For Christians who want to live their lives so that it honors God, it’s only natural to seek a healthy Christian relationship. You’ll want to ensure that God is a significant part of your relationship with your partner.

If you’re at a crossroads on how to maintain a healthy Christian relationship with your partner, here are a few essential tips to follow:

1. Choosing a partner who also values their relationship with God

To have a healthy Christian relationship, it’s important that both you and your partner value your relationship with God. The choice of partner is crucial to having a healthy Christian relationship which is why it is important not to get swept up in physical attraction or emotions.

Instead, you should look for godly qualities such as kindness, patience, and humility.

2.  Date with the intention to marry your partner

Casual dating is popular currently, but it won’t serve you and your partner if you’re trying to have a healthy Christian relationship. It’s important that you date the person with whom you can envision a potential life-long partnership.

This is not to say that you should marry the first person you date, but your intention should be to critically evaluate whether the partner is a good fit for you.

3. Avoid physical intimacy before marriage

It’s difficult to resist the temptation of physical intimacy if you’re dating someone you’re attracted to. However, God’s instruction for His followers are to wait until marriage to be physically intimate.

You can start by setting safe, respectable, and honorable boundaries when dating as a Christian. For example, you can agree to only kiss on the cheek until you’re married and avoid activities that might lead to impure thoughts.

4. Follow this passage from the Bible for a healthy Christian relationship

One of the best passages describing love comes from the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, which says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

This beautiful passage perfectly sums up how to treat your partner in a healthy Christian relationship.

If you want to learn more about how Christians should navigate love and relationships, you can read the captivating book I Kissed Waiting Goodbye by Dr. Denver Cheddie and Indira Rampaul-Cheddie. Read the first chapter of the book for free here, and check out the other books as well.

Written by Denver Cheddie from www.bibleissues.org