I know you. So I’m not going to bother with the things I know you already have packed: hair supplies, favorite snacks, gear…drip, laptop/device, toilet paper and cleaning supplies, family and boo/bae photos, sheets, towels, etc. Honestly except for the printed and framed photos, everything else you could pick up on a quick run to your favorite superstore. What I am gonna do is tell you how to prepare spiritually for the year ahead.
First of all, ask for prayer from your God-tribe. This could be your church, your family, your friends or supportive teachers who know you, know your tendencies, and know what you’ve been through. I cannot overstate the importance of praying there before you go there. Let others sear words of encouragement and assurance from the word of God into your mind so that they will pour out of your mind when you need them most.
Secondly, pack your Bible. You’re gonna need it. A daily quiet time (no matter how short or long) is going to be your compass when you are confused about where to go next or who to trust.
Third, pack forgiveness, which might take the form of grace. You’ll need this both for yourself and others. You’re going to make mistakes in college. You’re going to go to a party you shouldn’t have gone to, you’re going to spend time with a person who isn’t the best for you, you’re going to fail a test or paper that you should have studied better for. It’s going to happen and you’re going to need to get over it and quickly. For that you need the grace of God and the ability to forgive yourself and others. When you’re able to forgive this way, you bounce back quickly instead of wallowing in grief and guilt. You don’t need that and neither does God. He needs you to be your vibrant self, ready to make friends and show them that a life connected to the Vine (Jesus Christ) is a game changer.
I’m almost done. Next pack some knee pads. This point is hearkening back to the first point about prayer. So you asked for prayer first off, but you’re definitely going to need to pray for yourself—early and often. So pack some knee pads because you will need to humble yourself, realizing that you, I, all of us are so small and insignificant compared to God—the creator of heaven and earth. Remind yourself of that as often as possible. Paste Proverbs 9:10 somewhere where you can see it—”Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Fifth and last, pack a planner, either a real, physical one or an app. Become very good and anal about using the calendar feature in your phone to keep your class schedule, your professors’ office hours, the dining hall schedule, add/drop schedule, paper due dates, test dates…you get what I mean. You have got to get organized and business-like if you want to come out of college with a degree or whatever credential you’re going for.
I know you can do it! You’re the righteousness of Christ! This is my prayer for you:
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God (Phil 1:9-12).
