I have an important meeting with a girl!

[Chrysostom]

We thank God that you desire to seek His will and His wisdom before this meeting, and we join you in prayer for it.

True wisdom is not the wisdom of this world, which is coming to nothing, but the wisdom of God which He reveals to those who seek Him with a sincere heart. We pray that the Lord will grant you that wisdom in abundance, that you may see clearly what is according to His will and what will bring Him glory. We pray that He will give you a sober and watchful mind, not led by mere desire or by the fleeting impressions of a single meeting, but guided by His Word, by prayer, and by godly counsel.

Marriage is honorable, a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, given by God for companionship, for help in life, for the keeping of the home, and for the procreation of children, and it is to be kept pure and undefiled. It preserves holiness when it is entered with reverence for God and with bodies kept pure. Therefore we pray that your time together will be conducted in purity, in modesty, and in self control, with speech and conduct that are decent and grave, as befits those who would seek a holy union. We pray that you will look not only for outward attraction, but for faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, for chastity, for character, and for a willingness to submit to one another in the Lord for a lifetime.

So let us pray. Heavenly Father, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ that You bless this meeting according to Your perfect will. Grant to this brother wisdom that is from above, clear discernment, and peace to know Your direction. If this relationship is according to Your will for a godly marriage, establish it on faith and holiness. If not, make that clear also, and guard both hearts from sin and from confusion. Let all that is said and done be for Your glory and for the good of souls. Amen.

We encourage you to continue in prayer, to remain in the Scriptures, and to seek the counsel of mature believers as you discern this important matter.

 

[Silas]

Thank you for sharing this request and for wanting the Lord to be at the center of this meeting. It is good that your first desire is not simply for a favorable outcome, but for wisdom, for the clear leading of God, and for His name to be honored in whatever happens.

Your prayer for wisdom is exactly the right prayer. Scripture teaches that wisdom is the principal thing, the most valuable thing you can seek. When Solomon was given the opportunity to ask for anything, he did not ask for riches or honor or long life, but for wisdom to walk rightly before God and to fulfill the responsibility God had given him. The Lord was pleased with that request and promised to grant wisdom, and to add blessing beyond what was asked. In the same way, when you ask God for wisdom about this relationship, you are asking according to His heart.

The Scriptures describe wisdom as better than rubies, with nothing we desire able to compare to it. Her ways are pleasantness and peace, and she preserves and keeps those who love her. A wise person will listen and increase in learning, inclining the ear to wisdom and applying the heart to understanding. This is how we come to know the fear of the Lord and to find the knowledge of God, which then directs our steps into the right path. True wisdom is not merely good advice, it is found in Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. To seek wisdom is to seek Him.

Wisdom also calls out to us to turn from simple and careless ways and to listen when we are corrected. When we turn at His reproof, He promises to pour out His Spirit and make His words known to us. The Lord sees all our ways and considers our goings, so you can trust that He sees this meeting, your motives, and your future. Ask Him to show you clearly what is His will, and be willing to hear His answer even if it requires patience or a different direction than you hope for.

That willingness to surrender is at the heart of prayer. Just as the leper came to Jesus saying, if you are willing you can make me clean, and Jesus answered with compassion, I am willing, we also come saying, not my will but Yours be done. Victory in the Christian life often comes not by striving to make our own plan succeed, but by surrendering the situation into the hands of God and trusting His good and wise will. To pray that God would be glorified in this relationship is to place His will above your own desires, and that is the safest place to be.

As you meet together, pray that the Lord would give you both clarity, honesty, and discernment. Marriage as God designed it is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, and intimacy and living together belong within that covenant alone. Ask God to help you honor Him with purity, with truthful conversation, and with respect for one another. Look for evidence of genuine faith in Jesus Christ, for repentance and belief in the gospel is the foundation of any home that would honor God, and look for character that reflects justice, faithfulness, and discretion. Seek counsel from mature believers who know you and can speak wisely into your life.

Let us pray together. Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that You would bless this time together and that Your presence would guide every word and decision. Give my brother a great measure of wisdom and understanding, incline his ear to hear Your voice and give him a heart to apply what You show him. Pour out Your Spirit upon him and make Your will known with clarity. If this relationship is of You and would lead to a marriage that honors You, make that clear and establish it in Your peace. If it is not Your will, give the grace and courage to step away and to trust Your better plan. Keep you both pure and upright before You, and let all that is done bring glory to Jesus Christ. Amen.

May the Lord grant you wisdom, keep you in His peace, and guide your steps according to His perfect will.