1Gelindo 6:18

Whenever someone asks us if we believe in premarital sex we respond by saying “yes and no.” It’s a confusing answer at first, but it gives us an opportunity to make an important point. God affirms our sexuality as human beings and we ­can’t suddenly become asexual. For this reason, we believe in premarital sexuality. We are quick to follow up, however, by saying that having genital sex before marriage is clearly not in line with God’s principles. 

As New York pastor Rich Villodas defines it, a deeply formed life is a life marked by integration, intersection, intertwining, and interweaving, holding together multiple layers of spiritual formation. This kind of life calls us to be people who cultivate lives with God in prayer, move toward reconciliation, work for justice, have healthy inner lives, and see our bodies and sexuality as gifts to steward.

Guardrails are put in place to keep our vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. We often don’t see them until we need them—and then we’re sure thankful they’re there. What if we had guardrails in our relationships, finances, and careers? What might those look like? How might they keep us from future regrets? For the next five days, let’s explore how to set up personal guardrails.