Know your boundaries-  Know where you stand on controversial issues that might cause temptation in a dating situation.  If you are not a drinker, are you going to be able to tolerate someone who does decide to have an alcoholic beverage on a date?  be prepared to let your date know how you feel about certain issues before they arise and make you feel uncomfortable.

Turn it over to God- When I was looking for the “One”, I never found him or anyone for that matter! I prayed to God and told him I wasn’t looking anymore, and that I was leaving this dating stuff to him. Because I haven’t been preoccupied with trying to find a significant other, I have been really living! I have had time to explore new hobbies and learn new skills. This has led me to meet so many people and ironically, more men, which has cultivated more dates.

Dress for Success- I spent 5 years wanting to find the “One”, but didn’t care about how I looked. I went out of the house clad in sloppy clothes, sweatshirts and my hair on top of my head. How many dates did I have in 5 years? 2. In the past year, I haven’t left the house without a shower, wearing nothing but my best clothes and makeup. How many dates have I had in the past month? Too many to count. When you dress up, you feel better about yourself and it shows. People are attracted to others who take care of themselves.

Stay Healthy- Your body is God’s temple. Remember to eat healthy, exercise and nix any bad habits that might be a turn off from the opposite sex. There is nothing worse than going on a date with someone who thinks of their body as a tomb of destruction and wants to take you with them on the journey.

Get involved- If you like gardening, take a class at your local arboretum. Join a young professional singles group, take a class at the local community college small business center, sign up for karate, volunteer at a local hospital or take sailing lessons. The more interactions you have with other people, the more likely you will be to meet others with the same interests.

Pray, Pray, Pray! God thinks you are incredible. He made you in his likeness and wants your heart to be filled with love. Ask him to help you on your journey and be a guide to finding the right partner.

As an active Southern Baptist all her life, Nicole Wilkinson has been a helper through mission trips and community volunteering. When she began to invest in her own health in March 2008 with weight loss and smoking cessation, she shed 100 pounds and gained 100 experiences worth sharing.  Her weight loss unveiled a new world for her but what kind of world is it for a Christian single? Follow her journey and find some roadmaps of your own. Nicole is an art professor in the North Carolina Community College system and lives in Wilmington with her two fat cats. 

To read more about Nicole's dating journey, CLICK HERE!!