Prayer Focus: Allow, Exercise and Decree

Foundation Scripture: Romans 5:17 (KJV)

Prayer Points:
1. Allow Jesus to Live Large in You
2. Exercise your Authority to Reign
3. Decree & Declare the Word of God
4. Spirit-led, Spirit-filled, Sunday Service.

The first step in moving toward marriage through initiation of or participation in a godly relationship is to evaluate yourself spiritually.

Remember, one of our guiding principles here is that we are trying to be (or preparing to be) a godly spouse even as we try to find a godly spouse. We should all seek to be growing in Christ.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself:
a. Are you living a Christian life? (of prayer, devotion, service, etc.)
b. Are you growing and maturing in Christ? (leading, teaching others, tithing)
c. Are you humble and teachable?
d. Do you respect authority?
e. Are you responsible and holy in how you possess your spirit, soul, and body?

If you aspire to be a godly husband or wife someday, what have you done, and what are you doing to prepare for that ministry?

Once you decide that you are ready to date, look to God’s Word to determine the kind of person to date and evaluate potential dating partners on those criteria, rather than relying primarily on the world’s treatment of ideas like “attraction” and “chemistry.”

· Among the different roles assigned to men and women in the Bible, men are assigned the role of leadership. This is true in the church and the family.

· Albert Barnes - The word “head,” in the Scriptures, is designed often to denote “master, ruler, chief.”

· True, these passages refer to marriage, but it is wise and right to set patterns that will serve you well in marriage, especially if one accepts the premise that the purpose of dating is to find a marriage partner.

· Scripture seems not just to encourage but to assume that part of the growth into biblical manhood is to seek marriage, so this is a biblical goal. If he initiates, she must respond!’

2. Pursue friendship.
· The Lord has mercifully called us not to live the Christian life alone but as part of a community of believers. Single men and women can and should serve in ministry together, study the Word together and hang out together socially. They should go out together, gather around meals, watch movies. Friendships grow out of the body of Christ functioning and, in turn, result in interests beyond friendship. Remember, the world has falsely told us that a high level of intimacy with another person needs to precede any commitment to another person. In the Kingdom, a high-level of friendship should precede commitment.

Closing wisdom:
· Be aware that “friendship” is no more a forum to play married than a dating relationship is. If you find that you are consistently showing one of your opposite-sex Christian friends more one-on-one attention than all the others, whether in conversation or through invitations out, it’s probably time for:

1. Some clarification of intentions.
2. A change in the way you interact with that person. Beyond that, godly single adults will have to work this out on a case-by-case basis being led by the Holy Spirit. Pursue love and peace!