This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! – 2 Cor 5:17 (NLT)

This week, we’ve talked a lot about respecting others. And it’s really important to learn to respect or honor others.

But have you thought about the fact that you should be honoring yourself too? No, we don’t mean showing yourself with gifts and presents but rather, treating yourself with respect.

That means you talk about yourself well. Instead of nitpicking every imperfection, choose to speak about yourself as Jesus does.

Honoring yourself means not compromising your standards in everything from who you date to the things you do. You have too much value to God to date someone who is not going to treat you right and who isn’t going to push you toward God.

So today, determine to honor yourself. Choose to speak life-giving words about yourself. Decide to make good decisions in who you date and the things you do.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. – Romans 10:12 (NIV)

We’ve talked a lot this week about honor. We know that honoring our parents, teachers, coaches, and pastors is important. But what about friends and other students? Do we need to honor them too?

Yes, we should be honoring others as well. We should be striving to love others with God’s love and treating others with respect.

Honor isn’t something that’s complicated. It doesn’t mean that you have to treat every person like a queen or king and bow down to them or something crazy like that. Instead, it just means that you should be treating others with respect.

Your friends and students at your school deserve respect. They are all created in God’s image and have worth to God. They might not treat you the right way, they might not dress the right way. Those things don’t give you an excuse not to treat them with respect.

The Bible says we are to be honoring others. Even when they don’t do the right thing.

It’s not easy, but it is something you can do with God’s help. So today, examine your life. Are you honoring those around you? Are you treating them with respect regardless of how they treat you?

“Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise–so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” – Ephesians 6:2-3 (NIV)

This week, we’re going to be talking a lot about honor. And if you’re honest, when you read this Bible verse, you probably secretly groaned a little. Honoring parents isn’t something that’s fun to talk about.

What does it mean to honor someone?

Webster’s Dictionary says this, “to regard or treat (someone) with admiration and respect : to regard or treat with honor”

When we honor someone, we treat them with respect. That doesn’t mean that that person is perfect. It just means that you respect a person and treat them well.

Today’s Truth – God wants things to go good for you, that’s why He tells you to honor

God tells us to honor others because He wants good things for you. It’s true, God wants your life to go good. When you honor others, it causes things to be better for you.

So today, ask God who in your life you can begin to show honor to. Not because that person is perfect, but because it’s the right thing to do. Choose to practice honoring others today!

I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. – 1 Cor 11:27(NIV)

Paul knew what it was like when things got tough. He went through a lot of really hard things. Yet in the middle of all that, he kept his focus on Jesus. Even when he had every right to want to give up and call it quits, he didn’t. He stayed firm in his faith.

In our lives, we might get upset and feel like things are tough. Maybe the pressures of finals seem really hard. You might have three school projects due on Friday and getting them all done feels overwhelming.

Life comes with pressure. Hard times do come.

The question is, what do you do in difficulty?

Do you give up? Do you blame God? How do you handle the tough things that come your way?

One thing you can do is to be like Paul. He found peace and joy in Jesus. Things might be difficult, they might be crazy, but you can be at peace. Keep your eyes on Jesus and you’ll find that if your focus is Him, your life can be at peace regardless of what is going on around you.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. – Luke 12:22 (NIV)

There are so many things to worry about. It could be how you’re going to get into college. Maybe you’re concerned about your friends will think of you.

It’s so easy to let all the things around us make us upset and worried. Jesus challenged his disciples to not worry.

That’s easy to say. Don’t worry. But how do you really do it? Especially when you have every reason to worry.

Today’s Challenge – Don’t Worry.

Even if it would be easier to worry, challenge yourself to trust God. Don’t let worry stop you from enjoying life. Instead, know that God loves you.

He will take care of everything you need if you’ll simply trust Him.

So instead of letting yourself be worried, determine to put your trust in God. Know that God will always be there for you!

Many of your friends probably won’t make godly dating choices. They might choose to date someone who doesn’t love God as they do. Perhaps you’ll see a friend compromise sexually just to keep a relationship going.

If you’re going to make godly choices in who you date, you’re going to have to think differently than many people think. You’re going to have to look to what the Bible says rather than what others around you are doing.

Relationship Tip #5 – Think Differently

It isn’t always easy to go against what others do, but in the long run, it will save you lots of heartaches. Many of the things God tells us about dating isn’t to keep us from having fun, but rather to keep our hearts from being hurt.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23

When you date, choose to get God’s perspective on your date. Choose to follow what His word says. You’ll have a lot less trouble and drama in your life if you’ll follow after God.

When you’re determining who to date, a good piece of advice is to just pray. God is so wise. He has good plans for you and your best interests at heart.

If you’ll just spend some time praying about your relationship, He will guide you on which way to go. He might tell you to not date someone. You may not know why but obey. God is probably trying to save you from heartache in the future.

Relationship Tip #4 – Just Pray

Spend time with God. Look to him for advice when it comes to who to date. Time spent in prayer is never wasted. Take some time and look to God to see what He would have you to do in your relationships.

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:6 (NLT)

You can avoid heartache and detours in life by seeking God in your decisions. He wants to lead and guide you. Choose today to let Him direct your path.

If you’d like to pursue godly relationships and healthier dating habits, check out our e-book, Date Smarter. It has 5 devotions, prayers and lots of great advice to help you date smarter.