Returning home from school comforts and excites many college students. A room and a bed wait for them, where they will spend the most of their mornings for a good while if they can help it. They eat food that is familiar and infinitely better than cafeteria food. A summer job is the only and minor bump in a time that the student is ultimately free to do as he pleases. Family and old friends gather around to hear funny stories about bad professors, and they go down to the beach or to a water park, or else sunbathe in the front lawn.
But even if the summer break is not quite so pleasant, for most students, summer signals a change in lifestyle and schedule. Sometimes, the habits one acquired during the semester broke as soon as packing began. If you're still not back into a spiritual routine, never fear. There's still time.
1) Accountability. Look around and see if there's someone who can hold you accountable. Agree that you'll both go to church or pray at a certain time. This person doesn't have to be physically present for this to work. If you pray for each other during this commitment, it'd suck to be the one who skipped. You don't need a prayer partner, but if you know someone who would be good at it, it will help a bunch.
2) Conflicts. It's okay if other things get in the way. If it's an unforeseen problem, don't sweat it. Maybe say a quick prayer at some point and then continue your commitment the next day. Try to keep conflicts from throwing you off indefinitely. If the conflict is going to be regular, reschedule something so you can fit in your commitment somewhere.
3) Personal touch. Just because it is scheduled, frequent, and regular doesn't mean it has to feel routine and boring. I read somewhere a suggestion that you should not bring literature to prayer time. Exhaust your own heart before reading the words from other hearts. Bring yourself to prayer. At first this might be hard and awkward. A journal might help. Even if you have writer's block, try. Tell God what has happened since you last prayed and how you feel about it. But also, remember to praise Him and thank Him. Praise is not only due Him but it also gives you perspective.
Don't subscribe to a religion or a spirituality with routine prayer? The closer you want to be with someone, the more time you spend with them. 'Tis a fact.
1) Accountability. Look around and see if there's someone who can hold you accountable. Agree that you'll both go to church or pray at a certain time. This person doesn't have to be physically present for this to work. If you pray for each other during this commitment, it'd suck to be the one who skipped. You don't need a prayer partner, but if you know someone who would be good at it, it will help a bunch.
2) Conflicts. It's okay if other things get in the way. If it's an unforeseen problem, don't sweat it. Maybe say a quick prayer at some point and then continue your commitment the next day. Try to keep conflicts from throwing you off indefinitely. If the conflict is going to be regular, reschedule something so you can fit in your commitment somewhere.
3) Personal touch. Just because it is scheduled, frequent, and regular doesn't mean it has to feel routine and boring. I read somewhere a suggestion that you should not bring literature to prayer time. Exhaust your own heart before reading the words from other hearts. Bring yourself to prayer. At first this might be hard and awkward. A journal might help. Even if you have writer's block, try. Tell God what has happened since you last prayed and how you feel about it. But also, remember to praise Him and thank Him. Praise is not only due Him but it also gives you perspective.
- Pray for someone you care about. Pray for a conversion, or safety, or success, or peace, or happiness. Or pray for someone you don't like. You'll find peace in a prayer for their happiness.
Don't subscribe to a religion or a spirituality with routine prayer? The closer you want to be with someone, the more time you spend with them. 'Tis a fact.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your thoughts? I'd be curious to know. Keep in mind I reserve the right to moderate every comment.