When it comes to marriage and finding a mate, I believe God knows who is best for each person. He knows which qualities are compatible. And when you leave the matter to God, He will bring the right person into your life.

The relationship will be blessed and thus produce a happy marriage.

In selecting a mate, sometimes we humans just look at the exterior. God knows what is in the heart, and He knows what is inside of you. The natural is all that we can see but, as the saying goes, "All that glitters is not gold."

Let me clarify: I am not saying that you should not have a pretty wife or a handsome husband. If that is what you desire, the Word says you can have it. I'm talking about letting God bring the person into your life.

We Need to be Patient
I also caution you not to go against the Word of God and marry an unbeliever.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(2 Cor. 6:14-15)

As a Christian, you are a member of God's family. Do not marry an unbeliever out of loneliness or desperation. The Lord knows your desire. He will answer your prayer! You need to exercise patience.

…The trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
(James 1:3-4)

Your Assistance is not Needed
There are many people who try to help God out. Even though they do not have a mate, they prepare to have wedding invitations printed or they purchase a wedding gown.

That is not faith—that is foolishness. And trying to help God out like that does not speed up the answer to your prayer.

You need to wait on the Lord.

Have you considered that you may not be ready for that man or woman of your dreams? There may be some improvement God still needs to bring about within you. Maybe God has to prepare you for the mate.

There are many people who have the wrong attitude about marriage. For example, it seems that men invariably want to marry a virgin. They want the untouched virgin. Yet, they do not stop to think that maybe the virgin wants a virgin too. She may not want a used model. She may desire a brand new, just-off-the-showroom-floor model.

Let's Get Real
It is not fair for men to expect women to be virgins if the men are not virgins. If you are not a virgin man, what makes you think you have the right to expect the woman to be a virgin?

In another vein, I have seen men and women of one race who think their spouse has to be of another race in order for them to be happy. This is plain foolishness.

You will not have a happy marriage because the person's skin is white, and you will not have a bad marriage because the skin is black. Skin color has nothing in the world to do with a happy marriage.

I have seen some miserable black folks, and I have seen some miserable white folks. There have been miserable Asians and miserable Latinos. The color of one's skin does not guarantee happiness. It is plain foolishness to say, "I am going to have him or her because they are white, or black, or Asian, or Latino."

Learn to trust God and wait on Him to deliver and bring that perfect mate to you. It may take a bit longer, but you can trust God that he or she will be the right one for you!

Source: How to Believe God for a Mate by Frederick K.C. Price
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers