Getting Started
When you’re in college, typically summer goes one of two ways. You either are super busy with a summer internship or summer job, doing fun things on the weekend, and lucky if you make it to church on Sunday. Or, you’ve been resting, like HARDCORE resting- catching up on all that sleep you lost during exam week, binge watching every Netflix show you were remotely interested in during school, and somehow forgetting you were ever a productive human.
Regardless of where you are or what you have been up to this summer, where has Jesus fit in? I always found that when May rolled around I had such high hopes for the summer: “I’m gonna wake up early before my job and do a devotional and write in my journal and then head into work!” After snoozing the alarm a few times, that hope quickly escaped my reality and 30 more minutes of sleep sounded really really good.
We know that God values work and loves to see us using our time, talents, and treasures to serve Him. However, when we have gotten so busy or even busy with the wrong things (#netflix) we become disconnected from God and forget that our sole purpose is to know God and to spend time with Him.
Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary,who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Questions to Consider
-
Do you resonate more with Martha or Mary?
-
Describe a time when you felt disconnected from God. What was your life like then?
-
When you do spend time with God, are you really listening and enjoying? Or does it feel like a chore?
-
What might God be inviting you into? Protected space with Him? Resting in His presence?
Closing Reflection
As we transition from the summer back into the school year, I believe this passage has great relevance for us. No matter what your summer looked like, we are all about to get very busy! Back to school parties, recruitment, org fairs, and the like will pull us away from our daily time with Jesus.
My challenge to you is this: Will you decide right NOW that you will find at least 15 - 20 minutes a day to connect with God? And I really mean now. Look at your schedule and think, “On MWF when can I hang out with God? On TuTh when can I hang out with God?” Make that decision and PROTECT it. Tell your friends you are going to do it. Write it in your planner. Do not plan a coffee date with friends or a pickup basketball game during that time. God deserves to see you, know you, teach you, love you, and encourage you for at least 15 minutes a day. And hey, if you can do more, that is great!
Now, you may be thinking, “But Katie! I don’t even know how to spend time with God! What would I even do during that time?” Well, lucky for you we have a whole archive of devotionals to help you connect with God. You could also ask an older person in chapter who is a Christian and may be able to give you some recommendations.
Regardless of where you have been this summer and how disconnected or connected to God you may feel, God is present with you. He always is and always will be. Rest in this truth as you seek to set up good rhythms for this new school year. And I will be praying that God meets you where you are!
