God will bring you what you are looking for in a mate, and when it is right - when the time is right and it is the right person - you will know it. I'm not saying that you'll see him or her and it will be love at first sight. But you'll know through a couple of ways, first of all, through time. You shouldn't be in a hurry because marriage is the second most important decision of your life. (The first one is to give your life to Jesus.)

I can't even begin to tell you how much the person you marry will affect your life. That's why it's good to take a long time to talk to the person you're interested in. It's important to talk to him or her about everything. I mean, if you're serious about getting married, talk about how you'll raise your children. Talk about how often you would go to church. Talk about how the other person deals with money. Talk about the kind of home environment he or she came from. (People don't realize it, but a person's home life and the way that person was raised really affects a lot of things, especially the way that person sees things - his or her viewpoints in life.)

You need to talk about a lot of things. And that takes time. Also, you'll need time to be able to identify whether or not that person is really the right one for you. You'll know through time.

Then, second, you'll know through prayer. One thing I can tell you about dating is pray, pray, pray - and then pray some more! You have to pray. Without prayer, without God's input, you're in the dark. And that's when you could get taken in by someone who is as fine as he or she can be, but just so happens to be the devil! Then who are you going to blame? You weren't praying, so now you'll have to live with that person for the rest of your life. Do you see what I'm saying?

It's important to pray while you're dating and even before you start to date someone. For example, pray about who you're about to go out with, because God might tell you right off the bat, "This is not someone you're supposed to be with." Or you might just have a witness on the inside that you need to cancel a date or some plans that you've made. Or suppose you're already in a relationship in which the other person started off following God and was right with Him, but then he or she got off-track and didn't plan to get back on track anytime soon. Well, you don't need to get off-track with that person!

That's why you have to pray and stay in God's presence. The answer to all your problems and all your questions are in God's presence. Pray and look for God's peace to guide you. God's peace will lead you, and it will calm your heart and your mind.

You need to learn to follow peace. It will let you know if everything is going well and if you're on the right track. And if you continually have that peace, it will be a testament to you that it's the right time or that this is the right person God wants you to be with.

The important thing is that you listen to God and be open to whatever He tells you to do. Your having faith in God plus patience equals God showing up. And you know when God shows up, He "shows out!" In other words, you'll be shaking your head, saying "I can't believe this. I can't believe that something this good, who has himself (or herself) this together, has been alive all this time and I never saw him (or her)."

God will blow your mind. But you need to let Him do it.

Source: God's Plan for the Single Saint by Keith A. Butler, II
Excerpt permission granted by Word of Faith Publishing