It is important that couples establish a strong friendship and get familiar with each other’s core value system during the dating phase. It is essential that every couple take time and communicate with one another and discover each other’s personal history, and yes, even their family history. As God brings your designed companion to you, it is important that the couple begin to discuss in detail their core value system. It is important to determine if your faith, family, and personal ministry are compatible. In addition, you must consider one’s values in communication, life goals, dreams, and desires.
Now the dating process begins, to have fun and enjoy one another’s company by engaging in deep conversations about life and each other’s future. During the dating process you begin to learn how to forgive each other’s shortcomings; this will provide a tool to eliminate bitterness and resentment toward one another. It’s important that couples learn to forgive past relationship issues and not carry those issues into
their present relationship. In marriage, bitterness and an unwillingness to forgive are not healthy, will only halt the future growth of the union, and potentially destroy the marriage.
Your spouse is your best promoter/encourager and critic, encouraging you during your successes and loving you enough to help correct your faults.