“Are you tired? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.

I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

– Matthew 11:28-30, The Message

When the Fresher’s honeymoon phase is over, everyday life as a student can become monotonous or overwhelming.

But there is an invitation from our Heavenly Father to encounter Him in the midst of the ordinary and the painful.

Here are some tips on how you can make seeking God a joyful, habitual rhythm of your student life.

Every Day

Do a little

“Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly…”

In our student house, we used to jokingly shout ‘Make good choices!’ every time someone left the house, and it is true that most of our life consists of the little daily decisions.

Doing one hour’s worth of work, buying ingredients to cook a healthy meal, and doing a load of washing can be an enormous achievement on a hard day. Be kind to yourself, and take one day at a time!

Most importantly, take a breath and give your worries to God. That small moment of prayer in the morning can be the turning point for your whole day.

We know that He is more powerful that any challenge we face.

Every Week

Keep a sabbath

“Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it…”

In the busyness of this new academic and social life, it can feel impossible to find the rest you need.

God designed the whole of His creation to function on these times of work and rest – cultivating these habits in your life will mean that you get to enjoy dedicated times of relaxation without feeling like there’s something else to be doing.

I chose to never do academic work on a Sunday, but shift work or sports commitments might mean your weekly rhythms are different.

Whether you take a Tuesday Sabbath or keep a couple of afternoons free, the most important thing is to ‘take a real rest’ and meet with God in your committed routine.

Every Month

Get out of town

“Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest…”

It is very easy to get swallowed up inside the student bubble, and before long it can feel quite claustrophobic to trudge between the same few buildings every day!

Spending a little bit of time away from your normal stomping ground can give you clarity, inspiration, and the chance to really rest.

Best of all, this space is an opportunity to meet with God in a refreshingly new way. Why not go to the beach, visit friends in another city, or hike somewhere semi-remote, and seek God with the sky over your head?

For more encouragement and resources for life as a student, head to: 24-7prayer.com/students