Dating can be fun, exciting, expensive, and stressful. Yes, I said it. Dating is stressful! But, someday you find someone that makes that stress worth it. But, what is something else that can make the stress of dating a little less...stressful? Faith.

What do I mean by "Christian Dating" you ask? Well, two people, who both love the Lord and strive to follow Him, and work to make their relationship centered around Him.

Being in a Christian relationship can make a bond so much stronger, and can relieve so much of the stress that comes with the material and artificial aspects of dating. Growing a relationship through Christ is SO much better than normal dating. Here's a list of the reasons why Christian dating is the best.

1. You can encourage one another.

Any Christian fellowship, not just dating, comes with this perk, but in a romantic relationship it's so much better. When two people are able to encourage each other, in life and faith, your bond grows instantly stronger. Being a Christian you know the struggle that your Christian counterpart is going through, and you probably are or have been going through those same struggles.

You can encourage each other to be a better child of Christ, and support each other when you fall into temptations.

2.You can read the Bible together.

There are A LOT of stories and messages in the Bible, and not all of them are easy to understand. Being able to have someone to read and understand with makes it a lot easier to receive God's word. It's also a really great experience to see how different people interpret different parts of scripture. Being able to sit down and read God's word with your significant other is a great way to grow as a couple, and as Christians.

3.You can go to chapel together.

Every. Single. Week. I look forward to being able to sit next to my boyfriend in chapel and know that we're both working to continue our relationship with the Lord. I always know that if I'm confused about the message, or have a question about something that was read from the Bible, I can ask him. It's also really great to create bonds with other Christian couples that you meet through church.

4.You can set clear boundaries.

Boundaries are important in ANY relationship, but when you're dating a fellow Christian, you both know just how important boundaries are. Boundaries are key to ensuring that there aren't regrets in relationships and that the relationship continues to be about God and what his intentions are for the couple. Unlike non-Christian relationships, there is no confusion about what is and isn't acceptable.

5.Dating isn't just "for fun".

Now don't misunderstand what I mean by "for fun". Dating absolutely should be fun, and if you're in a relationship that is not enjoyable, then it might not be the right relationship for you. But I believe that dating with an intention to find someone you someday want to marry is what dating should be about. When people date just for the fun of it, someone ALWAYS gets hurt because if a relationship doesn't lead to marriage, it just leads to a break up.

Now, that does not mean that if you date someone, then you have to marry them. What it means is that if you reach a point in the relationship where you could never see it leading to marriage, then there is no point in continuing it. Christians often hold this same belief about dating, which means that when you're in a Christian relationship, you're both on the same page about the intentions of the relationship.

(and don't worry, I'm not talking Duggar-ness, I'm just talking about mature relationships!)

6. You can pray together.

Being able to pray with, and for, each other is a really great thing to have in a relationship, especially when times are tough. Sharing in prayer can be great for building a bond between two people. You also both know that whatever happens is God's will, and you can pray about your relationship.

7.You both love the Lord.

This might seem obvious, but knowing that your significant other loves the Lord just as much as you do (and as much as you love each other) makes everything about dating better. The Lord loves his children so much, and as Christians we strive to love the Lord back and show that His love is not in vain. It's great knowing that you are sharing your time with someone who lives for Christ, and through Christ.

"You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always." Deuteronomy 11:1