Students

The devotions this week are written by myself and Matthew Crawford, the new student worker here at St Mary's. We hope they will help you to join us as we pray for new freshers and students to join our church.

University, as many of us will know, costs an absolute fortune! It is calculated that the average student today will leave university with a debt of more than £50,000. This figure rises to an average of £57,000 for those who borrow more for their living costs - definitely London students.

This, obviously, can be a source of real anxiety.

However, scripture tells us to not worry about money - this is Jesus, in The Message translation: What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. (Matthew 6:31-33)

I'm sure many of us know this to be true: when we choose to worry, we focus on money rather than God, and Jesus is clear that we can't have divided loyalties (Matthew 6:24).

For most, student debt is an inevitable reality, and I'm sure many people reading this would quite like a little extra cash too.

It's my prayer that the students at St Mary's would fully embrace uni-life, not worrying about what they don't have but aiming to live a life of generosity and love.

If you know that money is a worry for you, take a moment to fix your eyes upon Jesus. Remind yourself of times that God has provided for you, or for your friends.

Pray that God would help you to fully rely on him and live a life of joy. Pray the same for the students.