I just read the new updated edition of I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris. The first thing I want to say is, wow! I wish I had read this book as a teenager. Instead of a book filled with dos and don’ts, as you might suspect, it is mostly a book that speaks directly to matters of the heart. Its primary focus is to help you in your relationship with God; all other relationships are secondary. The book helps single people focus on what’s really important at that critical stage in their lives, and then helps them move on when romance becomes appropriate.
I loved this book! Although I have been married for over a decade, I can still look back and see where applying the truths of this book could have helped me remain pure during those years of being single. I wish I could go back and put God first! The book is still useful to married people, as we explore our relationships with God and others. Although this book wasn’t a tear-jerker, I still found myself in tears two or three times as I considered God’s love toward me over the years, in the midst of some terrible mistakes.
My favorite part of the book was the narration of a dream that Joshua Harris gives us at the opening of chapter eight. You can read it here: The dream is absolutely life-changing! In my opinion, the analogy is too perfect to be anything but God-given. I summarized it to my husband, and even he was teary-eyed; he’s a Christian, but I had never seen him respond to God’s grace in that way before.
If you want to find out more, you can read Joshua Harris’ blog here. Or you can preview the book here.
Note: In exchange for an honest review, the publisher provided a complimentary copy of this book through Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.
Full Circle Homeschooling 
It no good to wish for a do-over. 🙂 The path you chose may not have been the best one and the choices you made in the past may have been wrong, they were what put you feet on the road to being the person that you are today. The family you have may have been missed, if you had picked a random B over A options.
We can waste our time flipping through what-ifs, but those mean nothing. Sometimes the only thing that makes what we have now truly meaningful, is the knowledge that we could have missed it by continuing on a poorly chosen path and the understanding that going through darkness make being exposed to joy that much more meaningful. Mistakes happen and I’m thankful for every mistake, because it was a chance to learn and grow – no matter how costly the mistake.
I agree that my choices have made me what I am today, for better or for worse. I am very glad that my poor choices ultimately led me to my husband Jesse, whom I am sure was hand-picked by God for me. Sometimes I wonder though, if I had followed His perfect will, how our marriage and relationship would be different. I wish I had focused more on God during my teen years, instead of on boys. I truly believe that I would have been spared some pretty serious consequences, and would perhaps be further along in my walk with God. I’m not, however, depressed about where I am today; I just kinda wish I’d taken a different path to get here! You’re right though – it’s a waste of time to mourn over the past or what-if ourselves to death!
Concerning the narration of the dream: Wow.
I know, right?
If you want a good book on this subject for children when they are little older I reccommend “Don’t Awaken Love Before It’s Time” by Garcia. Excellent book!!
Thanks, Sherri! What age do you think the Garcia book is best for? I’m saving Josh Harris’ book for Ian, but I’m not going to let him read it until at least junior high – maybe high school.
Sounds like an interesting book. Thanks for your thoughts and the review. :O)
No problem! I hope you have an opportunity to read it someday. I’ve had my eye on it since the first one came out, but just now got around to reading it!
Sounds like a great read for my teen and almost teen. I read, Who He Must Be To Marry My Daughter by: Voddie Baucham. It gave some great insights into the dating subject, parenting and raising our sons and daughters with God. Another excellent post thank you!
I would definitely recommend it for your teen. Thanks for the other book suggestion too! I really want to raise my son up right, to teach him diligently, ya know? And I want to provide him with plenty of opportunities to think about this subject before it ever hits him in real life. Too many times, I think we wait to long to address topics such as these.
I have been meaning to read this book for a long time now!! Thanks for pointing me back to it!
No problem! Happy to serve as a reminder!