By Coleen York

You know that amazing feeling you get when you meet someone you really connect with? That feeling that whispers, “Hey … there could really be a future here …” and leaves you awake all night thinking, hoping, and praying that it’s true?

And let’s just say that a wonderful relationship is birthed out of those feelings. It’s exactly what you’ve wanted. The guy or girl that just gets you, wants to be around you, can’t get enough of you. The guy who brings you flowers and doesn’t care how much chocolate you eat. That girl who actually understands football and even has season passes to the 49ers. You spend every spare waking hour together dreaming about the future and enjoying the present.

It’s so easy to get swept away in the tidal wave feelings of a new relationship. We’re hooked. Consumed. Infatuated. And there’s nothing wrong with the rush of something new. It was meant to be enjoyed. However, in all the relationship rush, we often neglect our former routines and opt for more “exciting” rendezvous.

This isn’t about ignoring your friends, skipping family events, spending money you don’t have, or not taking the time to do laundry (of course maybe that’s just me). This is about taking time to truly put God first.

Several of you probably just groaned. Maybe you’ve heard this a million times or maybe I am totally raining on your parade right now. That’s fine, that’s why God made the person who invented the umbrella.

It’s so easy to say, “God comes first; God will always come first!” when there aren’t so many, ahem … good-looking distractions. It’s probably even easy to SAY that God is still your numero uno even when you’re caught up in the whirlwind of a new relationship. However, I want to encourage you (if you haven’t already) to evaluate how much time you’re spending with God versus others. Are you still taking time to seek Him through prayer, Bible reading, church, and fellowship?

And maybe it’s not so much that you’re distracted, but it’s just that your life is so AWESOME right now that you haven’t really thought to pray, or read your Bible, or talk to God. Because if things are great … what’s the point … right? Right??? Your problems just don’t seem so pressing right now … and God isn’t going anywhere … He’ll still be there when you need Him.

Your quiet times should not suffer because your good times have increased.

Take it a step further: can you discuss what you are learning about God with the person you are dating? Are they representing Christ and spending time with Him too?

Outside of Jesus perfect relationships do not exist. You cannot do it without Him. After the onslaught of butterflies have past, what will remain? The relationships that are truly sustainable are the ones built on a foundation of mutual love for your Savior.

If you want a thriving relationship, find yourself a guy or girl that puts their relationship with GOD before their relationship with YOU. And make sure you are doing the same.

Put first things first.

Put GOD first.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)