Hey sis! If you’re a fellow student, you’ve started your fall semester by now. It’s both exciting and stressful to start school again. We’re offered so many beautiful opportunities to learn and grow, but school always comes with responsibilities and pressure to perform. No matter how successful or laid back we are about our studies, we all face similar challenges through our scholar trajectory. As christian students, we’re called to honour God through it all. It’s not easy, but it’s fruitful.
Prioritize God
Everything we do should have the Lord at its core. It’s great to leave time for God through your day, but every second of our day belongs to Him. Let’s involve Him through it all! Leave your school life in His hands and let Him shine through it. Ask Him for guidance, thank Him for your success and opportunities, give him your school related anxieties, pray for help in your studies.Prayer life doesn’t have a strict schedule. Turn to Him as often as you can.
You can use time between study sessions to pray, and don’t just pray for grades, pray for understanding, commitment, rest, health, etc.. You can also use quiet time to read the words, listen to podcasts or listen to music in order to rest in His word.Including Him means seeking His guidance, trusting His plan, and aligning your actions with His will. Psalm 27:4 "One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
How do you like to include God in your day and how can you include i'm more?
Apply your faith in everything you do
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”. Let your faith influence the way you approach school and what comes with it. Assignments and discussions should be opportunities to honour God. We can honour Him in multiple ways, it can be patience, grace, investment, excellence, kindness, etc… We should serve as witnesses to others. Serving as a witness isn’t only mentioning God and sharing the word. It’s about how our words and actions reflect God. It’s about how we use the fruits of the spirit and how we use our discernment. The way we act with others and the way we act by ourselves is a testimony. Every action we do in private and in public in the glory of the Lord will be fruitful. People will notice you’re strengthened by something and that alone is a good example of the power of God.
What do the fruits of the spirit mean to you? How can you apply their meaning in your school life?
Manage your emotions
School can be stressful, with assignments, exams, and deadlines. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure, but never forget you have access to God’s peace. When you feel overwhelmed, turn to God in prayer, cast your anxieties on Him 1 Peter 5:7, and trust that He
will guide you through the challenges. You’re not alone. Not only is He here, but you’re surrounded by other students who live the same pressure as you. Yes of course, some people have more or less classes, more or less work hours, but we’re all in the same boat. We’re all trying to succeed.
Which emotions do you find it harder to deal with on your own? How do you present them to God?
Time management
If you find yourself staying up late studying at the expense of your time with God, remind yourself that He will give you strength, wisdom and good results if you honor Him with your time. Proverbs 3:9-10 "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Balancing your life involves good time management. Avoiding procrastination and prioritizing the things that truly matter is essential to a good balance. I personally find that it helps me to plan important things as mandatory moments. We all have different priorities, but as christians, we must make our time with God mandatory. Adapt your schedule so you can have school related time with God and time with God that is separate from your school life. It’s also very important to leave time for sabbath. I’m going to be fully transparent, I’ve skipped church to leave more time for my studies. My friends have too. And we didn’t feel better or more prepared for our exams after skipping. I’ll talk for myself, but I actually felt more stressed. Church is a time to get restored and to freshen your spirit. It’s essential. The time I spent procrastinating that same day could’ve been time that made me feel secure and loved had I gone to church. God made sabbath knowing we need the rest. By avoiding it by doing what I thought was best, I ended up being more stressed. This goes to show that trusting God and His timing is what prepares us best rather than following our own priorities.
What platform do you use to create your schedule? How can you include God in it?
Stand firm in your beliefs
Unfortunately, school grounds sometimes encourage worldly environments.Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.". Some people may feel torn between worldly and godly things. Don’t be afraid to speak your point of view and stand firm in it. Our faith is an important part of who we are. We cannot love God in private but deny Him in public. It's important to stand firm in our beliefs and live them. It can suck to turn down plans or be the only one not participating, but choosing God’s path over temporary acceptance protects your heart and strengthens your character.When you face challenges or moments of temptation, turn to God for guidance and strength. Pray, seek wisdom, and remember your purpose: you are called to be a light in the darkness. Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven".
What events would you like to be apart of but feel may have a negative influence on you? Serve others at school
School is a great place to serve others. Look for opportunities to serve, whether it’s volunteering at an event, taking part in a community, helping a classmate, or even offering to pray with someone who is struggling. This will help you live out your faith practically. You can help people spontaneously or join clubs that have helping people as a purpose. Hebrews 10:24–25 — “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
What type of volunteering speaks to you? Who would you like to help the most?
Join a Christian community
Surround yourself with like-minded christians who can support you in both your academic and spiritual journey. Build relationships with fellow Christians at school. Join Bible studies, prayer groups, or simply find a friend to hold you accountable in your faith. These relationships will encourage you and keep you spiritually strong. Proverbs 27:17 — “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”. It is a blessing not to be alone on our journey. Being friends with people who have your best interest at heart will make it easier for you to understand your own path and develop discernment as your life goes on Galatians 6:1–2 — “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” God gave us the ability to create relationships and to build each other into better people, it’s a gift we must use to honour Him.
What are you looking for in a christian friendship? Why?
Your body matters too
As students, we tend to focus a lot on our minds. We want to remember things, we plan things, we think and we push ideas. That’s obviously great, but we tend to leave our physical health behind when we focus so much on our cognitive functions. We’ve talked a bit about feeding our souls, but what are we doing with our bodies? If we want our mind to be in a good place, our bodies must be in good health. I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard so many times that there is a positive correlation between physical fitness and cognitive health. Did you know that exercising regularly leads to improved memory, attention, and overall thinking skills while reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia? I knew but I’m going to be fully transparent, I often ignore that fact. I actually love working out, but I don’t prioritize it enough. That’s actually pretty unfortunate, because to be able to move and function is a blessing. It’s a gift that we have power over our bodies and that each good action leads to more than we intended for. God built our bodies to function this way. When He created our bodies, He wired it so that each one of our moves would have consequences. He built us, so that if we regularly exercise and eat well, we would maintain a good physical health. That is not a coincidence, that’s how He wants us as He calls us to honour Him through our bodies.
Keeping our bodies healthy is a sign that we care for it and therefore take care of His creation. I’m fully aware it’s hard to stay motivated and find the time for it, but using God’s creations to their full potential is fruitful. It will be worth it. 3 John 1:2 — “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
What influence does God have over your physical health and how much of that influence do you consciously rely on?
Build your future with Him
Remind yourself why you're pursuing your education in the first place. Your purpose should not be solely for personal gain but for God’s glory and to serve others. If you’re thinking about your future career, keep God at the center of your aspirations. Ask Him to guide you in your professional path, so your work can honor Him. Stay focused on the bigger picture. Pray and ask God for clarity on how your education fits into His plan for your life, and remember that everything you do is for His glory Colossians 3:23-24: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. I’m sure you’ve heard of the saying that God does not call the qualified but qualifies the called. That’s a perfect quote to remember when stepping into your field of study or your workfield. Sometimes we feel like we don’t know enough and other times we do. Either way, we always end up learning more and we are more and more qualified for things as time goes on. God is what makes us better. He strengthens us to grow and gives us opportunities that build us in the long run. Philippians 4:13 (ESV) “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
What would you do if God revealed to you that the dream career you are studying for is not your calling?
You have to put in the effort
Prayer life is mandatory and we may request anything to God. He may or may not grant us that, but whether he does or not does not excuse giving up. Things can get hard and sometimes we may not be in the mood for something, but not doing anything and expecting results will not lead you to success. Proverbs 21:31 — “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”God will not write your exam for you. He can guide you and give you strength to get ready for that exam, but when he leads you you have to be a tool for him to use. God works wonders, but you have to help Him put those wonders into place. You must do the work so he can work on you. James 2:17 — “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” . As christians, integrity is important. It’s actually mandatory even. Integrity means living honestly, consistently, and righteously whether people are watching or not. That means we have to be honest with the people around us, do what we say we will do, be on time (being in class on time, respect deadlines, respect a healthy schedule, etc..), not cheat and definitely not put people down to put ourselves up.
Proverbs 10:9 – “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
Aim for excellence. God wants His children to excel in every area. We serve the King of kings. We offer him our lives and in our lives are our studies. We must aim to excel in order to serve Him well. Proverbs 22:29 – “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings.”. The effort you put in now equips you for future ministry, career, and leadership opportunities. We must represent Christ in the best way possible. Be careful tho. Seeking excellence to glory the Lord is not perfectionism. It’s a heart posture of diligence, faithfulness and devotion. Colossians 3:23–24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
A beautiful example of this in the bible is Daniel. Daniel is known to be a man of integrity. He was loyal to God and always sought him, both through good and hard times. His faith protected him and led him to bigger success in the Lord. His humility and faithfulness is what made God work on Him this beautifully. He was described to have an excellent spirit. Daniel 6:3 “Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”. God sets his children up for success and he protects them through it. If we stay faithful to God and seek Him in all things, He will shine through us.
In your life, what do you have as a priority when it comes to excellence and why? What about the things you prioritize the least?
Remember what defines you
Only God defines you. Not your degree, not the school you got into, not your grades. He is our Creator. Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”. He knows all things. He knows how every change creates a chain of events and He knows exactly which chain of events is the best one for You. God has a purpose for you that is specific to you. 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”. You don’t choose what He wants for you He does. He also knows every crevice of who you are. He gets to define that too. We actually know way less about ourselves than He knows about us and other people definitely know less about us than He does. To be truly confident in who you are and what defines you, you must rely on Him. You have to let Him define and shape you into who He calls you to be. Ask Him to let you see yourself transparently and to be led to be what He calls you to be. It might hurt or confuse you, but trust Him. Trust that He knows what’s best for you.
How would you define yourself? Ask God to deconstruct that.
Closing prayer
Father God,
Thank you for the blessings that you’ve put on our path.
Thank you for the opportunities you’ve led us to and for the ones that are to come. We pray that we open our hearts to you and that you use them for your glory.
May your children follow the path you’ve created for them and seek excellence in them. I pray our heart posture reflects you in every aspect of our lives and that we may seek you in everything we do.
Dear God, we pray for the students that are struggling to find peace in you. Strengthen us so we may put up with the hard times and not give up. Light up our path with your love as we need it.
We pray for teachers, bus drivers, librarians, principals and any other person involved in the scholar system. May their hearts be filled with love and patience and may they seek you in times of anxiety Father.
We pray for the ministry of education, may they seek righteousness and stay honest in their executions. May their heart posture turn to you Father God. May they glorify You and Your will for them.
Help us lean on you through this semester and seek for your plan’s success. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Written by Sophie Lacasse