Singles, be very careful with the terminology of “moving on from your “ex” and going straight to the “next”! In other words, be careful of repeating the same worldly patterns over and over again thinking it’s going to produce you a Godly mate! What you may not realize is that you are merely racking up “ex’s” and your “next’s” are becoming “ex’s” as well, yet there’s been no wedding bells at all! The world will have you thinking this is normal, but this is not normal for the born again believer. The born again believer is led by the Spirit and not led by the world. The Spirit will not have you continuing to date and date and date and then when you finally stop to look at your life, you have more ex’s than your age. Seriously! It’s time to find out what pleases the Lord for YOUR LIFE in this area.
When you were in the world, dating around was probably acceptable, but now that you know better because you know Christ, this pattern of casual dating and breaking up is no longer acceptable. It’s time to renew your mind on dating because it may very well be time to get rid of this “western practice” that often times does not lead to marriage but instead leads to more and more disappointments and heartaches. Let us explain!
When we met, we got to know each other a little over a year before committing to an exclusive relationship. This exclusive relationship that we committed to was after we decided that we were going to eventually marry each other. Although we had renewed our mind on dating, we had not learned how to court each other or as some would say, “date-to-marry”, so we had a few breakups along the way. Eventually we settled everything and married. So what are we getting at?
If we can save you all heartaches, time and more in this area, we will do so by sharing our “mess-ups” so you don’t have to go through the same things we went through. We are embarrassed to say that we dated too many people before we met each other. Though my wife has a better excuse as she was an unbeliever while she was in the “dating game”, I on the other hand was a believer just doing what I knew to do. Here in the states we are taught very early to date around in order to find a mate. But where is that even scriptural to do? Where is “boyfriend/girlfriend” in the word of God?
We have to live with the fact that there were others before us for the rest of our lives. But guess what? You all do not have to do what we did. You can start afresh or not even go down that road. We encourage singles to “get to know” their brother or sister in the Lord as simply FRIENDS before going further. Once you know each other as friends, then as you are led, you can determine if marriage to each other is what you both want. I’m pretty positive God does not want His children “practicing” for marriage by dating people who will eventually marry others. Because as we have said before, Marriage is not something you practice for, it’s something you PREPARE for!
So we are saying to renew your mind and seek the Lord on if you should date or not. We are certainly not saying dating is a sin but do you really want to go into Holy Matrimony with a track record of dating so many people you’ve had inappropriate relationships with? One of our biggest regrets is not learning what we are teaching you all today; that instead of dating around, it’s better to “get to know” each other with no strings attached and then only go forward when BOTH have agreed that marriage is the destination. It’s all up to you of course, but it never hurts to FIND OUT WHAT PLEASES THE LORD when it comes to dating! For it is He who knows ALL THINGS about your life anyway! #FindOut
Eph 5:8-10 (NIV), “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and FIND OUT WHAT PLEASES THE LORD”.
Rom 12:2 (NIV), “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will”. #FindOutWhatPleasesHim
Not the popular message, we know, but share it with as MANY as you can. Who knows who it may encourage in this area? Thanks everyone!
i am blessed and mentally renewed by the word that i have read….thank you