Going Deeper.

     I decided to title this post after a song that I used to sing one summer many years ago at vacation bible school at our old church. The leaders would lead all of the kids into this song at the start of every night of VBS that went something like "I'm goind deeper with God! Going deeper every day, going deeper that's the way!" Anyone else remember that old song?! Haha.

     It seemed like a fitting introduction though to what I want to blog about today, and that's how my faith has grown since coming to college. If any middle or high school aged girls are reading this post today, I strongly encourage you to think about attending a private, Christian college in the future. It's definitely changed my life for the better.

     In high school, I was really only a Christian by default, or because it was my identity. My parents had switched churches a few times when I was growing up, but they'd always exposed me to Christianity and the bible, and my mom used to pray with me most nights before bed when I was a little girl. I never really remember a specific moment that I was "saved," but somewhere during middle school or my early high school years I came to a realization that Jesus truly was God's Son, and I believed (and still do believe!) that he died on a cross for everyone's sins, and that God loves everyone. It was just the "relationship" with God piece that I was missing.

     As high school continued Christianity became my identity. I didn't party in high school, and I never had a boyfriend (the latter I would have liked but that's another story!). I found that being a Christian was simply a good excuse for being a goody-goody two shoes. As I've said before here and on my old blog, it took me a really long time to find good friends in high school. I often almost blamed the fact that a lot of people didn't treat me nicely on the fact that I was a Christian.

     You'd think though that by not being accepted at school it would make me draw closer in my relationship with God, but instead it did the opposite. I rarely prayed and read the bible, I avoided Christian music and the further that I got into my high school years the less I went to church. It's not like I had decided to become aethiest or practice another religion, but I was honestly angry at God for the fact that I didn't have the best high school experience, and I didn't want to spent time developing a relationship with Him. Which is so ironic- since everyone at school knew me as the Christian girl!

     But here in college everything has changed. I attend a Christian college in the South which is totally different from my high school. The majority of the students that go here share my morals and views and have relationships with God. Being in a community of like-minded people has helped me so much to grow in my own faith. There are so many fellowship opportunities on campus to take advantage of. I'm a member of a small girls' bible study, and I try to attend the once-a-week evening chapel service as often as I can. These two things alone have made a positive impact in my faith.

     I'm learning though that it's really the little things that allow you to grow in your relationship with God. For example, I recently downloaded a free app onto my iPhone that has brief daily devotionals. I read one every night before I go to bed. I've found that a lot of the messages and verses have really spoken to me and applied to my life as of late. I've also made a point recently to pray, out loud, every night for a few minutes before I go to bed. I find that verbally talking to God helps me to stay focussed on what I'm praying about, and the conversation aspect makes Him feel closer to me.

     I've also been doing a lot of thinking about Christian principles and morals. For example, I've thought a lot on the topic of dating lately. In high school I didn't have a boyfriend, but it was only because I was never asked out. Had I been, I was so insecure that I probably would have dated almost anyone, even a guy who didn't share my views on things like purity. I used to think it was so unfair that I never got a lot of male attention in high school, but lately God has placed this peace on my heart that He's saving me for someone special down the road, and it makes me glad that I didn't waste my time and emotions on some immature high school guy. I'm definitely open to a dating relationship (Anytime now! Haha) but it would have to be with a guy who loves God and shares the same morals that I do, and wouldn't pressure me into anything that I was uncomfortable doing.

     All of these little things combined are helping me to grow deeper in my faith with the Lord, and I can't wait to see where this leads in the future! How has your relationship with God been lately?


xoxo Miss ALK


P.S. The pictures that I put into this post are all ones that I've taken on my various plane trips to and from North Carolina and Maine. I didn't choose them for any other reason other than I think the clouds look cool. :-)