying is the opposite of faith, and never helped anything anyway. You should not live in the bondage of fear, which is really what stress is all about – fear of failure, rejection, not finishing something, etc. By God’s power we can overcome fear.
For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:7)
Lesson #2: PUT GOD FIRST ON YOUR PRIORITY LIST.
Do not be anxious then, saying “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “With what shall we clothe ourselves?” For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-33)
God knows everything you need (financial, social, academic, etc.) and cares about you more than anybody you know. Your job is to seek Him, not those other things. A pastor of mine once said, “You take care of God’s business, and He’ll take care of your business,” and I’ve always found that to be true. Put Him first in your schedule – give Him the best times in your schedule, and not the leftovers – just like the story of the little boy’s fish and loaves being used by Jesus to feed the multitudes, when you generously present God with the best of your time and energy, He will ensure that you get what you need. He can even supernaturally multiply the productivity of your time to help you get your work done, when you have been using your time to serve Him. And don’t forget to give Him the praise and glory for it – when people ask you how you got that paper written or why you’re not stressed about the test like everyone else, that’s a great natural opportunity to witness to them about the difference that God makes in your life. Everything that you do should be done in a way that glorifies God, and helps draw others unto Him, which is the ultimate goal of the Christian life.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble…For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved. (I Corinthians 10:31-33)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Lesson #3: FIND A CAMPUS FELLOWSHIP AND A LOCAL CHURCH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, JOIN THEM, AND BE A CONSISTENT PARTICIPANT AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage each other – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
God’s Word instructs us to meet regularly with other believers, not because church or Bible study attendance gets us into Heaven, but because it is God’s plan for strengthening us in our Christian walk.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Satan’s plan is to divide and conquer – if he can get you on your own, apart from the support and accountability of other Christians, he can get a strong foothold into your life and your way of thinking. Instead, make the choice to be an active part of God’s ministry on your campus and in your community – after all, from God’s perspective, that is why He put you there in the first place, not for your own selfish ambitions. We are all part of God’s body, and the body does not function properly when all of its parts (each with its own unique gifts) are not present.
Lesson #4: SATURATE YOURSELF CONTINUALLY WITH GOD’S WORD.
Immerse yourself in Scripture and read the Bible regularly, and those verses will start to habitually pop up in your mind to give you the strength to overcome the various temptations and difficult situations that you will encounter in life. Don’t let yourself be tossed around by circumstances, emotions, and natural feelings – stay focused on God’s reality, and the truths of His Word. The Bible instructs us to meditate on God’s Word day and night.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things…And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)
Be especially careful that the entertainment (music, movies, etc.) that you allow into your life meets this criteria. One good way to saturate yourself with God’s Word is to listen to Christian music. I’m not saying that secular music is necessarily evil, but please understand that music is a powerful force created by God to bring Him praise, and Christian music (of whatever style you prefer) can be an effective tool to help keep your mind focused on God. Instead of having song lyrics that worship other humans or glorify the quest for earthly satisfaction running through your head and occupying precious mind space, you can have meaningful scriptures bringing you peace, building you up, reminding you how to overcome daily obstacles, and praising God. With God’s help it is possible to stay in a Christ-like mindset around the clock – and suddenly the mountains you face in your life won’t seem so tall anymore, and you’ll even have the strength to reach out to others in need. It is a dangerous thing to allow carnal thoughts to get a foothold in your mind; they can desensitize you to the seriousness of sin.
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:12-14)
Lesson #5: DON’T EVER GET SO BUSY THAT YOU’RE NOT ABLE TO STOP AND HELP SOMEONE.
You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world…Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-14, 16)
Remember your role as God’s salt and light. God has placed you on that campus as a representative of His, for a specific purpose; it is not by chance or accident. It’s not all simply about you, your education, and your career aspirations; from God’s perspective, your college experience is about getting closer to Him, reaching out to others, spreading His kingdom, and bringing Him glory. Since God is not here in the flesh anymore, we are God’s arms, legs, ears, eyes, and mouths on this earth. Don’t forget that when you see someone who needs a word of encouragement, help with their homework, some prayer, or spiritual advice. You’ll be amazed at how God will even give you the right words to say, and how He will be speaking to you even as you’re speaking to someone else. Even worldly psychologists agree that one of the best ways to overcome depression or feeling down is to do something nice for someone else. God’s Word teaches us to live lives that are God-centered and other-centered, instead of self-centered. That is the secret to a meaningful life that pleases God.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:35-36,40)
P.S.-- Also, don’t forget to pray consistently for your non-Christian friends and acquaintances, that God will draw them unto Himself. You may be the only Christian they know, and God’s plan might be to reach them through you!
(by Noel C. Price, written 1999, revised 2001 & 2006)
