Dating & The Single Mom: By Jennifer Maggioনমুনা

Choose someone who walks with the Lord.

This statement seems like a no-brainer, right? However, it is always surprising to me the number of single mothers who think they can “fix” a guy they are dating. They ignore the red flags. His “niceness” doesn’t replace godliness. Maybe your potential partner is a nice guy, hardworking, and kind, but if he doesn’t go to church, read the Bible, pray for God’s discernment when making decisions, and exhibit the fruit of a believer, then it is not up to you to change his heart and fix him. Only God can do that!

Step 4 to dating as a single mom: Find a godly man!

When journeying through dating, it is important to find a godly man. You want to find a man who is not just kind and hardworking but is also living according to God’s Word. Find a man who not only goes to church but reads the Word and applies it. Pray for a man who feels comfortable talking about his faith with others. If both people in the relationship are not living godly lives, one person (you) cannot carry the weight of spiritual holiness. It wasn’t God’s design for you. Be patient and wait for the Lord to put the right person in your life. It’s better to be alone than outside God’s will.

Here are a few Scriptures to consider as you are assessing his walk with the Lord:

• Sexual morality. Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.1 Corinthians 6:18, NLT
• Work ethic. A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense. Proverbs 12:11, NLT
• Temper. A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them. Proverbs 15:18, NLT
• Engaged and active father. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather than bringing them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Ephesians 6:4, NLT
• Exhibits fruits of the Spirit. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:20, NLT

Points to Ponder:

• Is this man a Godly man? Are you willing to wait on God to bring the right person along, even if it takes years? What are the challenges you can see with that journey? How can you overcome them?