I went into college with the mindset I wasn’t going to be a party girl. I knew that, for many people, much of college revolved around drinking and partying, I wasn’t naïve about that, but I knew I didn’t want my life to revolve around partying. I had watched so many girls I knew who graduated a year before me go off to college and lose themselves in this sort of lifestyle. The fact of the matter is that partying can be habitual, even if you don’t necessarily enjoy it; it’s a Friday night, might as well go out, right? Especially if all your friends are going too. The Bible tells us this way of living doesn’t direct our lives toward Christ, but rather it is a distraction from living a Godly life.

...envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. -Galatians 5:21

I was the only girl on my floor who didn’t go out and my hall mates thought I was weird and anti-social, but I shouldn’t have been surprised by this. God warns us outright that we will be criticized for not partaking in the world's lifestyle.

You have wasted enough time doing what unbelievers desire—living in their unrestrained immorality and lust, their drunkenness and excessive feasting and wild parties, and their forbidden worship of idols. They think it’s strange that you don’t join in these activities with the same flood of unrestrained wickedness. So they slander you. -1 Peter 4:3-4

Because of my relationship with Jesus, and the peace, joy, and mercy He gives me, I was able to turn my back on this idol known as partying. The most prominent reason for my choice is that partying brings false and short-lived joy, and I wanted to make the conscious effort to not replace Jesus with this idol. Sure, in the moment you may feel freer than ever and being drunk with your friends might make you feel like the happiest person on earth, but that joy is incredibly fleeting.

Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry." -1 Corinthians 10:7

I saw my roommate, my best friend, and girls on my floor filled with sorrow and regret for things they had done while partying or things that happened to them while partying; it broke my heart. I heard the late night tears and shame that came with the lifestyle these girls joined.

Like much of what we do, partying is a way of attempting to fill the void we feel without having a personal relationship with Jesus. But please know there is a difference between the two. While partying and drinking may make you feel momentary joy, it is guaranteed to fade only to be replaced with the feelings and sorrow you were trying to suppress in the first place. Girls, God can give you that joy and peace… and it's everlasting. He gave His only son to die for YOU. Yes, you, the one reading this right now. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows His love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

I am in the third year of my college education, and in retrospect I am so thankful God gave me the strength to turn away from the partying lifestyle most of my peers choose to partake in. Refraining from partying helped me grow in my relationship with God and gave me time to intentionally pray for my peers in regards to partying and excess drinking. I have also avoided the hurt and heartbreak often derived from partying.

They party with lyre and harp, tambourine, flute, and wine; but they ignore the Lord’s work; they can't see what God is doing. -Isaiah 5:12

As glamorous as it may seem, partying distracts us from how God is moving in our lives and from our relationship with Him. When we spend time on fulfilling the lusts of our flesh and on the temporary pleasures of this world which have no eternal value, we sacrifice the short time on this earth we've been given to glorify God and do kingdom work. We choose pleasure and fun over intention and holiness.

Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. -Romans 13:13

Friend, if you have chosen a lifestyle fueled by partying, God loves you and He wants you to pursue Him. If you haven’t chosen to take on the party lifestyle, use your God-given strength in this area to intentionally pray for those struggling with the peer pressure and a partying lifestyle and don't be shy to tell them why you don’t party and let them know they are incredibly loved by you and God.