Daily Devotional

Occasionally I will open my small group with the question, “What is your favorite season of the year?” Overwhelmingly, the season people pick most often is fall. When I ask why, most say, “Because it marks the end of Fresno’s triple-digit heat.” 
 
When I was growing up, I could never pick fall as my favorite season, because that marks the end of summer break and the beginning of school. I hated seeing the ‘back to school’ flyers come in the paper. I hated seeing the TV commercials promoting ‘back to school’. And it wasn’t that I wasn’t a good student, or didn’t have friends, it just meant the expectations and stresses that come with listening to lectures, reading chapters, writing papers and taking tests were back. 
 
But is it possible to change our perspective on going back to school? How can we keep God in mind as we transition to this next season? How can you do things in school that matter to God?

While listening to teachers, pay attention. While reading chapters, underline and take notes. While writing papers, write your very best. While taking a test, study hard, get the rest you need, and trust God to take care of the rest. In other words, honor the Lord in the things that are being asked of you in school.
 
Colossians 2:6–7 - "Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude."
 
Christ has given us victory over principalities and powers. The Apostle Paul challenges them to live a particular lifestyle: (Col.3:5) Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 
 
About a month into the school year, I like going up to kids and asking, “How do you like school so far?” Most will say, “I hate school! It’s so boring!” But then I’ll encourage them by saying, “You know what? The ‘boring stuff’ matters too." How we live our lives in the midst of the ‘boring stuff’ is important. Taking every opportunity to demonstrate God’s goodness and share our faith. It is in the unpleasant things of life that we have an opportunity to glorify God. You might think, “If I’m not opening my Bible, praying, and going to church, then I’m not glorifying God.” That’s not true. I think we glorify God most in the mundane and unpleasant things of life. Being positive in the midst of negativity. Putting a stop to gossip, when it’s out-of-control. Being optimistic when everyone is pessimistic. 
 
Every moment is spiritual. Every day is another opportunity to glorify God. So focus on Truth. You don’t have to wait till your non-Christian friend comes with you to church to have them hear about Jesus. You can share it. At recess. At the lunch table. Walking the halls between classes.

Every moment is spiritual. So act wisely. Watch your words. Check your attitudes. And find ways to encourage those around you…even your teachers.
 
By the way, when was the last time you went up to your math teacher or science teacher and said, “I really enjoyed that lesson. I got a lot out of it. I’m so glad you’re my teacher!” You might say, “Never.” Well, maybe it’s time. What a great way to glorify God. 
 
So keep God in mind. Glorify God in everything. And maybe that will change your attitude toward school starting. God can use you to make a difference for Him.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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