People date with a future in mind. No one wants to exclusively commit to a relationship that doesn\u2019t yield a future or that goes nowhere. Your time, love and heart is too precious to waste. So how does one date for marriage?<\/p>\n
1. \u201cGrow up\u201d<\/strong> 2. \u201cKnow your worth\u201d<\/strong> 3. \u201cKnow what kind of a partner you need\u201d<\/strong> 4. \u2018Possess the qualities you are looking for\u201d<\/strong> 5. \u201cEngage socially\u201d<\/strong> 6. \u201cEstablish your no go zones\u201d<\/strong> 7. \u201cHave friends of the opposite sex\u201d<\/strong> 8 \u201cBe faithful even when single\u201d<\/strong> 9. \u201cEnjoy you\u201d<\/strong> 10. \u201cDon\u2019t confuse \u2018like\u2019 with marriage material\u201d<\/strong> 11. \u201cDon\u2019t rush\u201d<\/strong> 12. \u201cKnow before committing\u201d<\/strong> 13. \u201cCommit and allow\u201d<\/strong> 14. \u201cTalk more than lovey dovey stuff\u201d<\/strong> 15. \u201cPay attention to your heart, gut and instincts\u201d<\/strong> 16. \u201cInvolve your family and friends\u201d<\/strong> 17. \u201cDon\u2019t forget you\u201d<\/strong> 18. \u201cBe honest\u201d<\/strong> 19. \u201cTalk about the future, ask questions\u201d<\/strong> 20. \u201cListen to people\u2019s advice but make your own choices\u201d 21. \u201cBuild the right foundation\u201d<\/strong> 22. \u201cSeek God\u2019s guidance constantly\u201d<\/strong> 23. \u201cBe responsible with people\u2019s hearts\u201d<\/strong> 24. \u201cRemember no relationship is perfect\u201d<\/strong> 25. \u201cRemember this is long term\u201d<\/strong> 26. \u201cDon\u2019t be misled by sex\u201d<\/strong> 27. \u201cDating doesn\u2019t mean marriage is a must\u201d<\/strong> 28. \u201cMarry because you are right for each other, not because you have invested together in the past\u201d<\/strong> –<\/p>\n Credit: Capital<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" People date with a future in mind. No one wants to exclusively commit to a relationship that doesn\u2019t yield a future or that goes nowhere. Your time, love and heart is too precious to waste. So how does one date for marriage? 1. \u201cGrow up\u201d Love is for the brave and marriage for the grown. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":137241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[51],"yoast_head":"\n
\nLove is for the brave and marriage for the grown. If you desire it you need to be ready.<\/p>\n
\nThis way you will choose the best for you and you will see yourself as being the best for someone.<\/p>\n
\nWhen you know your destination you will know which route goes there. When you know the kind of family you need, you will know the qualities in a spouse required to have that kind of family. Be specific. Trust in God, let love surprise you.<\/p>\n
\nWhatever qualities you want in a spouse, have them too.<\/p>\n
\nYou will not find that person or be found by that person if you don\u2019t connect with people. Chat online, make friends, talk with people, go where good people hang out. Be open minded.<\/p>\n
\nHave things you will not compromise, like you will not date or marry someone who doesn\u2019t share the same faith in God as you, an alcoholic, a flirt, or someone who is married.<\/p>\n
\nThis will help you to learn how to relate with someone of the opposite sex. It prepares you for that special someone. This will also make sure you choose well having known many because a lover starts off as a friend. The danger of isolating yourself from people of the opposite sex is that the moment one of them does any good to you, you choose that person even though that person is not right for you.<\/p>\n
\nIf you expect to be faithful in marriage, be faithful when you\u2019re single. Don\u2019t be casual with yourself. Have the same standards you desire to have in marriage.<\/p>\n
\nLove your singlehood, it is a season that will go. Love you and be happy with you so that you won\u2019t jump into a relationship to cover up the mess you are.<\/p>\n
\nYou like someone, there will be people who will catch your attention. But be objective, that person may be fun and pleasant but like is not enough to build a marriage.<\/p>\n
\nWhen you meet that person you connect with in a deeper way, when it\u2019s more than like and you are sure you are on to something lasting; don\u2019t rush. Many times a good love is rushed and ends up burning the two. Love takes time to brew.<\/p>\n
\nSufficiently know the person before committing, know what you are getting yourself into. See if you are on the same page, if your idea of what love, sex, marriage, parenthood, responsibility and life is similar. How can two walk together unless they agree?<\/p>\n
\nIf both your hearts are well-aligned and love is growing, commit and stop living like a single person. Let your lover in on your life and who you are.<\/p>\n
\nBe real. Talk more than \u201cI love you\u201d, do more than fancy dates. Get to each other\u2019s inner secrets, talk about issues, life, be transparent. Trust each other.<\/p>\n
\nNotice any red flags and act, pay attention to your spirit. Not because you doubt your lover, but because your garden is delicate and should be protected from the little foxes that come to destroy your young love. Be alert and sensitive, accommodate each other.<\/p>\n
\nIntroduce each other to your family and friends, let each other in your daily life. Family and friends will cover you and look out for you. Their blessing and insight matters.<\/p>\n
\nYes, you are so in love but don\u2019t forget to build you. Don\u2019t lose yourself. Go on, advance your career, go to school, start your business, be the best you. You should always be making progress whether you are single or with someone; in fact, true love pushes you to be more.<\/p>\n
\nWhen your feelings are hurt by your lover, be honest. When something doesn\u2019t sit right with you, be honest. Don\u2019t pretend you are happy just to please your lover, you will eventually explode and despise your lover for the issues unattended to. True love is about truth. Be honest about the good and bad in your love. But don\u2019t complain, don\u2019t attack or nag but rather use honesty to better your love.<\/p>\n
\nEnvision the future together, where are you heading? Dig deeper, come to decisions and act on them.<\/p>\n
\nSeek advice to make informed choices. Some might approve of you two or not. But you know your lover and yourself best.<\/p>\n
\nMarriage is possible but a good marriage needs a good foundation. Establish good communication, nurture good habits, agree on dos and don\u2019ts, set the right love culture.<\/p>\n
\nThis one you should do right from the start. The Lord reveals things progressively, seek God until you reach the place you are sure being husband and wife is God\u2019s will. What God has joined together, let no one put asunder. Has God joined you two?<\/p>\n
\nWhether you are single or dating, be responsible. Don\u2019t cause heartbreaks intentionally. Minimize causing heartbreaks because sometimes you will break someone\u2019s heart when you choose not to date them or because the right thing to do is to break up. You can\u2019t stay or be with someone because you feel sorry for them.<\/p>\n
\nThere will be challenges, misunderstandings, moods, highs, lows, trials, disappointments in your relationship; but remember, love is two imperfect people growing together.<\/p>\n
\nPray together, be patient. Grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, financially. Growth takes time. Don\u2019t lose sight of the bigger picture.<\/p>\n
\nSome stay in the wrong relationship just because they are getting good sex. Stay objective. Sex can blind you and trap you. It can make you stay in a relationship that is dead or wrong. Soon, the relationship ends with regret or with you having a child and the father running away or years of your life wasted in the name of sex leading to retrogressive emptiness.<\/p>\n
\nYes, you dated with marriage in mind. But sometimes dating reveals just how much you two are not compatible. Sometimes a relationship ends, not because of wrong done or unfaithfulness, but because the two are not meant to be. The love you had was for a season but still a blessing.<\/p>\n
\nMarry because you are sure you\u2019re right for each other, because your future is brighter than the colorful past you have spent dating.<\/p>\n