When I was in high school, one of my friends gave me a Grow-A-Date. I went along with the joke and placed the foamy man in water, and after I waited patiently for the water to do its job, he expanded.

Instant man. Instant date.

If only it were that simple.

I was thinking about Mr. Grow-A-Date recently, and it reminded me of how God is preparing a husband for me. God must grow my future husband into a man of godly character and integrity, so he will be the kind of man I’m waiting for. Likewise, God has to shape me into the type of woman the man I’m waiting and praying for will want to marry.

While I wait for God to grow a date that will someday become my mate, there are several verses of scripture that I use as the basis of my prayers for that man.

• Colossians 3:12 -“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

 

• Philippians 1:9-11- “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

 

• Colossians 1:9-12- “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified youto share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”

Just as Mr. Grow-A-Date soaks up water and expands, I pray my future husband will absorb these truths into his life and grow to be the person God has called him to be.

I pray that I will do the same.