3 Myths About Courtship

Let’s debunk these myths, shall we….
Myth 1. You Don’t Have to Prepare for a Courtship.
Many people believe that the only relationship necessary to prepare for is marriage. However, how can one prepare for marriage and completely skip the fact that there’s a huge step you must take before you say “I do”- Courtship. Courtship, which is considered “righteous dating” because it is done from a place of purity,  is a huge step!
It’s a time and a season of life that needs to be taken VERY seriously. When you prepare for courtship, you’re ultimately preparing for marriage. How, you ask? Your preparation should include learning the importance of sobriety, discipline, honor, respect for yourself and your significant other, integrity, communication and purity! These are all aspects that, if you train yourself in them before courtship, will be strengthened through courtship, thereby laying the foundation for a stable marriage.
As my pastor always says: “Things don’t go wrong, they start wrong.” If you’re not intentional about preparing for each season of your life, it is highly likely that you won’t succeed in the capacity God wants you to because of your lack of intentional preparation.
Myth 2. Boundaries? No One Needs Those!
I speak with people all the time about the importance of boundaries, not just in courting relationships, but in general, and the response I always receive is “I never knew how important boundaries are!” Let me warn you, if you desire to live to the standard of the word of God and you want to walk in complete purity in your courtship … YOU NEED BOUNDARIES!
“The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,” and this will surely hold true as you grow in relationship with a person you desire to marry. Think about it; you’re attracted to this person, you become comfortable, you let down your guard, you may already know you’re headed in the direction of marriage … it’s extremely easy to have a slip-up if you’re not careful.
To lessen the chances of this happening, set up a few clear boundaries. For example:

• End nighttime phone calls by 11 p.m.
• Don’t spend the night at each other’s houses.
• Set a curfew for yourself!
• No kissing – To each his own, but this helped my courtship stay pure!

Myth 3. It’s Easy!
Lie, lie, lie, lie and lie again, ha! Courtship is extremely hard at times … well, if you do it God’s way, of course. Let me give you the reality from someone who is actually walking through it. First, there’s no sex involved in courtship. Sex can be a blinder that excuses a person’s behavior; since this is not the case, you get to feel the reality of a person’s dysfunctions. Second, you must remain sober through your courtship, not overlooking issues that need to be addressed, working through your own insecurities and heart issues. If this isn’t your first relationship, you may have to work through some more healing from issues you had in your past relationship that you thought were gone.
Finally, you are tested over and over again in your ability to love purely and soberly and to REMAIN in the season you’re in. Remember, you’re not married yet, so marriage privileges cannot be given.
I’ll end with this tad bit of wisdom – Ladies, he must pursue you through the entire courtship. Fellas, she needs to remain in a place of being led and not becoming controlling. If these two things are not happening, you may want to have an honest conversation; you may want to even include a married couple for accountability.
So, there you go! Courtship is beautiful, but I think it’s important for people to see the reality and not just the roses and lovey-dovey moments! Have fun and enjoy!