Fireproof Part 2: Dating

For this week, I will be talking about dating from the Christian point of view. The key concept I am going to focus on is patience! Friends, do not rush into things! Do not give people you are only dating benefits intended for marriage. Trust me when I say this. I am speaking from personal experience! If you allow God to take control of the relationship and where it's going to go, you are going to be much better off than if you take the relationship into your own hands. Proverbs 19:2 says "Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way" (ESV). Rushing into things driven by desire is going to lead you to missing out on everything God wants for you, which is the absolute best! This person may be telling you everything you want to hear and you may like them with every fiber of your being, but at the end of the day, if they are not the one, THEY ARE NOT THE ONE! Don't waist your time, love, and energy on someone who doesn't deserve it. God will lead you to the right person! Just Trust Him! Boys, more times than not, a good girl is not going to come up to you first (this rule of course not being set in stone). So it's ok to plant a seed of interest. Once you do, step back and allow God to decide whether He permits the relationship to grow any further. The important thing about dating is that this time is to be used to get to know each other better, see whether you guys are truly compatible, see how you guys would react in certain situations, see if you guys want the same things out of life, what your common interests are, etc. Remember, run off God's confirmation, NOT your feelings. 

I understand how this concept of being patient can be hard considering the fast paced, "I want what I want and I want it when I want it" kinda world we live in. We are not a fan of waiting for things. But I believe good things truly do come to people who wait. God will reward your patience in his perfect timing.

Now when you two go out, do your best to not place yourself in situations that could lead to potential temptation. If that means going out in a group of friends rather than just the two of you, DO IT! I'm not saying you can't have some alone time, but be wise about it! Don't place yourself in situations you may regret later. Your relationship will be much stronger in the end. Stay Strong! 

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22 ESV)