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Date Someone Whose Apology Comes With Change

One of the greatest mistakes people make while dating is falling in love with apologies instead of observing transformation. “I am sorry” can be sincere, but sincerity must eventually produce responsibility. Repentance is not merely feeling bad about what happened. It involves a change of direction. John the Baptist said, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Matthew 3:8. Your purpose requires character because whatever God has entrusted to you will eventually be affected by the person you become. If you are constantly excusing destructive behavior in the name of love, you may be protecting the relationship while damaging the person God is calling you to become. Watch what happens after the apology. Does the person seek understanding? Do they accept responsibility? Do they make practical changes? Do they seek counsel when necessary? Do they become more self controlled? Do they respect the boundary you established? Or do they simply become emotional until you forgive them ...
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Date Someone Who Respects Your Boundaries

Your boundaries protect what God is developing in you.  They protect your spiritual life, emotional health, body, time, convictions, finances, relationships, and assignment. Therefore, do not apologize for having boundaries simply because someone wants greater access to you. Jesus understood boundaries. He loved people deeply, yet He did not allow every person to control His movements, schedule, emotions, or assignment. There were moments when He withdrew to pray. There were moments when He refused distractions. There were moments when He clearly communicated what He would and would not do. Luke 5:16 says, “He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” Even Jesus maintained intentional space for fellowship with the Father. Dating should not consume the space God has given you to develop your assignment. If you cannot pray because you are constantly on the phone, if you cannot study because you are constantly responding to messages, if you cannot serve because someone become...
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Date Someone Who Loves You Through Their Actions

Love becomes visible when it becomes responsibility.  It is easy to say, “I love you.” It is much harder to consistently demonstrate patience, sacrifice, honesty, protection, respect, accountability, forgiveness, and service. That is why your discernment should never depend entirely on what someone says about their feelings. John wrote, “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18. Your assignment requires you to become a person of substance. The person you date should be interested in substance too. Watch what they consistently do. Do they keep their word? Do they show up? Do they respect your time? Do they honor your boundaries? Do they serve others? Do they take responsibility? Do they encourage your growth? And ask yourself an uncomfortable question: If this person's actions never changed from what I am seeing today, would I still want this relationship five years from now? That question can save you from falling in love with an imagined f...
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Date Someone Whose Life Shows They Follow Jesus

Do not merely date someone who believes in Jesus. Pay attention to whether their life is being shaped by Jesus. There is a difference between Christian identity and Christlike character. Someone can attend church, quote Scripture, pray loudly, speak in spiritual language, and still treat people terribly. The test of discipleship is not performance. It is fruit. Jesus said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16. Your purpose belongs to Christ before it belongs to any relationship. Therefore, the person you date should not gradually become more important than the One who called you. If being with someone causes your prayer life to disappear, your convictions to weaken, your spiritual discipline to collapse, or your obedience to God to become negotiable, you need to stop and examine what is happening. Look for the fruit of the Spirit. Look for love. Look for self control. Look for patience. Look for humility. Look for forgiveness. Look for integrity. Look for teachability. An...
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Date Someone Whose Present Supports Your Future

Do not become so fascinated by someone's potential that you ignore their present. Potential can inspire you, but character should convince you. God called Abraham before Abraham saw the complete manifestation of the promise. Yet Abraham had to walk with God through process. Your future spouse should not merely speak about where they want to go. You should be able to observe evidence that they are walking in the right direction. Proverbs 24:27 says, “Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.” There is wisdom in preparation before construction. This principle matters in dating. Before building a household, learn how the person handles responsibility. Before discussing marriage, observe how they manage their present life. Before trusting them with your future, examine whether they are faithfully managing what they currently have. Are they developing their gifts? Are they pursuing their assignment? Are they responsible with mo...
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Date Someone Who Has Character in Secret

There is a person you know publicly, and there is a person God sees privately.  The private person eventually becomes the public person. Your dating decisions should therefore include more than observing how someone treats you when they want something from you. Watch how they behave when nobody important is watching. Watch their relationship with truth. Watch their discipline. Watch their stewardship. Watch how they speak about people who cannot benefit them. Jesus taught that the Father sees what happens in secret. Matthew 6:6 reminds us that God sees beyond public performance. This should change how you discern relationships. Your purpose needs integrity. A gifted person without character can damage the very assignment God gave them. A prophetic gift does not excuse dishonesty. A leadership position does not excuse abuse. Financial success does not excuse pride. Spiritual vocabulary does not automatically produce spiritual maturity. So while dating, do not only ask, “How does thi...
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Date Someone Who Values Your Character and Calling

There is a dangerous kind of relationship where one person falls in love with the other person's appearance, personality, body, social status, or usefulness but has little interest in the person's assignment. Do not become someone's admiration while losing your calling. Before dating, understand that God gave you something to steward. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10. Your gifts are not decorations. Your life is a stewardship. So when someone enters your life, observe what they do with your purpose. Do they respect your convictions? Do they encourage your development? Can they celebrate your progress without becoming threatened? Can they recognize that your assignment belongs first to God? Can you do the same for them? A woman should not have to become less purposeful to make a man feel like a man. A man should not have to abandon his responsibility and assignment to ...
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