DAY ONE: God says let there be light. IUPUI student receives their first syllabus.
DAY TWO: God creates the sky. IUPUI student is excited to go to class.
DAY THREE: God creates dry ground. IUPUI student feels up to their neck in homework and tests.
DAY FOUR: God completely shows off by creating the sun, moon, and stars. IUPUI student turns to coffee and late nights to try and finish all that has been assigned to them.
DAY FIVE: God goes to the sky and to the sea, creating fish and birds. IUPUI student wishes they could fly out of their 4 hour lab to a place far, far away.
DAY SIX: God shocks the world by creating animals, followed up by the first two human beings (Adam and Even). IUPUI student can see progress that has been made and wonders how they've made it this far. They also wonder how they'll have enough drive to make it through the rest of this semester.
DAY SEVEN: God rested from all His work. IUPUI student scratches head, wondering when there is time to rest.
The days of creation are a great example of what we were created to do: worship and create, worship and create, worship and create. We are creative beings that were made by the ultimate Creative Being. Yet in the midst of a semester -- creativity can seem the furthest thing that the college student is accomplishing. It may seem like you are just maintaining to make it, instead of flourishing the way God intended the college student to flourish in a semester's time.
The key is day seven, and yet there never seems to be time for day seven. We recycle to day one and start all over again, without any refueling.
Check out another take on the seventh day, found in Exodus 31:17:
It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.
How is it that God was refreshed? Isn't God always on the top of His divine game? Psalm 121 says that He doesn't even sleep or get tired. So what does this verse mean, and how does it apply to the college student?
The word for refreshed is literally translated as RE-SELFED. When God rested it was just God being God. It was Himself being Himself. It wasn't just an example for us, it was a way of being that God continues to be.
So, here are five great ways for you, in college at IUPUI, to RE-SELF yourself. (That was an odd sentence!)
- ROUTINE, ROUTINE, ROUTINE Try to go to sleep and wake up and the same times during the weekdays. You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel and how much more motivated you'll become.
- BIBLE TIME IS UNTOUCHED Just like showering, teeth brushing, eating, bathroom time, etc. are all non-negotiable -- so should time spent in the Bible. Allow God to refresh you with his very words. Make time for personal Bible study and group Bible study. If God is #1, he always seems to provide the necessary time for all things school related.
- SERVE SOMEONE Make a point to do at least one act of kindness toward someone during each day. Encouragement note, txt, tweet, or something like that. Share a verse with someone. Buy someone's lunch. Get someone a cupcake. Serve at a food bank. Do something that is beyond yourself and your schedule.
- EAT YOUR FAVORITE MEAL Do I need to say more? Eating junk makes us feel like junk. At least once a week, eat your favorite meal. Take your time while you eat it. Refuel. Relax. Laugh. Eat it with others.
- WAKE UP ON SUNDAY MORNING If Jesus could... oh... say... raise from the dead on the first day of the week -- so we should be able to get up and worship with a wide range of Jesus followers. Old, young, tall, short, employed, unemployed, etc... you get the point. The church is meant to edify each other and bring honor and glory to God on Sundays. You are really missing out if you are miss this. There are great churches nearby IUPUI. Here are a few that we love: www.chapelrock.org www.kingswaychurch.org www.thecreek.org www.plainfieldchristian.com
God's will never involves us hating our lives, no matter what the circumstances are (Philippians 4:4).
Maybe the problem lies with us not taking the time to re-self, refresh.
We are praying for you to make it!
Andrew Hodges // Volunteer Lead Campus Minister