Sacrificing church to study instead SMH

Nurses Spirituality

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I mentally debate weekly between church service or study time. What gives?? Im NEVER sorry when I choose church, but I still feel like I am dragging myself away from my books EVERY Sunday! Even if I just watch Chuck Swindoll, Charles Stanley or Joyce Meyer on You Tube that week, how can I prevent feeling "guilty" for not studying? I know that I need my 3 hour service every week for motivation, priority reminders and the (rare) social connection, apart from my BSN program. What other mantra can I tell myself then for spending a fraction of my week to keep up with my personal, spiritual maintenance?

Maybe it isnt so different than making "me time" or "family time" a priority like so many other students struggle to balance, though I feel like it is. My time with God, in church, IS my me time & is very satisfying. Besides I wouldnt even BE blessed with this wonderful mission to become a nurse, if not for God opening doors towards my new life fulfilling purpose. But I am torn between fulfilling my mission to learn the skills needed to successfully help others vs. putting time with God first, sigh. So, guess my question is this ... Is dedicating myself primarily to successfully becoming a nurse a noble justification for neglecting my church time? Or am I just plain ol' idolizing my career?

Pretty sure I am just reiterating other PP's thoughts, but the purpose of the church is for fellowship and a group of believers. The Greek word for it, "ekklesia", means the called-out ones. It is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23) and is a gathering of believers not limited to a building (Matthew 18:20). However, attending church weekly allows you to have that interaction with others, as well as hear God's Word, which are both needed for deepening that personal relationship with God. Perhaps see if there are other services being held? Or attend Wednesday prayer meetings if your church offers that.

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Specializes in hospice.

No, the purpose of a church is for us to render our duty, obedience, worship, and love to our creator. Making fellowship the center makes humans the center, and that's wrong. God should be our focus. Fellowship comes as a side effect of sharing our dedication and obligation to God.

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I'm sorry, that statement was poorly worded. What I meant was that church allows us to gather with one another and grow with one another (hence, fellowship). Of course, with Christ as the center of that fellowship, as it should be with all things.

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

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Specializes in none.

You need to take time for your church service. Give yourself a break from all the books. When you get back to them, you will be refreshed from getting time away and will be focused on studying. Trust me: do yourself a favor and attempt to have a life outside of nursing. It is a HEALTHY way to live!

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This thread has been silent for a couple of days, but I just want to share my personal experience. After my second semester of college I became so stressed out because I was studying all the time. I hardly saw the people who I lived with let alone friends. I didn't attend church, and I rarely spent time praying or reading the Bible. I decided to set aside Sundays as study-free days, and the difference was amazing. I went to church, I read my Bible, I spent time with friends, I watched a movie, I took a three hour nap. It seemed at first like a big commitment. How could I give up a whole day of study time? But my grades did not suffer and I felt refreshed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I don't believe you can only worship God in a church building, and I don't believe you shouldn't work or study on Sundays, but I do see the benefit of taking a break and focusing on something outside of yourself. I hope you find what works for you.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
This thread has been silent for a couple of days but I just want to share my personal experience. After my second semester of college I became so stressed out because I was studying [i']all [/i]the time. I hardly saw the people who I lived with let alone friends. I didn't attend church, and I rarely spent time praying or reading the Bible. I decided to set aside Sundays as study-free days, and the difference was amazing. I went to church, I read my Bible, I spent time with friends, I watched a movie, I took a three hour nap. It seemed at first like a big commitment. How could I give up a whole day of study time? But my grades did not suffer and I felt refreshed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I don't believe you can only worship God in a church building, and I don't believe you shouldn't work or study on Sundays, but I do see the benefit of taking a break and focusing on something outside of yourself. I hope you find what works for you.

I think this is fabulous.

Sundays are not the best days to "take off" for some students in some schools as Monday morning clinicals and didactic requirements are not very forgiving. A similar "self care" approach to any day of the week would work though.

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I completely understand where you coming from but I think you already know the answer.Like you said church time is your me time.I have to be in the church not saying that church programs doesn't work but it's something about being in the place.God first.He got you this far the least you can do is give him 1 day a week.

Sometimes our ambitious to become a nurse can get in the way and be a distraction without even realizing it.But do you ever feel incomplete when you miss church? The books are going to be there you just have to deticate even more time and sacrafice some thing else but not God.When it's all said a degree is not going to matter.

Don't let your ambition over take you! I hope this help.

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Going to church is not the only way to put God first. What about waking up every day a few minutes earlier and reading some Scripture and praying? After all, His word is life and health to all bones.

I don't believe God wants us to spend time with Him out of a feeling of obligation or guilt.

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What are you really putting first if you can't go to the place to worship him.You can't just get God at home praying and reading scriptures.You have to be somewhere where the anointing is.reading scriptures every morning is not enough... you right God want us to be willing and do things because we love him not out of guilt or obligation.

BUT if God is really you father why wouldn't you do more then just pray and read scripture that's only to edify your flesh but what about offering a sacral ice of praise and worship?

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Mgsellers, Who are you speaking to? Did I not say there is more than one way to put God first? Clearly I was not suggesting that one should not touch the Body or worship God. So, who are you speaking to? I was suggesting that waking up and spending time with God in His word and in prayer is a good way to put Him first.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Praying, as you said, you never regret choosing God on that day; it is always tempting to say "I'll worship later" and skip church but the truth is its an easy habit to fall into. Deliberately choose Him, whether it is one hour or three, you need the mental break from studying as much as you need the time to tap into His love and peace, to refresh yourself. Hard to grow if you aren't watering the roots of your faith regularly.

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