Are you preparing (now) to meet your future spouse?

Here’s the opening paragraph that describes Andy Stanley’s 4 part video series about dating and marriage:

When I meet the right person, everything will be all right. This way of thinking creates trouble in our dating lives and sets us up for trouble in marriage. In this message, Andy challenges us to ask ourselves Am I the person the person I'm looking for is looking for? And he previews God's list of behaviors that will lead to success in dating and marriage.

When I read that, I knew I had to go further. I knew that I was about to learn something that was never taught to me during my younger, dating years.

Immediately, I sent the link to my single adult children.   If God has marriage in their future plans, then I want them to have the tools of proper thinking so they’ll have a better chance of being the type of person that the person they’re looking for will want.

After I listened to part 1 of Andy’s message I sat and stared at my computer.  Where was this type of information when I was twenty- something and then again at thirty- something? This type of thinking and self preparation was not happening ‘back in the day.’

This excites me! Imagine the lives that Andy’s message can change. Imagine the relationships that can be successfully matched together when his suggestions are put into practice.  And it’s all in God’s Word.

There’s not a magic formula. The Bible tells us who we should become in what some of us refer to as the Love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13.  Let’s look at verses 4-7: ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.’

Here is your first question: God, how do I become the right person?  How do I become this person described in verses 4-7?  First recognize that God created us to be in relationships.  If He created us and wants us to be relational, then He will give us the tools. And He does!

Start practicing the description of a loving person from verses 4-7 with everyone you meet. Isn’t that how we get better at something?

Love is Patient.  Love never puts pressure on the other person. Run from anyone that does that to you.
Love is Kind. People need to learn how to be kind and considerate with each other.
Love does not envy. You don’t have to ‘one-up’ each person you meet.
Get the picture? Go through each of these definitions of love and consider where you stand on each point.

I can honestly say that if there was more of this type of ‘love’ in my first marriage, my adult children would not be from a divorced family. None of this comes naturally. It takes effort from both people in the relationship.

You cannot magically find the right person. Tune into Andy’s message. Hear about what God wants for you. I’m so excited for you because this is life changing information. This is going to transform your thinking. Let God help you become a better person…a person that is characterized by love…a person of greatness and designed by God for someone very special.

Here is the site:

http://www.northpoint.org/messages/the-new-rules-for-love-sex-and-dating   

Until next time~

Blessings, Nancy