If you desire marriage and God has not brought such an opportunity your way, He may want you to use this time to increase in readiness and growth.

A Checklist For Productive Singleness

_____ I have learned what it means to be still and rest in the Lord. I am allowing Him to continually cultivate patience in me.

_____ I have a working Bible study plan/Bible reading routine that fits my personality and lifestyle.

_____ My relationship with Jesus is one where I invest time and closeness, and receive His love for me and employ His power in me. More and more, I am understanding how He is enough.

_____ My prayer life is filled with rich variety – incorporating times of thanksgiving, confession, intercession, praise, listening, meditation, and Scripture. I ask Him to put the right desires in my heart when it comes to singleness and future romance.

_____ I regularly enjoy looking for the Creator to reveal Himself to me through His Word and through creation.

_____ I understand that God knows what I need better than I do, and I recognize the temptation to turn to things and to people to meet my longings, in place of God. I regularly investigate my life for such idols because I know they dishonor God; steal my joy, peace, and influence; and they can damage my relationships.

_____ I have a plan in place to help me cope with my vulnerabilities (loneliness; sexual desire; being with other couples; going to weddings; being pressured by peers; feeling self-pity; having doubts; thinking negative thoughts; etc.). And I have a plan in place to heal from the past so that I can overcome bitterness, hurt, anger, and un-forgiveness, etc.

_____ I have learned to turn to Him to give me the amount of provision, security, and adventure that I desire.

_____ I am more preoccupied with where Jesus is calling me to serve others than doubting God’s plan for my love life.

_____ I recognize that the media and marketers are constantly trying to make me believe that I’m nothing more than a package of hormones. Instead, I live like I’m free from that degrading limitation (because thanks to Him I am).

_____ My personal development includes all of me (not just my sexuality), and I care about my growth in all areas. (emotions; thoughts; fruits of the Spirit; obedience; character; aptitude; education; work ethic; heart; weaknesses; relationships with friends and family; physical health; loving and giving; purity and holiness; etc.)

_____I have reached a place of peace where I can accept my singleness as a good thing. I believe my singleness is a gift from God – for today, possibly for tomorrow, and for a small number of people, maybe even for always. Therefore, I place my singleness in His hands one day at a time.

_____ When I see others who are facing loneliness, I care for them and encourage them to remember that the God who is love is always with them and never leaves them.

_____ Others are seeing me do singleness well because of His Spirit in me, and this brings Him glory and helps others.

_____ I am willing to operate within these singleness goals until the Lord says it’s time to move to the next season of my life.

“As the Lord has called each one, so let him walk.”(1 Cor. 7:17)