Russell Wilson, Ciara Showcase 5 Tips for Dating 'Jesus' Way'
Before marrying last July and announcing their pregnancy on Tuesday, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his singer wife, Ciara, let the world know they planned to build a relationship "Jesus' way."
In honor of the newlyweds expecting their first child together, The Christian Post is highlighting five ways the Wilsons honored God with their relationship.
1. Ciara Trusted God to Send a Man Like Russell
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Before they became the Wilsons or Ciara even met her NFL star husband, the 31-year-old singer prayed for a man like him. In an interview with Essence magazine last May, she recalled trusting God to send someone matching his exact character.
"I decided to trust that God had a plan for me, and move forward one day at a time," Ciara told Essence Magazine as the May 2016 covergirl. "I remember telling my friend the kind of guy I wanted: a God-fearing man with a very fun spirit who loves kids and would really, truly care for me. I was very specific because I do believe you can have it all."
2. Russell Listened to God When Leading Ciara
Early on in their relationship, Russell said he heard God's voice concerning his relationship with Ciara. At a July 2015 appearance at Pastor Miles McPherson's The Rock Church in San Diego, California, Wilson revealed that God told him to lead the R&B star.
"I will never forget she was on tour, she was traveling and I was looking at her in the mirror, sitting in her dressing room, she was getting ready to go, about 15 minutes before she went on stage," he told The Rock Church congregation about the incident. "She was sitting there and God spoke to me and said 'I need you to lead her ...' "
3. Russell and Ciara Took a Vow of Abstinence Before Marriage
At the same July 2015 appearance with Pastor McPherson, Russell revealed his vow of abstinence to the world. He insisted that God told him to lead Ciara in abstaining from sexual activity until marriage.
"I asked her 'What would you do if we took all that other stuff off the table and did it Jesus' way, no sex? ... I knew God had brought me into her life to bless her and for her to bless me, and to bless so many people with the impact that she has and I have," Wilson told McPherson last year. "We're not going to be perfect, by any means. But He's anointed both of us and He's calling for us to do something special."
4. The Wilsons Gave God Control of Their Relationship
When the Wilsons first began dating, their relationship remained under scrutiny with false rumors of a premature engagement and pregnancy making its media rounds. Even though Ciara had yet to receive an engagement ring, she trusted in God that things were headed in the right direction while dating Russell.
"I feel very confident in the love that we have for each other, and only God knows where it's going to go," the 29-year-old singer told Page Six last year. "God knows everything that's to come in the future, and I think it's best to let him keep taking control of things. Life is sweet, and I'm very thankful for all the great things happening in my life. I'm very happy."
4. Russell, Ciara Make Serving Together A Priority
In June 2015, Russell invited Ciara to visit the Seattle Children's Hospital where he had been volunteering for years to encourage children battling cancer. Last year, Ciara spoke to Yahoo about just how much those visits impacted her.
"It's something that's really important to the both of us. Every time we go to the Seattle Children's Hospital, it's always a new experience because every child's case is different and it definitely puts things into perspective because you think, 'wow, that could be me,'" she said. "You have moments where you're literally crying with the mom, like, 'oh my gosh this could be me. I wouldn't want to speak out of turn for Russ, but I know that every time you go, it makes you want to go and do more because there's those cool moments where you see [that] you put a smile on that child's face for that moment."
5. The Foundation Of The Wilsons' Union Is Friendship
After getting married last July, Wilson revealed that he and his wife were best friends.
"Ever since the first day I met her, she's always been, honestly, my best friend," he told People last summer. "We've been so close."
Ciara seemed to echo the same sentiments.
"He's really the best friend I could possibly have," she told E! News last year.
