You’re finally here. You finally made it to the place you’ve been dreaming about for years. You got into the college you wanted, you are now part of one of the greatest organizations on campus, classes are finally starting, and you have all the freedom in the world. The feeling is incredible, I remember being there. I remember wanting to be known and accepted and to finally become the person I thought I wanted to be.
I remember wanting to go to all the parties, wanting to be in the middle of all the social activities, and wanting to just simply fit in. While all these things are fun and definitely things that run in every one of our minds during freshman year, they are not what is most important, and certainly not what will make you successful during your time at Auburn.
Remember your purpose and why you are here. Use your abilities given to you to glorify the Lord In absolutely everything you do.
Honor the Lord in your grades. That’s your primary reason for being here In this beautiful place. Let me remind you of what 1 Corinthians 10:31 says “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” … Your grades are not your own, your future nor your job, they are His. In EVERYTHING we do we must do it for the glory of our precious Savior. It is to Him that we owe everything and is Him we must glorify. Remember this every time you go to class, do a homework assignment, take a quiz, test, and final. It is for HIS glory and YOUR good. This gives what you do so much purpose.
Honor the Lord in your new found friendships. College is a season of NEW. You are already meeting so many people and coming into contact with so many people that you never knew. Show the love of Christ that is in you to these people. Most of these people are broken, much like you and I once were and still are before knowing Christ. Pour into those around you. Be intentional. Pursue friendships with people that you may never see yourself being friends with. Walk with the Wise. It is SO SO important to surround yourself around people that are like-minded. Proverbs 13:20 says “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Be intentional about making friendships with people that pull you to live a life on fire for God. This is the most important thing I learned freshman year and it changed my entire perspective of college.
Honor the Lord by owning your faith. College is a time when either you choose to walk the narrow road or you choose to walk the wide road. The beginning of my freshman year I decided I was done with spiritual things. I no longer wanted to waste my time going to church or even think about having a relationship with the Lord because college was about me and how I could enhance me and how I could make myself known and myself greater. I was miserable, unfulfilled, and completely empty. Praise God for his full pursuit of my heart that I finally encountered him. Since then I have never experienced so much joy in no longer living for myself. My life is not my own but instead it is owned by the Creator of the universe. OWN YOUR FAITH. The spiritual life you live in college will most likely determine the spiritual life you will live for the rest of your life. Do not push off living a life surrendered to God for later, for that day may never come. I can honestly say the moment I started living for Him and stopped living for myself was the moment I actually started living.
Enjoy your freshman year, I miss the heck out of it. Go out, be social, get involved, work hard, do FUN THINGS. Living with Christ doesn’t mean living an awful life, The Lord wants us to experience joy that is unimaginable, be open to what He has in store for you. Surrender this year to Him, choose to follow Him instead of the world. When He changes you, He changes it all.
XOXI