What is Abstinence Before Marriage?
Abstinence before marriage can be described as the conscious decision made not to indulge in sexual intercourse until after the wedding ceremony. This decision goes beyond just avoiding physical intimacy; but represents one’s commitment to reserving the overall expression of your sexual connection all for the marriage relationship.
In as much as abstinence before marriage may not be observed by many people in today’s society, some people still choose this part for emotional, spiritual, and as a dedication to their beliefs. This decision to practice sexual purity is not about denying the importance of the beauty of physical intimacy.
But, it’s to recognize the intricate significance of this connection and make up your mind to experience it in the context of a committed partnership.
Abstinence before marriage allows you and your partner to build your relationship on a foundation of shared values and good communication rather than physical chemistry alone.
Therefore, whether you choose premarital abstinence because of your religious convictions, or for practical benefits, you are reading the best article. I will provide you with research-backed tips about the advantages of preserving yourself for marriage.
We will look at both the spiritual aspects of having your marriage bed undefiled as well as the practical benefits of setting relationship boundaries that complement your commitment. Many couples who practice abstinence before marriage reported that their decision to wait helped their relationship become stronger.
You can have the same results if you do that too. However, beyond simply abstaining to avoid unwanted pregnancy or STD, these couples also developed deeper emotional connections and better communication as they navigated their boundaries during their dating.
If you are in a relationship and wondering whether you can consider pre-marital abstinence or you are already committed to sexual integrity and maybe need encouragement, then read this post as I will show you some biblical perspectives and research on abstinence that will help you understand the importance of this life choice.
Research-Backed Benefits of Abstinence Before Marriage:
Your decision to practice abstinence before marriage is not just based on traditional values, but it is supported by scientific research, which I will show you here. Multiple studies show the significant advantages of abstinence before marriage for those who care to wait until marriage.
Research performed in 2005 by Rector and Johnson shows that teens who abstained from sexual activity were able to graduate from high school compared to those who were sexually active. This result shows that abstinence helps young people to maintain focus on their educational pursuits and long-term planning.
In the same 2004, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention also confirmed that abstinence is the most powerful way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. While you can still use contraceptives to reduce those risks as well, abstinence eliminates them entirely and provides complete protection from these concerns.
According to Dr. Dean Busby after research at Brigham Young University’s School of Family Life, “those who waited until marriage rates the quality of sex and relationship as significantly higher than those who had sex before marriage.” This challenges the assumption of testing sexual compatibility before marriage.
Additional research shows that couples who choose to practice premarital abstinence build stronger communication skills as they navigate physical boundaries as spouses. These skills will result in better conflict resolution and deeper emotional intimacy, which are essential for having a lasting marriage.
Now that you have seen what researchers said about abstinence before marriage, let’s now dive into some specific spiritual and practical benefits of waiting until you are married.
9 Hidden Benefits Of Abstinence Before Marriage You Should Know:
Practical Benefits of Waiting Until Marriage:
1) Finding the Right Partner:
The Relationship Benefits of Waiting
One of the benefits of pre-marital abstinence is that you will find the best partner at last. This is because sexual intimacy creates powerful emotional bonds between people through the release of oxytocin and other bonding hormones.
That means that when you maintain sexual integrity before marriage, you are insulating yourself from forming deep attachments with someone who won’t want to commit to your long-term happiness. Choosing to abstain from sex till you are married allows you to evaluate your potential partner well before committing.
Many relationship counselors note that when you save yourself from marriage, it will help you filter out those partners who are not serious about commitment.
Building Trust and Respect:
When you want to communicate your boundaries regarding physical intimacy, you will learn some valuable information about your partner’s character. Those who will respect your choice to abstain demonstrate self-control, patience, and respect for values. Those are also the qualities of a successful relationship.
Many couples who did not overstep their relationship boundaries before report higher levels of trust in their relationship. The trust creates a crucial foundation as they begin their marriage journey together.
Preventing Unwanted Pregnancy:
Although there is advancement in technology that helps to protect against unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexual diseases, abstinence before marriage completely eliminates the risks. It also allows you to begin your family planning within the security of your marriage.
Facing unwanted pregnancy when you are still single is always a very difficult decision: single parenthood or marriage under pressure. However, when you abstain from sexual intimacy until you marry will help you avoid making these challenging choices.
Increased Productivity and Focus:
Abstaining before marriage has also been proven to increase productivity and focus. This is because it takes more energy and time to navigate a casual sexual relationship. Many people agreed that they spent hours on dating apps and managing complicated relationship dynamics from relationships that didn’t lead to commitment.
By choosing to abstain till marriage, you have freed up both mental and emotional resources that you can use for more learning, personal development, and other meaningful life pursuits. This focused energy allows you to work on making your relationship foundation strong for your future marriage.
Developing Self-Control:
Developing a strong ability to say no to quick gratification correlates strongly with success in many other areas of life. According to researchers, people who can control themselves in one area show greater discipline in other areas of their lives. Deciding to abstain from sex is not an easy task. It requires mastery over physical desire and it’s a skill that translates into personal growth in other areas.
As you develop self-discipline, you have to arm yourself with a strong ability to make life choices that align with your long-term goals instead of monetary desire.
We have seen the practical benefits of sexual purity and how significant they are. However, many couples choose abstinence before marriage primarily for spiritual reasons. In this section, we will examine the biblical perspective on abstinence.
Spiritual Benefits Section:
Spiritual Benefits of Abstinence Before Marriage:
Honoring Biblical Teaching:
The Bible is clear about sexual intimacy and how it is designed exclusively for marriage. In Hebrews 13:4, the apostle stated that “marriage should be honored by all, and that marriage bed must be kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
As you practice abstinence before marriage, you have aligned your life with God’s design for sexuality. This choice of obedience shows how you trust God’s words and wisdom, as well as recognize that his are made for your protection and benefit.
Living Set Apart:
Romans 12:2 instructs all believers not to conform to the patterns of the world but to be transformed by renewing their minds with the word of God. In a place or culture where sexual relationships are normalized, making up your mind to abstain from sex till you are married represents a countercultural to according to how God wants it rather than societal norms.
Your choice to maintain sexual purity serves as a means to express your identity as someone who’s set apart for God’s purposes. It also shows that your values are shaped by God’s principles rather than cultural trends.
Experiencing God’s Best:
Do you want to enjoy the best things from God? Then keeping God’s commandments is the way to go. These commandments are not arbitrary restrictions, they are loving guidance that are intended to lead you towards His best plans for you.
Sexual intimacy within your marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity. It is a unique bond that strengthens the covenant relationship. When you reserve sexual intimacy for your partner and marriage, you have positioned yourself to experience this special gift that God kept specifically for you and you will enjoy the gift as you mature in marriage with your partner.
Spiritual Growth Through Obedience:
When you decide to abstain from sex till marriage, you will have the opportunity to grow spiritually because that means you chose to trust and depend on God’s strength instead of your own power. Many Christian couples reported that abstinence before marriage helps to deepen their prayer life and their dependence on the Holy Spirit.
This willingness to obey in the area that requires self-control always results in spiritual maturity that positively affects your relationship with God.
Overcoming Challenges: Practical Strategies for Maintaining Abstinence.
Setting Clear Boundaries:
It is not easy to successfully practice abstinence before marriage. It requires establishing clear boundaries immediately in your relationship. You must consider those behaviors that might trigger temptation on time, and establish limits that will help you maintain your commitment to sexual prowess.
When you set these boundaries, communicate them clearly with your partner, and don’t just discuss the “what” but also the “why” behind your choice. This will help you build mutual understanding and respect in your relationship.
Building a Support System:
Try to surround yourself with friends and family members who you know that share or respect your values as regards premarital abstinence. Consider joining a support or Bible study-focused group as you will learn many things that will help you from people of like mind and from Biblical principles.
These communities offer wisdom and practical advice that will help you maintain sexual purity.
These benefits of premarital abstinence show why many couples find that maintaining relationship boundaries before marriage leads to a stronger foundation for their future together.
Conclusion: Embracing the Benefits of Abstinence Before Marriage:
There are so many benefits of abstinence before marriage, and it extends across every dimension of both physical, relational, spiritual, and emotional life. When you choose to wait, you have protected yourself from several risks as well as positioned yourself for a more fulfilling marriage relationship.
All the research conducted on the subject of abstinence before marriage has consistently supported the biblical wisdom taught for centuries about the importance of reserving sexual intimacy for marriage. From improving relationship satisfaction to protecting yourself from unwanted pregnancy and STDs and also from deeper trust to spiritual growth, abstinence contributes to the holistic well-being of your relationship.
Therefore, if you made this decision based on your religious convictions, practical considerations, or both, remember that abstinence is not just about saying no but about saying yes to God’s design for sexuality. You are also preparing to have a successful marriage relationship that’s characterized by trust, commitment, and mutual respect.
If you are currently practicing abstinence till marriage, I want to encourage you to keep it up, because your decision aligns with both biblical principles for sexuality and scientific research. The temporary challenges of not giving in to sex till marriage is far outweighed by the lasting benefits you’ll get in your future marriage.