When the assignments pile up, studying takes over our lives and stress seems like it is never going to end, where does our relationship with Jesus fit in? It should be our first priority, but somehow it always gets pushed to the back burner. These seven things have helped me keep my relationship with Jesus as the number one thing in my life.

1. Jesus is your closest friend, treat him like so.

You wouldn't go a day without texting your best friend, right? So if you want to make sure that your relationship with Jesus stays strong, don't go a day without praying or reading His word. The closer you are to Jesus, the harder it will be to become distant from Him. School gets busy, life gets stressful, we forget to talk with Jesus or read our Bible, I totally get it... but Jesus is just waiting for us to release all of the worry and stress onto his shoulders. Don't lose sight of His friendship; it's the sweetest thing you'll ever know.

2. Surround yourself with Godly influences.

My youth pastor's favorite phrase was "show me your friends and I'll show you your future." He used it all the time and now it's drilled in my head for all of eternity (thankfully). The older I get, the more of a reality it becomes! If you surround yourself with friends who have the same values as you do, it is harder to stray away or make a decision that you could regret in the future.

3. Start a devotional.

If you have the Holy Bible app on your phone, this is such an easy step! There are hundreds of different devotionals, for every season of life, available just by simply opening that app. I personally love the "Prayer" devotional by Tim Keller and the "Passion: The Bright Light of Glory" by Louie Giglio. Devotionals are awesome because they aren't too time-consuming, but you still feel encouraged after reading one. They are perfect in the morning before class!

4. Podcasts.

I'm so guilty of binge listening to Craig Groeschel and Matt Chandler's podcasts. Oh my goodness. If you have an iPhone you can just google their names and check out all of their podcasts. If you don't, they're also available on the internet! The best part is, they're free! They are perfect to listen to if you are driving, working out or even just hanging out in your room! One of my favorites is Matt Chandler's, "From Bitter to Sweet."

5. Listen to Christian Music.

Music that is popular today is filled with risqué language and sends out messages that are far from positive. Christian music will never leave you disgusted and will always has a positive message. Try creating a Christian playlist on Spotify and listen to it for a while and see how different your attitude will become. I mean come on... who can listen to "What a Beautiful Name" by Hillsong United and not cry their eyes out (in a good way). There are also a bunch of already created playlists on Spotify that you can listen to if you want to discover new Christian music! Here's mine.

6. Get plugged into a church.

Getting plugged into a church is such a good way to make Christian friendships while also getting to hear the Word. There is nothing in the world quite like having a church family, and if you're going to a school that is far from your hometown, it's a lot like having a home away from home.

7. Let go of apathy.

As a Christian, I don't wake up every single day excited and thrilled to be alive. This is normal. There are going to be seasons like this. We can't expect to be on a "spiritual high" every day. Some days I don't necessarily "feel" like reading my Bible. However, Christianity isn't based on feelings. A relationship with Jesus would never work if I only did things when I "felt like it." It's all about deciding. Decide to read your Bible. Decide to pray. It's up to you.