Devotions

Walking through the classroom door, I could only imagine what I might be getting myself into. Secular college, I’d heard, would be a spiritual battlefield like none I’d experienced before. Would my faith survive?

As the semester unfolded, I constantly heard messages which contradicted God’s word—like the idea that humans evolved from apelike ancestors over millions of years. This idea lies at the heart of a worldview—a system of thinking about everything in the world—known as secular humanism. A quote from one of my professors summed up this worldview by claiming, “God did not create people; people created God.” 

Although I realized these ideas were false, hearing them taught as fact every day wore on me. What helped me survive with my biblical beliefs intact? The answer comes down to three personal foundations that God had helped me prepare as a teenager:

• Spiritual foundations: Keeping a close personal walk with God.

• Intellectual foundations: Being able to logically defend biblical beliefs and answer messages that oppose God’s Word.

• Interpersonal foundations: Staying surrounded by strong Christian community, including godly family, friends, church, and older mentors. 

After I graduated, I backpacked 360° around the world asking other Christian students about their university experiences. These conversations revealed that, although Christian students face diverse challenges worldwide, the solutions for overcoming those challenges look incredibly similar. They all trace back to having those three foundations I’d needed as a student. 

What are some of the top practical steps that Christian young people can take to develop these foundations? Answering this for all three foundations will take a couple more articles. But for now, let’s start with Spiritual Foundations. 

Walking with God

No student can keep their faith during university unless they have their own faith to begin with. The point isn’t for us to masquerade behind our families’ faith, but to cultivate vibrant personal relationships with God that color our moment-to-moment lives. As a result, we ground our identities in this relationship with Jesus rather than in anything temporary.  

During my own teen years, nothing kindled my desire to pursue God this way more than reading missionary biographies. Stories of ordinary people who witnessed God’s extraordinary faithfulness made me want to know God like that myself, and to approach every aspect of life—even schoolwork and summer jobs—as part of a greater mission with Jesus. With this mindset, I could view challenges in university as opportunities to draw closer to God by giving him my concerns (1 Peter 5:7). 

How to Build Spiritual Foundations

If spiritual foundations involve walking closely with God, how can we build those foundations now—and keep them strong throughout university? Here are three ways: 

1. Pray

Talking to our heavenly Father is one of the best ways to draw close to God and impact our world. A vibrant prayer life includes not only setting apart daily time to meet with God, but also practicing an ongoing attitude of prayer by transforming whatever we’re doing, thinking, and feeling into opportunities to pray throughout the day. 

2. Worship

After hearing a tough lecture full of unbiblical messages in college, I remember heading outside to detox my mind by listening to worship. Playing instrumental worship while we work, taking study breaks to sing or listen to worship, and checking the songs in our heads throughout the day are all great ways to stay “in tune” with our Creator. 

3. Soak in Scripture

Reading God’s Word every day, memorizing verses, and even listening to audio Bibles while going about our day helps us stay filled with Scripture. This, in turn, equips us to spot lies, counter temptation, and live the lives for which we were created. 

Along the way, we can keep our foundations strong by prioritizing daily time with God, being aware of little compromises which could hinder our relationship with God, and drawing biblical boundaries ahead of time—before we face pressure to compromise our convictions.  

Pursuing God

Ultimately, building strong spiritual foundations prepares us not only to thrive as Christians in college but also to live the life we were created for: a life of relationship with God. Then, whichever doors God leads us through—whether into a college classroom or out to the world beyond—we’ll be confident that we’re going there with our Creator. 

There’s much more to say—enough to fill a book! Find practical tips for building strong spiritual, intellectual, and interpersonal foundations in the book, Prepare to Thrive: A Survival Guide for Christian Students.

Patricia Engler is a Christian apologetics speaker, writer, and Youth Outreach Coordinator for Answers in Genesis. After 12 years of homeschool and a B.Sc. degree, she backpacked 360°around the world documenting how Christian students keep their faith at university. The top takeaways from this research are available in Patricia’s book, Prepare to Thrive: A Survival Guide for Christian Students. You can follow her stories and get connected through Facebook, Instagram, and AnswersinGenesis.org. 

We all would like to be more confident, wouldn’t we? What would it feel like to know you knew the right answers to the quiz at school? How would you feel if you knew what to say to your crush?

If we’re honest, confidence for many of us can feel like it’s lacking. Maybe you want to try out for the basketball team, but you wonder if you’ll crack under the pressure of the crowd watching you, so you don’t try out at all. How many times has a lack of confidence stopped you from doing something?

Where does confidence come from?

Where do you go to get confidence when you lack it? Does your confidence come from having the right clothes or the right friends? Is it from likes or followers? What determines how confident you feel on a day-to-day basis?

The Bible describes the person who builds their life or confidence on anything other than God’s word as someone who builds their life on the sand.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” – Matthew 7:26-27 (NIV)

When we build our confidence on superficial things such as the number of followers we have, or how popular we are, we are building our lives on the sand. When those followers follow someone else more interesting or funny, where will you go to get your confidence?

Instead, the Bible encourages us to build our confidence in Jesus.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. – Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV)

When we build confidence in Jesus, we won’t be shaken by the things of life. When followers leave, you can remain confident because Jesus is the foundation for your confidence. When friends are fickle, you can know that you’re still loved because your confidence is in Jesus.

Jesus is a firm foundation, and when you build your confidence in Him, you are going to stand when the storms of life come your way.

Lasting Confidence is Found in Jesus

If you want confidence that will stand the test of time, then choose to root your confidence in Jesus. Go to your Bible and build confidence in who Jesus says you are. Building confidence through who Jesus says you are will stand the test of time.

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Jesus isn’t finished with you yet. He’s got good things in store for you, and wants to help you develop the confidence to step out and do those things.

Followers will come and go. Friends will leave you and clothes will change. However, one thing doesn’t change and that’s God’s word. So get to know the Jesus of the Bible and build confidence in Him. He is the one thing that won’t change or give up on you!

Go Deeper

If feelings of doubt or low self-esteem have plagued you, we’ve developed a 5-day devotion to help. God wants you free from doubt, free from low self-esteem so that you can go out and do the things He has called you to do. This 5-day devotion is full of scripture to help you begin to see yourself the way God sees you.

In our culture today, there’s been an attack on the authority of God’s word. Popular culture today pokes fun at faith and the Bible. Often, the Bible is often thought of as being outdated, disproven by science, or just not relevant to our lives anymore.

So that leads to the question, is it reasonable to believe the Bible? Is the Bible outdated? Are the principles in it not applicable to our modern world today? Does it not apply to our lives today?

Here are a few things to think about when answering questions like these which will bring you some insight and help you be able to stand firm in the authority of God’s Word.

True Knowledge Comes From God Alone

Without God in our lives, we can’t know right from wrong. If we don’t have God, then we don’t have any standard for moral absolutes. God determines truth, and without God’s word used as the standard to measure truth, then the popular opinion is all that’s left. Then it’s just a matter of what people think is right. If popular opinion decides it’s right in society to kill, then killing is ruled to be ok. Without the truth found in God’s Word, we can’t have a standard to judge or our actions by.

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. – Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)

Knowledge comes from God. God alone should be where we start when learning or knowing things. Without God, our world doesn’t make sense. However, when we realize God’s amazing creative power at work in the universe around us, the world suddenly has meaning and purpose.

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For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. – Proverbs 2:6 (NLT)

Facing life without the Bible, and without God makes life meaningless and empty. If God doesn’t exist and the Bible isn’t real, life doesn’t really have a purpose. If we’re just here for 80-120 years and then die, where’s the purpose in that? Without God, and without the wisdom God brings, life is empty.

With God, we have a purpose. We have meaning. Life is not empty and shallow, but we recognize that we have a purpose and destiny to fulfill. In God, we realize that our lives matter and that we were created on purpose and for a purpose. We begin to fully understand that as we gain wisdom and knowledge from God and from the Bible.

So the Bible is relevant to our lives today because the Bible explains the hope we have in Jesus. Without the truths set out in the Bible, we wouldn’t have hope in Christ.

Some Will Still Choose Not to Believe

I used to believe that if I could find some concrete evidence for God’s existence, that it would lead people to believe. However, some people choose not to believe God even after they’ve seen miracles. Even when presented with sound reasoning as to why the Bible is true and trustworthy, they still won’t believe.

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, – Romans 1:18 (HSCB)

Some people, even when presented with lots of evidence, miracles, and your testimony will still choose to not believe. Don’t be discouraged, however. Keep standing up for what is right. Keep sharing your faith boldly and know that God’s word produces powerful results.

Facing Life, School, and Critics without the Bible Leaves you Unarmed.

The Bible is a weapon. Yet they’ve taken it out of our public schools. As a Christian, that leaves you without your biggest weapon. God’s word is powerful. It can speak to people’s hearts like no other book can.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. – Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

Even your best-stated argument is just your opinion. However, when you include the Bible and share God’s word with someone, you’re sharing the truth. And that truth is powerful. The Holy Spirit goes to work on the hearts of those you share God’s word with. Even if they don’t become Christians right away, God’s word is a powerful weapon.

So don’t believe the lie that you need to be neutral and leave the Bible out of the defense of your faith. No. The Bible is the best weapon you have. The truth of God’s word teamed with the Holy Spirit will work on the hearts of those you share with. You might not fully convince them the Bible is true, but the seeds of the word of God planted in their hearts are not wasted and will accomplish something (Isaiah 55:11).

It is reasonable to believe the Bible?

Yes, it is. The Bible makes sense of our world. The Bible tells us that it is the beginning of knowledge. If you try to understand the world without God, you will always come up short. It is in knowing God that we develop true wisdom and knowledge. So when you’re at school and you’re studying science, math, music and any other subject, you can know that you’re able to learn and reason because of the God of the Bible. He put that into you. And if you keep God and the Bible central in your life, you’ll come up with some awesome knowledge and results.

Don’t be ashamed of the Bible or the truths contained in it. They are relevant to our culture, even if they aren’t popular. Don’t go back on what you believe. Instead, stay firm in your faith and know that if you stay true to God’s word, you’ll experience some awesome things in life!

In our modern culture, God’s word carries little importance. Some believe the Bible is outdated and doesn’t really apply to our lives today. The TV shows we watch often portray Christians as needing to be freed from religion. Because of the influence of the media and the world, as Christians, we often haven’t given the Bible the proper place in our lives.

God’s Word is Truth

One of the main things we have to settle in our hearts is that God’s word is truth. That means that regardless of what we see or hear in the world, God’s word is truth.

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. – Proverbs 30:5 (NIV)

The Bible is perfect and it is true. It’s an amazing book and when you read it, you realize that it’s not an ordinary book. It really is the inspired word of God.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” – Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

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God’s Word is Trustworthy

Many of the events and places recorded in the Bible exist. As they continue to find more archeological evidence, the places named in the Bible are true. The people named in the Bible exist too.

The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. – Psalm 119:130 (NLT)

The Bible is not only truth, but we can trust what it says. It has been proven to be accurate.

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God’s Word is Our Starting Point

In everything we do, God’s word should be where we start. Whether we’re making a decision about or future or anything else, if we don’t start with the Bible, then we’re going to get it wrong.

God’s word is the foundation for all our choices, all our decisions, everything we do. And if we don’t start with the Bible, then we’re going to come to the wrong conclusions.

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT)

Any thought we have should be filtered through the truth found in God’s word. If a thought doesn’t line up, we should replace what we think is right with what the Bible says. That way we’ll always be starting with God’s word in all we do.

The Bible is a book like no other. If you’ll get into it and read it, it will change your life. It will help give you purpose and meaning and help you interpret the world around you.

God’s word is special, so spend some time reading it. It will change you into the person God created you to be. Determine to make reading God’s word an important habit in your life today.

If you enjoyed this devotion, you can download small-group discussion questions to go with it here.

It’s really scary how our lives can be changed on a sudden gust. From going out with family, walking along the streets, having friend get-togethers and going even to church, we have to stay at home. The daily grind of everyone had to be readjusted.

Certainly, some of us may be, at this moment, experiencing some anxiety and a bit of loneliness. What’s worse, we are in the middle of chaos; no good news, no good comments, no good life. We may also feel that this virus is about to reach our homes and so, this means the end of our lives.

But, you know what? In Psalm 23:6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me”. In the international version, the word ‘mercy’ is changed into ‘love’. If you are familiar with going to church, you have heard countless times what people-going-to-church repeat: GOD IS LOVE.

Here’s the secret behind these lines in the bible, even though Coronavirus is chasing us, God also is.

Coronavirus chases you to destroy you, God’s love chases you because he is indeed in love with you, you are his son, his daughter. God has the last word.

 Doesn’t that make sense? Doesn’t that remind you of anything written in the bible?

The devil has come to steal, kill and destroy. God has come to set us free of fear, to love and forgive us, and to direct our paths.

I will leave you with this last verse of the bible, let’s see if you recognize which one it is 🙂

• Although I may not have food to eat and there is no money at home.
• Although I may no longer get together with my family, and university classmates.
• Although one family member of mine may have passed away
• And I have some who are ill.
• Although I may have no internet connection, and there’s no way to communicate.
• Although bad news is all that is reflected on TV,
• negativity has plagged the social media, and even my home.

Yet, with all this, I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my savior.

Do not forget that God is in control, he is taking care of you. Even when I don’t see it, you’re working, God! You’re the Way Maker.

This is a guest post from Lucas Berón from Argentina. He wrote another devotion for us in 2017 and it’s great to hear from him again! Lucas is 24 and currently, studying to become a teacher. He says: “God has called me son and I wanna share this with everybody. He has come to the fatherless. He’s there to hug us and teach us as well. That’s what I try to share.”

If you’d like to submit a devotion, feel free to use our contact page. Simply paste the devotion into the text box and we will review it and we will let you know if it’s approved.