The Grown Woman's Guide to Online Dating: 5 Days of Finding God's Goodness in DatingSample

Noticing and confessing our natural impulses, desires, and temptations—and then asking God to help us see clearly—is the way to freedom. And it’s why I’m a big fan of the all-purpose prayer that can so easily be appropriated for dating: Lord, give me eyes to see.

I hope you’ll steal it.

As you’re scrolling through profiles, pray, Lord, give me eyes to see.

As you’re deciding how to respond to the guy who is into you and is a bit beyond your ideal age range: Lord, give me eyes to see.

As you’re considering the faithful friend who’d like to date you but doesn’t give you butterflies in your tummy: Lord, give me eyes to see.

It is a prayer that God loves to answer in all kinds of ways.

If he isn’t Sexiest Man Alive attractive, maybe you notice that in one of his pictures he is wearing a Special Olympics volunteer T-shirt. (Man of my dreams, if you accidentally picked up this book in your sister’s bathroom, now you know how to woo me.)

Or maybe he mentions serving as a Big Brother to a boy being raised by a single mama.

Perhaps he mentions his advocacy for that particular social issue that lights your fire.

Or maybe it’s as simple as seeing and admiring the bend of his smile or the twinkle in his eye.

I am convinced that, in any number of creative ways, the one who opened the eyes of the man born blind delights in hearing and answering the genuine prayer of our hearts, Lord, give me eyes to see.

It’s a prayer God loves to answer. And sometimes God is gracious enough to answer in easy-to-read font on our smartphones as we’re reading a man’s profile.