I still remember the first couple of days during NSO (New Student Orientation) at Penn, I thought, “wow, I just got here but I’m already going to miss this place.” I think I was really blessed to have a strong start to college. I was at a peak in terms of where I wanted to be physically (had been really healthy coming into college and started strong), I was meeting lots of people, and I just felt so blessed by all of the opportunities and to be in college and at Penn. I say it a lot, but college truly has had its ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I’m always so, so grateful.
I think the first couple of weeks were definitely a more blissful time though, but I can still confidently say that this past semester has been some of the best four months of my life. :) But I know it isn’t just because I go to Penn (which by the way, I am always so grateful for and all glory to God!), or because of all the opportunities, or anything earthly. Rather, I’ve realized that though it has been a tough couple of months with lots of learning, it has been the best semester yet because I truly centered my life more on God. I made going to Church a non-negotiable (this has been so good wow:)), found a Christ-centered fellowship that I feel so blessed to be a part of and to call home base, and in general understood more and more what it means to be a child of God and to live a Christ-centered life (and took action in doing so of course).
I grew up as a Christian and in the Church, but I really feel like my Faith has grown so much more during my first semester at college. I think being in college, everyone is more intentional in terms of growing closer to God and going to Church (it’s my friends and I going, not because parents are taking people or yeah:)). And I truly feel so blessed by my Church and fellowship at Penn. :)
I really can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am to be living life with God, and to prioritize Him. (Life with God is so much better than life without!) I think I struggled with this more throughout high school, in terms of my priorities, and definitely overstressed about academics (another way centering my life on Him has enhanced my life quality—I feel much less stressed about academics in a good way).
I remember during my finals season, right before my Econ final, my friend (also part of the same fellowship:)) and I were studying together, and I just felt like I really wanted to pray for us. I asked God to stay with us during the exam and help us draw on all the knowledge we’d accumulated over the semester, but also to remember that ultimately our worth comes from Him (not from our grades). And throughout finals, I listened to songs where I felt closer to God. In particular, I listened to these two songs before my finals: Control (Acoustic) by Tenth Avenue North and Fight On, Fighter by for KING & COUNTRY. Though I was pretty stressed, I felt so blessed as I realized I was really leaning on God and trusting in Him and His plans. Throughout the semester, there were times where I realized how far I’d come in my Faith journey, and I am so excited thinking right now of all the growth to come.
There are so many different sermons and messages and ideas I’ve learned or better understood this semester. I would absolutely love to share them with you, talk to you more about your walk with God, and to share more about my own, so please feel free to reach out. :) If you’re reading this and are thinking of trying out a Church and/or fellowship, I so encourage it (and if you’re at Penn, come with!:)). God saves us and His love is so great. He has plans so much greater than we can imagine for us. Life with God is truly so much better than life without. I know this post does not do justice to all the ways God has been working in my life, but I just thought I’d start out my reflections on my first semester of college with the best decision I’ve ever made → centering my life on God.
I know I have a lot more room to grow and a lot more to learn, and I’m so excited to continue on this journey. I want to be more intentional with my time with God. Here’s to growing together in Him and towards Him. :)
Saved by grace, through faith.
With love,
Joyce
Bible verse connection: “Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11
P.S. This is a picture of some of the RCF (the Christ-centered fellowship I'm so blessed to be a part of!) freshman at the Christmas party (we decided to wear green/red with ties haha so silly)! :') SOOO much love for you all! Thank you for all being so loving and amazing and helping me to grow more in my Faith! Let's continue to grow together in Him and towards Him! :')
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