As Christians, we want every sphere of our lives to represent Christ. Not to mention, he is the best possible adviser, so consulting with Him before making any decision is smart. Prayer is a wonderful tool, and since dating is such an important, yet often complicated, area of life, it is good to ask yourself a question: What to pray for before you start dating?
Prayer is nothing but talking to God. Isn’t it incredible? We can talk to the King of kings, the creator of the world! It means He knows us – He knows your heart, and your biggest desires. And if you want to start dating and thinking of marriage, He is ready to hear it. Playing it cool and hiding your true desires is pointless – He is your Father. He knows your heart and its depths.
With this being said, let’s talk about the most important areas you need to talk out with God and ask Him for, before you’ll even consider anybody as a partner. It is good to protect your heart and the hearts of others. There is no rush!
What to Pray for Before You Start Dating? List of 7
There are essentially 7 things that are worth praying for before you start your love life. All of these prayers ensure your heart is in the right place, and you are ready to do it all Jesus style. If you want to learn how to date Jesus style, check out this article.
1. Heart that seeks Him first
When looking for a spouse, we often are dragged into the culture that glorifies romance and love understood as a whirlwind of feelings. It is easy to get lost and forget the real creator and designer of marriage, and therefore romantic love.
Pray for your heart to always be focused on God, even in the midst of emotional intensity. This way, your heart will be set on Him, and it will be much easier to hear His voice during dating. Because believe me, sometimes it gets hard to be sensitive to what He is saying – especially when you’re in love!
2. Wisdom
The whole book of Proverbs tells us multiple times to ask for wisdom, and it will be given to us. Romanitc sphere of life needs us to be wise the most – it is easy to make a mistake that will harm not only us, but also other people involved.
Having values and rules rooted in Christ is the key to success. If you know whom you’re looking for and are full of Godly wisdom, your dating will be safe, and the hearts of all involved will not be broken.
3. Patience to Wait on God’s Timing
Waiting can be hard. Especially when you truly want to get married – the sooner, the better. Yet, God knows when you’re ready and He has a beautiful plan for you – even if it might arrive later than you would like 🙂
Rushed and desperate decisions never pay off. That’s why asking God to give you patience in dating is so important. And a side note from my own experience: you will meet your spouse in the least expected moment (or sometimes place too!).
4. Eyes to See Red Flags Clearly
Some red flags are hard to spot. But somebody wise told me that you should keep your eyes wide open while dating, and then squint them when married. It makes sense! Choosing with whom you want to spend the rest of your life is not a piece of cake.
You should think it through and not let your eyes be blinded by emotions. If you pray for wisdom and openness in the area beforehand, you can avoid unpleasant situations.
So, what to pray for before dating – open eyes, and a heart serving God!
5. Courage to Walk Away
Sadly, during dating you might encounter a person or two that are not spouse material. And it’s okay, as long as you can freely walk away. Of course, you don’t want to hear anybody’s feelings. But sometimes, it is necessary in order to protect your heart.
Dating is not playing around – it’s actively looking for a spouse whom God is calling you to marry. Staying in a relationship (or even worse, “situationshop”) knowing well this person is not the one is harmful both for you, and them. How to know if this person is or isn’t “the one”? Check my article on recognizing God’s voice while dating.
Saying “no” and moving on when you’re emotionally invested is hard. That’s why praying for strength and courage in this area is so important.
6. Grace and Guidance to Become the Spouse Material
Dating is not only about you looking for a spouse material – it’s also about you becoming one! I would even say that becoming the right person can help you attract the right person. We are like magnets, so if you want a spiritually mature and Godly focused spouse, become such a person.
Growing in faith never stops, yet time before marriage is crucial to invest in yourself. Whatever you’ve learnt (or didn’t learn, too), you will bring into your relationship. Remember this truth in your prayers.
7. The Person Who Loves God More Than Anything
Physical preferences, or even character qualities, are, of course, important, but nobody will make such a wonderful husband/wife as a person fully committed to God. This is the number one thing to look for – not shallow or comfortable Christianity, but devoted and powerful following of Christ. The rest is just a bonus.
Because a person like that will always try their best to love and respect you, even in the moments you do not deserve it. Because the healthy, God-rooted marriage is exactly it: a representation of Christ and the church. Pick somebody who will show this picture with you well.
I’m praying for you and your dating journey!
Are you praying for your future relationship? Let me know which point speaks to you the most.