Before Your Next Date…
After many years of dating and several relationships later, if I could share my *top* tips for dating, this would be my list!
I can’t claim ownership of all of these tidbits. They were collected from various books, sermons, podcasts & conversations I have had over the years. Nonetheless, I hope you find them helpful!
Be your own person! With your own life! With your own things to share! It makes time together so much more fun & interesting!
Don’t share too much too soon.
Set boundaries with your emotions.
DO. NOT. RUSH. ANYTHING! Seriously!!!!
Take a LONG time before even thinking about dating.
DO NOT. I REPEAT. DO NOT MAKE A HABIT OF TEXTING ALL THE TIME.
Don’t over-spiritualize everything!
Do not talk so much about yourself.
Be an impressed person, not an impressive person!!!!
Be a “there YOU are” person, not a “here I AM” person. (aka. make it about them— not you!)
Humility looks good on everyone!!
Set them up to be the shining star.
After the date, immediately ask yourself: “WHY am I attracted to them?”
Prayer for Clarity in the Dating Process: Dear Lord, would you highlight and give me clarity. Will you make it abundantly clear & give me peace.
Prayer as You Walk Into a Date: Lord, give me clarity in dating, and guard me from all impurity. Let patience, selflessness, and humility mark every relationship, every date, every conversation, every step forward or backward. In every pursuit of marriage, make it clear that you are God, and I am yours!
14. Wait for a man who pursued Jesus before you entered his life!!!
15. Look for someone who helps you fall in love with Jesus more & more everyday.
16. Never let a person win your heart until Jesus has captured theirs!
17. “What makes dating worth having is that you, your boyfriend, and those around you see more of God and his love for us in Jesus. If you’re not experiencing that with your boyfriend, break up with him. If that’s not our priority, we need to get a new game plan and probably a new scorecard for our next significant other.” **** One of my ALL TIME favorite & the quote that me and my fiancee BUILT our relationship on!
18. Instead of making it your mission to get married, make your mission God’s global cause and the advance of the gospel where you are, and look for someone pursuing the same.
19. Do the people in each of your lives know and love Jesus more because you’re together? Do they see God’s grace and truth working in you and your relationship as you walk through life together? Are the two of you thinking proactively about how to bless your friends and family, and point them to Christ?
20. “So wait to date until you can joyfully submit every part of your relationship to God’s loving authority. Wait to date until he brings you a person who will aid your sanctification and chase Christlikeness with you. Wait to date until you’re satisfied in Christ, when you’re free from expectation and pressure, when you’re supported by a gospel community, and when you’re committed to a long-term, lasting relationship.”
***wait to date until it brings more glory to God in your life to date than to remain single!!!!!!
21. Be aware of emotional intimacy!!!
