Introduction: The Five Stages of Relationships

I thought I would start a devotional mini-series entitled The Five Stages of Relationships. Trust me, I am not going to say what you think I’m going to say, but it is going to be fun very thought provoking.

What I want to do is give you a synopsis of the stages of relationships and how to transition from each stage: Friendship, Dating, Courting, Engagement and Marriage. So as you can see, this will be a five part devotional and I believe it is going to be an exciting one. But before I start the devotional I want to lay the foundation. This way, the devotional will make a lot of sense to you and you will be able to understand relationships according to God’s way.

First, let’s understand that God is very orderly. Also, it is safe to say that God hates confusion, which is the opposite of order: Corinthians 14:33 states – For God is not the author of confusion, put peace. When things are in order, peace prevails. When things are out of order, confusion, strife and unrest prevails.

There is always a process to getting things in order. For example, when God created man he created him AFTER he made everything else. Adam was not formed first. He had to have a place to live, an atmosphere to look at, and food to eat. First, God took dust from the ground. He then formed it into his image and blew within him the breath of life. Can you see the order? Can you see the process? God did not just pick up a lump of dirt, squeezed it and told it to walk. God went through the process of forming and shaping man, choosing to create him in his very own image and blowing His Spirit in man. God does not just haphazardly throw things together.

And neither should you!

You should be just as careful and patient when it comes to your relationships. You should learn to take the time to gather people that reflect the qualities you desire and need in your life.

I want to reiterate that this series will come from a godly perspective – not the world’s perspective. God sees relationships in a totally different light than this world’s system.

I know…I know, you’re thinking – BOORRRING! But I guarantee you it will not be. Plus you may be thinking that all I’m going to do is say – NO SEX, NO SEX, NO SEX! Ok, maybe once (or twice) but not in the vain in which you think.

I’m going to provoke you to take a deeper look into how you choose people in your life. My goal is that you have healthier, more vibrant, more loving, more caring relationships – both plutonic and intimate. I hope and pray that those of you who are contemplating getting into a serious relationship will have a better understanding of what to look for in a person. Men – I would like you to choose a great quality woman. Women – I would like you to say yes to a strong, great, quality man. Single people, you will learn your roll in this thing called relationships. Married people, my prayer is that your marriage will be strong, focused, healed and full of peace and love.

No more settling! No more excuses!