Articles & Advice

Is it possible to miss the will of God for your life? I have spoken to many college students who are concerned that they might go to the wrong college, choose the wrong major, marry the wrong person and make many other wrong decisions regarding God's direction in their lives. Let me calm your nerves. Paul tells us to "offer our bodies as spiritual sacrifices" and "we will know the will of God for our lives" (Rom. 12:1-2). Seems simple, but let me take it a step further with some sure ways to not miss what God might be doing in your life.

Maybe you have some decisions to make this summer. You might need wisdom regarding a relationship, last-minute college choice, negotiating your relationship with your parents, finding a job. Certainly, we all have choices to make regarding all sorts of decisions; but at other times, we just need to "wait on the Lord." No one likes to wait. We live in a culture that demands everything now. It is hard enough waiting for your friend to text you back quickly, meet you at a coffee shop on time or get picked up to go to the mall to meet friends. There are seasons in life when you just need to wait on God.

If we are not careful, we can miss God’s plan for our lives. Many throughout the Bible and church history have failed to hear God’s guiding voice and ended up making horrific decisions. During your college years, if you neglect your health, you will end up with physical problems. If you forget about fixing your mind on Christ, you will lose touch with what is truth. If you are not intentional about seeking the Lord’s general and specific will for your life, you will risk great loss in every area of your life and His glory.

It is my experience that college students want guidance. Oh, sometimes there is a fight for the controls, but overall I think those who follower after Jesus want wisdom in their lives. There are so many decisions to be made during the young adult years. Who will be your greatest guide during this time? The prophet Isaiah tells us “the Lord will guide you always” (Isa. 58:11). True followers of Jesus are daily guided by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14). You can be assured that God is guiding your every step. Why?

The Gospel of Mark is different than the other gospels in the Bible. Have you noticed the word immediately throughout his gospel? Mark seems to be this type-A, driver personality that sees life on the go. He can't sit still. He has ants in his pants. I can just see him writing this gospel while riding on the back of a camel, eating a pita, drinking some goat milk and telling his companion Peter to hurry up. Teenagers and college students would love Mark. Everything is fast, full of adventure and with urgency. This is how he wrote his gospel. He wanted to get the facts about Jesus to readers. No need for details. Bullet points will do.

Image with me...Graduation has come and gone. The middle of summer is here and you are a few short weeks before you fly or drive off to begin college. You have visited before and talked to your future roomate, but it is still going to be new in may ways. Be intentional and plan the first two weeks of your college experience. Many students establish friendships, their class attendance routine, weekend schedule and habits the first two weeks of their freshman year in college. Some college students crash and burn the first few weeks while others flourished because they made wise decisions before they landed on campus. The first two weeks could lay the groundwork for the next four years.

The month of May is the time of the year when a high school senior's emotions are running wild. Graduation quickly is approaching, and the next phase of life if about to be written. For some, they are about to leave behind parents, friends, pastors, girlfriends and boyfriends to embark on a new voyage with lots of changes and challenges. Dreams and aspirations are on the heart of many graduating seniors. Answering questions from Aunt Molly such as, "What's the will of God for your life?" or at least, "What's your major going to be?" are heavy on the hearts of followers of Jesus who are heading off to college.

As you head off to college, there are many plans and ideas racing around in your head, but one of them is probably not submission. As with the word obey, we tend to not like words from the Bible that require us to loose control. We like to be in control. You are heading off to college to “take control” of your life. Who wants to put him or herself under someone else? In reality, all of us already have those we answer to, including a parent, teacher, coach, employer and the government. Ultimately, we are in submission to God.

There was a major problem back in the beginning of the Bible. The people God created turned against Him and went their own way. “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that He had made man on the earth and His heart was filled with pain” (Gen. 6:5-6). As a result, God decided to wipe mankind from the earth. This is disheartening. The world was completely and totally engulfed with sin and against its Creator.

Take a moment and write down a few good beginnings in your life. If there was ever a time in your life for beginnings, now is the time. College students are at the beginning of so many exciting adventures with God.