The path of the Christian life is not as clear as many of us would hope. Today, the world is constantly pulling us in every direction and pressuring us to devote ourselves to ourselves: it’s your life, your body, your decisions. No one else should matter as much as you do.

Society, and its media and industry, have rejected God, warping the definition of individuality and shifting focus from the Creator to the creature. Everything is about pursuing individual pleasure, about feeling good and having fun. This self-centeredness runs rampant, and it is our duty as believers to live counter to the culture and to stand up for the truth of Scripture.

Lately, I’ve been learning that, despite the changes that we will go through as we grow up, our devotion to the Lord should be our top priority. Our mindset should resemble that of John the Baptist in John 3, decreasing ourselves so that Christ and the gospel might increase.

This year I moved to a new state, a new house, a new church, and a new social circle. One of the hardest challenges for me in this was maintaining my devotional life, and I still struggle with it. Life is a whirlwind, and it is so very easy to claim that we don’t have time for praying, going to church, or reading the Bible.

However, we are commanded to meditate on the Lord’s law day and night, and to pray without ceasing. We must not make excuses; we must make time. Christ charges those who love Him to keep His commandments, and our devotion to Him must come first.

What a change it would be if we began with the Word and prayer and then scheduled our lives, instead of trying to fit devotions into an already packed schedule. Matthew 6:33 tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” We should trust that God will provide all that we need, and so we should emphasize devotion so that we are prepared to face the world’s hardships.

One way we can prioritize God in our busy lives is to be active in a church. Sitting under the preaching of the Word and fellowshiping with other believers allow us to be accountable for the fruit of our faith, and to deepen our walks with Christ.

I have never felt fuller comfort or joy than that which comes when singing a psalm in my church, hearing good preaching, or discussing the things of God with loving Christians. As we begin to live as adults, we should make a conscious effort to go to church regularly, despite society telling us that it isn’t important.

I can speak only from my own personal feelings, but it makes me feel very good when I choose to get up early and go to the house of the Lord. I am humbled by the desire for God that the Holy Spirit has given me through the transitions in my life.

Another good way to make devotion to God our focus is to have an accountability partner. Working through a devotional or Bible reading plan with a friend gives incentive and interaction to be in the Word and in prayer. It can be as official as meeting up to study the Bible with someone, or just reminding your roommate to do her devotions by putting a note on the fridge.

As young people, changes are inevitable, whether that looks like college, marriage, or career. Transition will come and change will happen, but, wherever life takes us, as Christians we must not change one thing: our relationship with our Savior.

I encourage my fellow young Christians: Don’t let the means of grace fall by the wayside when life gets busy. Cherish your congregations, root yourself in the Word, pray without ceasing, and the Lord will bless your faithfulness. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).