This is because one of the most dangerous, exciting, and satisfying journeys of life is the adventure of finding and learning to love one person, and love them well.
One contemporary author who writes a great deal about love is Debra K. Fileta. She is a regular relationship columnist for Relevant Magazine. Read her article: Here's How to Find True LoveI'd like to get some dialogue running about Fileta's three concepts of dating inward, outward, and upward.
After reading about dating upward in her article, here are some questions I think that are worth exploring:
How does a normal teen actually do this?
What does it practically mean to allow God's "definition of love to permeate your relationships"?
How will dating look differently if God is involved?
Love is cool. True love is hard to find but when you do you never let it go. Some people want to make the most of it but it is the hardest thing in the world to tame. -Aaron
ReplyDeleteLove is very complicated. Love is also very hard to find and maintain. Staying in a good relationship is hard, some people think that a relationship without fighting is amazing, but it's not you have to fight in your relationships, because it makes the times you don't fight, way better and more memorable. -Madison M.
ReplyDeleteLove can be expressed through many different ways. It can be found in books or movies or tv shows or even in your own household.
ReplyDeleteLove would be a different story if god was involved because then every person would be with their dream guy or girl and everything would be perfect. Yes, its okay to try and have a perfect relationship but relationships need ups and downs to fully understand and love the person.
ReplyDeleteLove is different when God is involved. You need to accept that you are loved by God and that you are wiling to extend this love to others. This means inviting God into your heart and letting him guide you through your relationship.
ReplyDeletePerfectly said
DeleteHow a Normal Teen Would Date Upward…
ReplyDeleteMy first thought on this, is that Upward dating shouldn't come last but that it should come first. Before you dating others and even before you try to figure yourself out, you need to understand what God says about love and you. Then as a teen who is going into high school and learning more and more about yourself you need be in the Bible every day praying and having a relationship with God. Then one of the most overlooked things that you need, is Christian fellowship. This is not just hanging out with people, but spending quality time with other believers who will help you in your walk with Jesus; people who share the same beliefs and who encourage you to do and be your best. One of the most important things, is to do what the Holy Spirit is telling you. Do what the Bible says to do.
How Dating Would Look With God…
Today dating is used to gain popularity, look cool and, sadly, as an excuse for inappropriate actions that shouldn't happen outside of marriage. If God were a part of dating, to me, it would be both persons first having an intimate relationship with God and putting God first. It would be listening to what the Holy Spirit tells you and acting upon it. It would be Christian fellowship, and being is the Scriptures daily. (Leaving all inappropriate actions out.) In short it would be all the things you do to honor God first and then your spouse.
-My Name
Very true. When we got our hearts connected to our Father first we find that, like Jesus said, “all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33.
DeleteLove is something that will be with us for the rest of our lives. There are many things to love such as letting God into our lives to help us find our paths. By doing this God will guide us through each and every relationship showing us the bad/ good ones and how to make progress from the bad ones/ better ourselves and leading onto to better, future relationships. And we might not always feel loved, but there is one person who will always love us and that's God. - Serena
ReplyDeleteWhen you can find your Rock in God’s love, like you said, you can be in such a better position to walk through the challenges that human love comes with.
Delete'How will dating look differently if God is involved?'
ReplyDeleteGod will guide you with your relationship and giving Him your heart. Doing this would help lean towards more pure love with you and God, along with the relationship you have.
Love can be very tricky. Sometimes it take a little bit of time to finally get it under control. When God helps us tho it can be much easier. We just need to trust in him and know that what he is telling us to do is for our best interest. ~Hallie Harder
ReplyDeleteSo true. Sometimes it’s hard to believe He has our best interest in mind, especially when He wants us to wait on things. But it’s cool to realize that love and romance are all His idea and He knows the best way for it to work, and that His ways lead to the best relationships.
DeleteI believe dating upward as a teenager would involve putting God first in the relationship. This means asking God if the man you desire is the one God desires for you. This step is difficult for many people because it is putting your trust in God before trusting your hearts desires.
ReplyDeleteThe love of God should be present in the relationship with you and your partner.It should manifest within both people. This love will be strong because their foundation would be Christ.
When God is involved in the relationship your relationship has a strong foundation. There is a fonder trust and a stable love. When your main priority is God, God will bless both of you and the relationship. It will be something inexplicable and very outstanding. It would be an amazing journey to experience.
Well said. I’ve found over time that as my heart grew more toward the Lord, my heart’s desires became just more naturally for the things of God. So, my dating preferences simply changes and I couldn’t even imagine pursuing a girl that didn’t know the Lord like me. So, in a cool way, God fulfilled my heart’s desires because progressively they became the same as His desires.
DeleteHow will dating look differently if God is involved?I feel like love wouldn't be any different. I think this way because God is already with us and he always will be.But at the same time I think it would be hard for couples to find each others true colors and to see how each other really are.
ReplyDeleteI think dating would be a lot different if God was involved. I think that the relationship would go much slower, getting to know the person more.
ReplyDeleteThat’s exactly how it was with my wife and me when we were dating. We just had a longer range vision so we weren’t pushing the physical part of the relationship too fast. That being said, it’s natural to want to be close when you’re in love and that’s true even with followers of Jesus. The difference is that they have a different perspective and have the Holy Spirit to give them self-control. Not that this is easy, but we have a power source in the Spirit to help us.
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