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5 Ways To Win In Dating

1. Do not play the dating game Judges 15:1-2 Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said, "I'm going to my wife's room." But her father would not let him go in. 2 "I was so sure you thoroughly hated her," he said, "that I gave her to your friend. Isn't her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.(NIV)

Judges 16:1 One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. (NIV)

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. (NIV)

2. Do not sleep around 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 6:18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. (NLT)

1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (NLT)

3. Take time to get to know the person Judges 16:4-5 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, "See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver." (NIV)

DATING CHECKLIST

1. Are they a Christ Follower? 2 Corinthians 6:14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? (NLT)

2. Do you share the same core values? 

3. Can you negotiate differences? 

4. How does the person handle conflict?

5. How do they handle challenging or difficult relationships?

6. How do they handle suffering, loss and grief?

7. How do they interact and treat their family and friends?

8. How do they handle money?

9. How do they respond when they’re hungry, angry, tired, hurting and lonely?

10. What is their daily outlook on life?

Winning Advice When Getting To Know Someone

1. Do not ignore the red flags

2. Do not believe issues will automatically work themselves out over time

3. Do not believe that you will change the person

4. Seek out godly and wise counsel

Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. (NIV)

Proverbs 4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (NIV)

Proverbs 12:15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. (NIV)

Proverbs 4:1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. (NIV)

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. (NIV)

Judges 16:15-16 Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven't told me the secret of your great strength." 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death. (NIV)

5. Be it so you can receive it Numbers 6:5-6 "During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the Lord is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. 6 Throughout the period of his separation to the Lord he must not go near a dead body.

Judges 14:8-9 Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion's carcass. In it was a swarm of bees and some honey, 9 which he scooped out with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion's carcass. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 9:24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV)

Proverbs 18:24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (NLT)

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (NIV)

3 Qualities of a Winning Friend Mark 2:2–5 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3  four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4  They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” (NLT)

1. Winning friends help you through challenges Proverbs 18:24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (NLT)

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. (NIV)

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (NIV)

Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (NIV)

Ruth 1:16   But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. (NIV)

2. Winning friends make you better

1. They make you better because they believe in you

2. They make you better because they give you wise counsel Proverbs 27:9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. (NLT)

3. They make you better because they sharpen you Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (NLT)

4. They make you better because they will speak the truth to you in love Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (NIV)

5. They make you better because they will pick you up when you fall down Ecclesiastes 4:9–10   Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. (NIV)

3. Winning friends keep bringing you to be closer to Jesus

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (NIV) Proverbs 22:24–25 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, 25  or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. (NIV)

Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 9:24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (NLT)

Romans 7:15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. (NLT)

Romans 7:24-25 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  25  Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. (NLT)

1. Start small Luke 16:10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. (NLT)

Zechariah 4:10 “do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand” (NLT)

2. Start with a plan Proverbs 21:5 Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind. (MSG)

2 Techniques To A Winning Plan

1. Habit switching Ephesians 4:28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. (NLT)

Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  32  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (NLT)

Ephesians 5:18-19 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,  19  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. (NLT)

2. Habit stacking Colossians 4:2–3   Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3  Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. (NLT)

Matthew 28:19–20 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NLT)

3. Start with somebody Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV)

Hebrews 10:24-25 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (NLT)

4. Start and stay steady Proverbs 19:2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 9:24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (NLT)

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you (NKJV)

Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. (NIV)

4 Strategies To Thinking Like A Winner

1. You must identify unhealthy thought patterns

1. Doubting thoughts James 1:6-8 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  7  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  8  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (NIV)

2. Anxious and worried thoughts Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (NIV)

3. Critical thoughts Matthew 9:3-4 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? (NIV)

4. Sinful thoughts Romans 8:6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (NLT) 5. Selfish thoughts James 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (NIV)

2. Capture unhealthy thoughts

2 Corinthians 10:5   We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV)

3. Renew unhealthy thoughts

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

4. Set your thinking on healthy thoughts

Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (NIV)

Colossians 3:2   Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (NIV)

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 9:24   Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (NLT)

Judges 6:1-5 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.  2  Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.  3  Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.  4  They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.  5  They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. (NIV)

Judges 6:12-13   When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” 13  “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” (NIV)

Judges 6:14-15 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” 15  “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (NIV)

4 Ways To Winning in 2022

1. Winning in 2022 requires crying out to God

Judges 6:6-7   Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help. When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, (NIV)

2. Winning in 2022 requires a commitment to God’s Word

Judges 6:10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.” (NIV)

Judges 6:1 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. (NIV)

James 1:22–25   Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)

3. Winning in 2022 requires believing what God says about you

Judges 6:12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (NIV)

Judges 6:15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (NIV)

The following list is not for YouVersion. It is for lower thirds only, split into several slides. I am a mighty warrior. I am more than a conqueror. I am new creation. I am Child of God. I can do all things through Christ. I am a friend of God. I am Justified. I am Redeemed. I am sealed with the Holy Spirit. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am Chosen. I am Forgiven. I am Made alive in Christ. I am God’s workmanship. I am a citizen of heaven. I am a person of purpose. I am anointed. I am powerful. I am the salt of the earth. I am a world changer. I am successful. I am a WINNER!

4. Winning in 2022 requires you to go

Judges 6:14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (NIV)

1 Corinthians 9:24   Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (NLT)

THIS IS THE YEAR FOR BREAKTHROUGH!

Matthew 6:25-34 NIV 25  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  27  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life [a] ? 28  “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  30  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  31  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  33  But SEEK FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

SEEK FIRST

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6 NLT

1. PRAY BOLD PRAYERS.

You are one bold prayer away from a breakthrough.

Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers.

Mark 9:22-23 NLT “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can. What do you mean if I can? Jesus asked, “Anything is possible if a person believe.”

2. PRAY SPECIFIC PRAYERS.

Mark 10:51-52 NLT “What do you want me to do for you? Jesus ask, “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see.” And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.”

Matthew 7:9-11 NLT “You parents – if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Of if you ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

The greatest tragedy in life is the prayers that go unanswered because they go unasked.

3. PRAY PERSISTENT PRAYERS.

Matthew 7:7-8 NLT “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who ask, receives, everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be open.”

UNTIL YOU GET AN ANSWER, KEEP CIRCLING IT IN PRAYER.

4. PRAY CONSISTENT PRAYERS.

Mark 1:35 NLT “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “ Never stop praying.” NLT “Pray continually.” NIV “Pray without ceasing.” NKJV “Pray all the time.” MSG “Make your life a prayer.” TPT

Acts 2:42 NLT, “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” Colossians 4:2 NLT “Devote yourselves to prayer with an apart mind and a thankful heart.”

BREAKTHROUGH WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU SEEK GOD FIRST.