Well, maybe you can answer this:
Human feelings come and go; but this is vastly different from receiving solid promises in God's Word by faith, isn't it?
Job 13.15 says: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him". This is true faith! "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10.17) This is why prayerful Bible reading is so important.
Reading God's Word and praying for understanding in the Lord Jesus's Name.
"And think about it while you do it, a God that loves you, so so much wrote a book for you".
Starting at college is a big stressful transition. I spent a few years as a campus minister. I'd recommend finding a good campus ministry to be involved with. There are usually a number of them on most campuses. Pray about it and see where God leads you. (I must admit when I first arrived on campus as an 18YO, I thought I was the only Christian there. I walked out my dorm door and saw a couple cute girls putting up posters for one of the Christian groups. I talked to them a bit, ended up going to that group, made a number of life-long friends there, started attending that church, and over 30 years later am still married to one of those girls who was putting up posters.)
One thing that is a challenge is that we are now responsible for setting our own schedule, priorities, and getting things done. It can take awhile to get used to it (and hopefully before a lot of stuff builds up and we get stuck pulling all-nighters in catch up mode). We all need to learn our own rhythms as to how and when we study best and do other things well.
Spiritually speaking, we each need to learn what the most effective way is for us to do things such as prayer, bible readings, meditation, getting together with other Christians, etc. Some of us do best with the same thing every day. My pastor has been on the same routine for decades. Others of us have to mix it up some. I've had similar experiences to @Hidden In Him . I find that I run in streaks where one particular thing (perhaps an emphasis on bible reading, or prayer, or something different) goes really well and I grow a lot from it, then it gets stale and I need to move to some other emphasis.
A couple pieces of practical advice.
1. Get onto a regular sleeping, eating, and exercising schedule and stick to it. (Perhaps combining prayer or meditation or listening to an audio bible while taking a daily walk or something.)
2. Learn to work ahead with your studies and stay current with stuff.
3. Pick good people to hang around with who will help you grow spiritually.
Best wishes!
Ok.
I may have misunderstood you too, since your post was pretty brief. But I'm always concerned when "doing" anything "Christian" ... whether it's studying theology, reading the Bible, ministering in some way, etc. etc. ... makes a person feel that they cannot be bothered to pray.
Prayer is the basis of our ongoing relationship with God. Without relationship, we have nothing. Knowing all about God, if we study 20 hours a day, is worthless spiritually if we don't have a relationship. Even Christ withdrew to be alone and pray - often, and for lengths of time.
If the enemy can make us excited enough to study, to preach, or to do whatever ... that it prevents us from praying, he will gladly do it, so we need to be aware of that. It's a VERY common temptation, and one we have to be constantly aware of. I can't tell you how many preachers or ministers have fallen unknowingly into that trap, at least for a time.
I'm not saying what is happening to you ... I don't know. Just making a comment in general that this is a common thing we must guard against.
Oh, if I didn't answer you fully about "good things" ... many of us Satan can't tempt away from God by trying to get us involved in adultery, or stealing, or bullying, or something so obviously "bad" because we are no longer tempted enough by such things. But we might like to study the Bible, or go on mission trips, or help people, or preach. All "good things" certainly. So the enemy often tries to get us so involved in doing these good things that we don't take time to pray anymore. If he can cut us off from our ongoing relationship with God, our efforts won't amount to much, and we slowly weaken in our faith, without realizing it. Burnout becomes more and more common. So what I meant is that tempting Christians to overtly sin might not always work, so the enemy will subtly tempt us to get too wrapped up in doing these "good things" because we easily agree to these, if he can push us enough so that we neglect prayer, since that is his larger goal.
I hope that makes sense?
I have actually never thought about this. And I wasn't really aware that pray was so important until recently. I've always thought I was supposed to pray a certain way and be really formal with God. But ever since i"ve started talking with Him like he's a close friend I feel a lot closer with Him I didn't even know just talking with God was a form of praying! How crazy I definitely neglected praying the past couple of days so reading this is very informative!
Woah thank you for this
Actually, there are different ways of praying, and they have different benefits to us.
Those informal prayers are usually our way of expressing ourselves to God, and are important in having a relationship with Him.
Formal prayers are very beneficial too, and usually (ime) benefit us by teaching us how to magnify God, how to see ourselves properly in relation to Him, good things to ask for ourselves and for others. They must be *prayed* though, with the heart and mind, and not mindlessly recited. Psalms are a good example, or there are prayer books.
It can also be a form of prayer to wait on God and not say anything. This can be overdone though, especially for those without long experience.
And there are those quick prayers (sometimes called "arrow prayers" like an arrow we shoot quickly up to God), that may simply ask Him for help, or mercy, for ourselves or others, or even thanks, etc. These prayers as a habit are very good to keep always mindful of God and learn to look to Him for help in all things.
I would say don't limit yourself to just one. Sometimes one kind or another may be harder, and it's ok to rely for a while on what you can do, as long as you pray. But I would not ignore any of them.
God bless you and help you.
The cares of this life can choke out the tender roots of the plant of faith.
I was formulating in my head something I wanted to say to the OP, you already stated it LOL ! Over my lifetime I've seen dry spells and I can look back over them and see He was always there and still is...No, no. Don't let that passage mess with your head. If you have an aptitude and a desire to know Him than He most certainly will be there for you. Scripture teaches that He desires that all be saved, and that if we draw near to Him He will draw near to us.
What may be happening is that He is giving you a season to yourself right now, to focus on your studies. He will do this with me sometimes. I'm an avid student of scripture, but I can always tell when He's giving me time off, because I get the same feelings you are describing. But I just wait it out. I know it's only a matter of time before my interest level returns, and in the meantime I just try to enjoy myself and devote my energy to whatever else I have going on.
Focus on your studies, and just let Him know that you miss spending time with Him in His word. Keep up your prayers. You can always be doing that. The time for you to be back in the word will return, so don't be nervous. It's just a phase, and probably there for a reason.
