Meeting someone who inspires a man or woman to embrace their true femininity and masculinity changes things. It’s a missing key that helps build strong relationships that lead to strong marriages. And there is an ongoing dialogue taking place on social media these days regarding this subject.

There are a lot of people listening and weighing in on the commentary about dating in this day & age for all age groups. And I would hope that it is a subject matter that we are dealing with, within the walls of the church with our teens as well as our young & more seasoned adults.

I’ve been listening and reading many good, sound, and respectable opinions out in social media from within and without the church. However, from a biblical perspective, what can/should one do to:

• develop a new mindset to only DATE-to-MARRY?

• fulfill the biblical standard for marriage?

• inspire a woman to switch from “SURVIVAL mode” to “SUBMISSIVE mode?”

• inspire a man to switch from “EFFEMINATE mode” to “LEADING MAN mode?”

• educate & motivate young adults to commit to marriage versus living together?

• motivate & encourage youth to use the first 7 years (18-25yo) of young adulting to: 

   – work through and separate the good from the bad learned in childhood

    – define who they want to be apart from the examples they saw in their developing years

    – learn what their strengths & weaknesses are & develop strong & positive personal character

    – explore educational options that best fit them, their personality, and the lifestyle they want: college, trades, military, training certificates, on-the-job training, etc.

    – set life goals for each 10 year gap (20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s), and establish principled boundaries before having children/marrying.

• not vow to marry anyone they are not willing to grow with, change with, fight for, and totally remove divorce as an option? 

In hindsight, though, there is a more important question for those still wanting and waiting to make the wedding walk to the altar. And that is:

Are you willing to switch gears intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically to build a biblically strong, healthy foundation within yourself that will equip you to build and maintain a strong, healthy family unit?

Only you can answer that…