A little Q&A

Hey guys! Since the last post on relationships, I've gotten a bit of feedback from different people. Fortunately, the post seemed to be an encouragement for most of you, so praise the Lord for that! He is so faithful.
However, some ladies also brought up some valid questions that I think would be well worth answering for those of us who are single, dating, or moving towards marriage (or even maturing in marriage). I've got two questions so far, and I'll answer the first one in this post. If you all have any other questions, PLEASE message me or leave it in the comments section- I'll keep everything anonymous, I promise :)

The first question is how can we honor God in our relationships?

Almost every couple I have talked to that was pursuing a Godly relationship was forced to ask themselves this questions at some point. However, the solution is different for each couple.
So, how can we honor God with relationships? Well, it's a great start to NOT dishonor Him. Definitely maintain purity (more on that later!) and obey His commands. However, to make the switch from the defensive (not dishonoring) to the offensive (intentionally honoring God with your relationship) can be a tough transition. Again, it is unique for each couple, but here are some examples that I think can be universally applied:

A) PRAY FOR YOUR BOYFRIEND. And let him know you are praying for him! Pray WITH him. Invite him to pray for you. Ask how you can be praying for him, and pray each day for his spiritual strength, his walk with the Lord, opportunities for him to share the Gospel, for his purity, his struggles, etc.(also, single gals- this is a GREAT habit to start before you're dating/married! Even if you don't know who Mr. Right is, God does).

B) LET HIM LEAD. I always say that I don't want to be the type of woman who FORCES a guy to man-up/lead- I want to be the type of woman who will INVITE him to. Apply that in your relationship. If this relationship could potentially be heading towards marriage (which should be a possibility if you're dating), then you need to know if you are comfortable with him leading, and you submitting. That's why dating is so essential! If he is leading in a way you don't want to submit to- then leave. Allow him to be the man in the relationship. RESPECT him, in your words, actions, and attitude (Ephesians 5:33).

C) SPEAK WELL OF HIM. So many girls get together and complain about their boyfriends (and vice versa). Don't join the crowd. We are called to be set apart. Also, to speak well of him, it is imperative that you THINK well of him. Our thoughts quickly become our attitudes and behaviors. Scripture tells us to "take every thought captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5). It is a difficult command to apply, but one that is SO worth it.

D) BE OPEN WITH OTHERS ABOUT THESE BEHAVIORS. There are many other ways to honor God- ministering together, strengthening one another, encouraging one another- but a lot of this is going to be between the two of you (and unique to the two of you). However, it doesn't hurt to do some of this stuff in front of others! Be open about praying for him, affirming him- BRAG on him to others! Don't force your relationship down other people's throats, but don't be afraid to love him and serve him in front of others, as well as when you two are alone. Let your relationship be consistent- both when you're "on display" or behind closed doors.

Which brings me to the second question: How much touch is actually ok? But more on that in the next post :)