5 Tips to Find Your Boaz
Finding love seems to be on the minds of a lot of people. Everyone seems to be falling in and out of love or are actively trying to find or avoid it. And to be honest, as a single woman, I sometimes grapple with the prospect of finding my own Boaz. I, for one, believe there are plenty of fish in the sea. So much so, I meet suitable men regularly, but all too often, their famous last words are "I'm more spiritual than religious." Honestly, I have no idea what this means, and frankly, if their beliefs don't include Jesus as Lord and Savior, I've learned to remove them from the dating pool.
I rationalized these things and tried to convince myself that I could witness to and convert a non-believer, but life, love, and marriage are hard enough. And when it comes to the latter, at the very least, we need to start off believing and serving the true and living God. So, what exactly should you look for in a suitable mate. Before, I used worldly standards such as looks, education, and career to determine when I identified a suitable mate. However, I would have to pivot and seek a man after God's heart to have a godly marriage. But what exactly does that look like in practice?
Here are our 5 tips To Find Your Boaz
Manage Expectations. The dating world has drastically changed since your parents and grandparents had their go. Social Media, dating sites, and apps have essentially turned dating upside down and given us a humungous pool of potential mates. So brace yourself and manage your expectations.
Make God's Criteria, Your Criteria. It may feel overwhelming when you enter the Christian dating scene for the first or the umpteenth time. The key is making your criteria God's criteria and keeping it front and center as you swipe left or right. As you navigate from swipe to chat and from phone call to date, ask yourself, do this person's conversation and life reflect the fruit of the spirit? Are they kind and gentle? Do they have peace, or are they looking for yours? Do they demonstrate self-control?
Dating Apps. Christian dating apps and others are great tools when used with discernment and tips listed above.
Local Church. Visiting other churches in your city is not only a way to diversify your learning of God; it is also a great way to expand your dating pool outside of your church home.
Ciara's Prayer. I am not seriously suggesting that you recite Ciara's prayer, but there is a lot to be said about seeking God's approval and direction before pursuing a romantic relationship. Like any other prayer, be specific. Make sure your request aligns with the character of God and compliments who he's called you to be in His Kingdom.
Now, with these tips in mind, let's talk about some tactics you might want to try to increase the odds of finding your spouse while traversing the Christian dating world.
Christian Dating Apps
Christian Mingle is one of the top-rated Christian dating sites for Christian singles looking to connect with that special someone. The site gives you the ability to hone in on the specific personalities, traits, and hobbies you have been looking for and praying for in your dating life. Dating sites and apps have burned many, but some encouraging statistics may lead you to reconsider.
29% of Christian marriages within recent years have started on Christian Mingle
Almost 3 million Christians are on the website every day
84% of its members have recommended the Christian dating website due to the success they've had in their dating life
Expand Your Radius to More Than Your Local Church
If dating websites like Christian Mingle seem too daunting and you prefer a traditional dating style, expand your local radius. Unless you attend a mega-church with a dating pool of thousands of people, you should consider expanding beyond your church home. Start with a 20 to 30-mile radius. Or consider visiting different churches when you travel. Like Ruth, you may find your Boaz in a land unfamiliar to you.
Pray For Your Partner
Prayer is and always will be your best tool for winning at Christian dating. God knows your heart's desire for a partner, but more importantly, he knows who you need in a partner to become who He's called you to be. Pray for your future spouse and pray with incredible specificity. Our God is faithful. If he did it for Ciara, He could do it for you!