God had allowed me to mature and begin the process of moving into spiritual manhood.<\/a> And I began my quest to find the woman God had planned for me to marry.<\/p>\nEvery time I met a girl, the first thing I did was look at her left ring finger to see if she was available. I was on a mission. I was ready to find my wife.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s timing and planning was far superior to mine, of course. And when I met Chloe, I instantly knew my search was over. She was the one.<\/p>\n
But I noticed an interesting phenomenon. Even after Chloe and I began to date, I still found myself instinctively looking at the left hand of nearly every girl with whom I came in contact. I was not at all interested in what I might find with that glance. But my eyes were trained to look. Because as the saying goes, old habits die hard.<\/p>\n
In reality, even though I had been looking for a wife, I was not truly preparing for marriage. In fact, during most of my single years, I lived as if marriage was simply something for which I could prepare later.<\/p>\n
But wise and mature marriage preparation begins even before the first date. Because the way you view and interact with the opposite sex does not change once a serious dating or prospective marriage relationship is established.<\/p>\n
A magical transformation does not radically overtake every individual at the time a serious relationship begins. The way a man views and treats women will continue. The way a woman sees and interacts with men will persist.<\/p>\n
In other words, habits which are necessary for a strong marriage should characterize single persons as well. Because even now, in your singleness, you are preparing yourself for marriage. Some prepare well. Many, however, do not.<\/p>\n
A guy who objectifies women in his singleness because he is not serious about marriage creates extremely unhealthy and damaging patterns in his mind which will become increasingly challenging for future relationships.<\/p>\n
A girl who turns to social media for the attention she so desperately desires will inevitably struggle to be content with the attention of an individual relationship because she has been training herself to seek the approval of many.<\/p>\n
A guy who texts multitudes of girls for entertainment or turns exclusively to female friends for affirmation will struggle to resist the temptation to do so again when he becomes weary or insecure in the future.<\/p>\n
A girl who constantly flirts with guys because she enjoys the freedom of her singleness will create tension in future relationships with similar behavior.<\/p>\n
Habits like these become increasingly difficult to break when relationships begin. Because how you train yourself to view and interact with the opposite sex will necessarily impact the way that you handle those relationships in the future. Many problems that persist in marriages are planted in the fertile soil of poor preparation during the time of singleness.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it is immensely important to recognize that interactions with the opposite sex should always be respectful and intentional. Hearts should be guarded. Wisdom should be sought.<\/p>\n
Because the way you view and interact with the opposite sex does not instantly change once a serious dating or prospective marriage relationship is established.<\/p>\n
Prepare for marriage in your singleness. Create good habits now.<\/p>\n
Even before the first date.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Wise and mature marriage preparation begins even before the first date. Because the way you view and interact with the opposite sex does not change once a serious dating or prospective marriage relationship is established.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":673,"featured_media":300,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-301","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-marriage-relationships","8":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2018\/06\/singleness.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":742,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/when-i-became-a-man\/","url_meta":{"origin":301,"position":0},"title":"When I Became A Man","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"April 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"There is a dramatic difference between boyhood and manhood. It\u2019s not all that difficult to notice, because spiritual manhood is lacking in our world today. Men stand out. Men are different. Men are few and far between.","rel":"","context":"In "Marriage \/ Relationships"","block_context":{"text":"Marriage \/ Relationships","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/marriage-relationships\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/04\/daugherty-0422.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/04\/daugherty-0422.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/04\/daugherty-0422.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/04\/daugherty-0422.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/04\/daugherty-0422.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/04\/daugherty-0422.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":179,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/five-things-ive-learned-in-my-first-year-of-marriage\/","url_meta":{"origin":301,"position":1},"title":"Five Things I’ve Learned in My First Year of Marriage","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"December 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"One year ago, with sweaty palms (and nose) and a racing pulse, I stared deeply into the eyes of the woman I love and promised her that I would be the best husband I could possibly be, even though at that time I did not fully understand what that actually\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Marriage \/ Relationships"","block_context":{"text":"Marriage \/ Relationships","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/marriage-relationships\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/12\/daugherty-0472.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/12\/daugherty-0472.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/12\/daugherty-0472.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/12\/daugherty-0472.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":306,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/just-friends\/","url_meta":{"origin":301,"position":2},"title":"Just Friends","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"July 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Friendship is one of God\u2019s greatest gifts to man. In fact, friendship is a foundational component of all healthy relationships. But if not properly guarded, friendship can be extremely dangerous. That\u2019s why men and women should never truly be \"just friends.\"","rel":"","context":"In "Marriage \/ Relationships"","block_context":{"text":"Marriage \/ Relationships","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/marriage-relationships\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2018\/07\/friends1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2018\/07\/friends1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2018\/07\/friends1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2018\/07\/friends1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":120,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/why-christian-marriage-is-different\/","url_meta":{"origin":301,"position":3},"title":"Why Christian Marriage Is Different","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"June 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Weddings are not exclusive to Christians, because marriage is not exclusive to Christians. It transcends culture and time unlike nearly anything else. It has existed for millennia in a variety of cultures. And while every wedding is special its own right, Christian weddings are different. 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The day I knew my life would be forever changed. But somewhere between the day I found out we were going to be having a child and the day of her arrival\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Marriage \/ Relationships"","block_context":{"text":"Marriage \/ Relationships","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/marriage-relationships\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/06\/Pregnancy-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/06\/Pregnancy-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/06\/Pregnancy-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/06\/Pregnancy-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/06\/Pregnancy-2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":204,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/how-i-am-praying-for-my-future-children\/","url_meta":{"origin":301,"position":5},"title":"How I Am Praying for My (Future) Children","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"April 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Even though my wife and I do not currently have children (or any plans at the moment to change that fact), I have come to more fully realize the need to pray for whoever God may one day entrust to us as parents.","rel":"","context":"In "Marriage \/ Relationships"","block_context":{"text":"Marriage \/ Relationships","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/marriage-relationships\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2017\/04\/jeremiah.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2017\/04\/jeremiah.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2017\/04\/jeremiah.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2017\/04\/jeremiah.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/673"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}