The Weekly Link: Dating

I wish all girls (and even guys) could hear the talk that Adam Donyes gave this week on dating relationships! While I am neither in or looking for a relationship I still found the things he said helpful and inspiring.

When should I date? Many people answer this with an age but Adam said there isn’t a specific time or age. He believes one should date the reason to date is not physical and when your security is in Christ. It’s so important that we find our security in Christ before we begin dating because no one else will EVER fulfill you or sustain you other than Christ.

Master

Girls if they don’t love their master, they won’t ever be able to love you. Love described as a feeling, but love is Not a feeling, love is a commitment; lust is a feeling. Ephesians 5 speaks about the love a husband should have for his wife. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and   gave himself up for her” –Ephesians 5:25 That right there is a powerful verse, husbands are called to love their wife as Christ loved the church! This love is an unconditional love that is only found in the context of marriage.

Mission

Often times the more we chase a relationship with others the less we chase Christ. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and   sin which clings so closely, and   let us run   with endurance the race that is   set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,  who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising   the shame, and   is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. “ -Hebrews 12:1-2 Our relationships with others should be an overflow of our relationship with Christ. We often drown out God’s voice by those we are infatuated with, but we have to let God be the voice in our life.

Mate

Relationships are meant to increase your relationship with the Lord, not decrease.

Genesis 2:18 tells us “the Lord God said,   "It is not good that the man should be alone;  I will make him a helper fit for   him." Relationships are not bad, we were designed for them, but our relationship with the Lord should come before all other relationships. We need to have a mate that loves the Lord and encourages us to seek the Lord daily.

Girls, don’t marry POTENTIAL, marry PROVEN CHARACTER! Don’t even DATE potential. This concept is near and dear to  heart. Girls DO NOT SETTLE! Girls are TREASURES and we should be treated like treasure. This is something that Adam stresses both to the girls and the guys and I definitely agree with.Be patient. It's so easy to get caught up in wanting to "feel loved" and wanting a boyfriend/husband, but we can't let the desires of our flesh drown out the voice of the Lord and cause us to settle. 

Find your identity in Christ, not in a boy.

RUN!
Run to the cross and don’t let any guy pull you back.