I Like Her, Now What? A Single Guy’s Guide to the First Dateনমুনা

Your Relationship Status 

The excitement of a new relationship is intoxicating. Every glance, word, and touch work together to lift your budding romance to new heights and bring you one step closer to . . . to . . . where is this going exactly? 

It is much easier to quietly ride the wave of excitement than risk ruining things by discussing labels. Unfortunately, ambiguity is not your friend. The last thing anyone wants is to start to fall in love, only to find out the other person wasn’t taking the relationship seriously.

In these early days, remember to:

• Communicate your goal: You don’t need to be prepared for marriage by the second date, but she should understand you’re not just out to have a good time either. You are dating with a purpose. If everything goes right, marriage should be in your future one day.
• Maintain exclusivity: Give this relationship the attention it deserves. Therefore, only pursue one romantic interest at a time. Ask her to be your girlfriend and to commit to no other romantic relationships while you are together.
• Walk with honesty: You don’t want to overload her by spilling all of your emotional baggage on the second date, but you do need to be honest. Watch for conversations that feel off limits. If you are uncomfortable discussing certain topics, ask yourself why. Is it your own insecurity or something else?
• Communicate a desire for purity: Tackling this topic early will help avoid uncomfortable situations later. If your girlfriend is unwilling to help you in this area, she likely will be unable to help you follow God in others. 
• Know your limits: As emotions intensify, so will your temptations. Take care to maintain good verbal and physical boundaries to ensure your relationship remains sexually pure.
• Seek godly counsel: Give a good friend, parent, or trusted church leader permission to speak into your relationship. Trust them to help you see the warning signs you may be unable to notice.
• Take your time: Don’t let your age or stage of life pressure you into going too fast. Marriage is for a lifetime. Take your time and do this right.
• Keep moving forward: Your relationship should be making steady progress towards the next step of commitment. If you are not moving forward, it could be an indication that something is wrong. 

Establishing these patterns will help you honor God and lay a solid foundation for you to build upon. 

So what do you do now? Relax. The hard part is over. But if you would like to continue to receive tips for the next phase of your relationship, sign up for our newsletter here  .

Pray: Lord, thank You for this new relationship that has begun. Use it to mold me into the image of Your Son. Give me the humility to listen to the wisdom of others whom I trust. Help me to lead this woman well and glorify You in the process. In Jesus’ name, Amen.