Sex, Love, and Respect: Preparing for God’s Best
Homeschool
Audio By Carbonatix
Preparing for Important Conversations
Dear Parents,
As parents, we want the best for our children—spiritually, emotionally, and physically. We guide them in their education, their friendships, and their faith, but one of the most critical areas we must prepare them for is relationships and sexual health.
Our culture sends mixed messages about love, dating, and intimacy. The world normalizes casual relationships, but God calls us to something greater—intentional love, respect, and purity. Talking about these topics can feel overwhelming, but avoiding the conversation leaves our children to figure it out on their own—often influenced by media, peers, or misinformation.
This blog provides a biblical perspective on relationships and sexual integrity, helping young people make wise choices before they find themselves in high-pressure situations. You can share this information directly with your child or use it as a guide for meaningful conversations at home.
Here’s how to use this resource:
✔ Read it yourself and decide what key points you’d like to emphasize.
✔ Share the blog with your child and encourage them to reflect on the concepts.
✔ Use it as a starting point for open, judgment-free discussions about their thoughts, questions, and concerns.
✔ Emphasize that these discussions aren’t about shame or fear, but about God’s best plan for their future.
By being proactive, we can help our children navigate relationships with wisdom, confidence, and a deep understanding of their worth in Christ.
Praying for you as you walk this journey together!
💙 With grace, wisdom, and encouragement,
Tricia Goyer
Sex, Love, and Respect:
Preparing for God’s Best
“You are someone’s future spouse.”
That’s not something we often think about in the moment, right? But it’s true. You are someone’s future husband or wife. And guess what? That person you’re dating, flirting with, or considering a relationship with? They are someone’s future spouse too.
When we begin to see relationships through this lens, everything shifts. Love is no longer just about how we feel in the moment—it’s about honoring the person in front of us and protecting the future God has planned for us.
Respect: The Foundation of Love
Love without respect isn’t love at all.
- Respect honors. It doesn’t pressure. It doesn’t manipulate. It doesn’t push boundaries just because “we feel like it.”
- Respect protects. It guards not only your purity but the heart of the person you care about.
- Respect understands. It recognizes that every choice we make now will impact our future.
The truth is, sexual purity isn’t just about avoiding physical sin—it’s about protecting your heart and someone else’s. If you wouldn’t want your future spouse being treated a certain way, then don’t treat someone else that way.
Ask yourself: Would I want my future husband or wife to be in the kind of relationship I’m in right now?
Emotional Bonding: The Ties That Linger
When we talk about purity, we often focus on physical boundaries. But emotional bonds can be just as powerful—sometimes even more so.
Sex isn’t the only thing that creates a deep connection between two people. Emotional intimacy—sharing our hearts, dreams, and deepest feelings—creates soul ties that don’t just go away when a relationship ends.
I know this personally.
Even after I was married, I still felt those emotional ties to past relationships. I thought I had moved on, but my heart had lingering attachments that made it hard to fully connect with my husband. It took intentional effort, prayer, and surrender to God to break free from those unhealthy ties.
If you’ve ever struggled with thoughts of an ex or emotional attachments that won’t let go, you’re not alone.
Here’s how I found healing:
- Taking my thoughts captive. Every time my mind drifted back to past relationships, I had to redirect my focus to God’s truth (2 Corinthians 10:5).
- Praying for a renewed heart. I asked God to help me let go of those ties and fully embrace the marriage He gave me.
- Seeking forgiveness. Not just from God, but also from my husband. Even though those past relationships happened before we met, I wanted to ensure my heart was fully his.
- Cutting off all communication. This was one of the hardest but most important steps. Keeping even small connections open made it harder to move forward.
Making a Relationship Plan
We make plans for everything—our education, our careers, our fitness. Why wouldn’t we plan for one of the most important parts of our lives—our relationships?
Waiting for God’s best doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes intentional choices and clear boundaries.
Here’s how to create a relationship plan:
- Define your values. What do you believe about love, purity, and marriage?
- Set boundaries. Where do you draw the line? What will you say no to in order to protect yourself and your future spouse?
- Ask the hard questions. What do you need to know before committing to someone? Are you on the same page spiritually and emotionally?
- Pray for your future spouse. Even if you haven’t met them yet, ask God to prepare both of your hearts for the right time.
The Freedom of Sexual Purity
Choosing purity isn’t about missing out. It’s about living with no regrets.
When we honor God’s plan for love, we experience freedom from:
- Guilt and regret
- Emotional baggage
- Comparison in marriage
- Unnecessary heartbreak
Waiting for marriage to experience intimacy means stepping into that relationship without the weight of past mistakes. It means starting fresh, fully present, and completely free.
What If I’ve Already Made Mistakes?
Maybe you’re reading this, and you feel like it’s too late for you.
It’s not.
God is a God of second chances. He doesn’t define you by your past mistakes—He defines you by His grace.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
If you’ve crossed lines you regret, you can start fresh today. Here’s how:
- Confess it to God. His forgiveness is immediate.
- Renew your mind. Replace shame with truth—God’s love is bigger than your past.
- Walk in purity from now on. Your past doesn’t have to dictate your future.
Committing to God’s Best
At the end of the day, this isn’t just about saying no—it’s about saying yes to something better.
God’s plan for purity isn’t about restriction. It’s about protection.
- Wait because you are worth it.
- Wait because love isn’t meant to be rushed.
- Wait because God’s best is always worth the wait.
And if you didn’t wait? Start fresh today.
God’s grace is bigger than your past. His love is deeper than your mistakes. And the future He has for you? It’s better than anything you could imagine.
Choose respect. Choose purity. Choose God’s best.
Resources
Praying for Your Future Husband is perfect for women of all ages who are dreaming about “The One.” God has a beautiful romance prepared for you. Prayer is the key to unlocking the love story … with your future husband and with God, the lover of your soul.
Before You Meet Your Future Husband focuses on three areas you, as a young woman, need to address in preparing for marriage:
• your heart—nurturing a place where healthy love can grow
• your head—realigning your thoughts with biblical truth
• your hands—learning to make the most of your God-given potential
This uplifting, interactive devotional helps you approach dating from a place of peace and strength, whether you’re in a relationship now or simply hope to be married one day. With a focus on your own transformation, Before You Meet Your Future Husband offers biblical guidance, real-life stories, thought-provoking questions, and intentional prayers to help you prepare now for the future God has in store for you.
