How will I know when I have found the perfect spouse for me?

The Bible does not address how to find the "perfect spouse," nor does
it get as specific as we might like on the matter of finding the right
marriage partner. The one thing God's Word does explicitly tell us is
to make sure that we do not marry an unbeliever (2 Corinthians
6:14-15). First Corinthians 7:39 reminds us that, while we are free to
marry, we should only marry those who are acceptable to God—in other
words, Christians. Beyond this, the Bible is silent about how to know
we are marrying the "right" person.

So why doesn't God spell out for us what we should look for in a mate?
Why do we not have more specifics about such an important issue? The
truth is that the Bible is so clear on what a Christian is and how we
are to act that specifics are not necessary. Christians are supposed
to be likeminded about important issues, and if two Christians are
committed to their marriage and to obeying Christ, they already
possess the necessary ingredients for success. However, because our
society is inundated with many professing Christians, it would be wise
to use discernment before devoting oneself to the lifelong commitment
of marriage. Once a prospective mate's priorities are identified—if he
or she is truly committed to Christ-likeness—then the specifics are
easier to identify and deal with.

First, we should make sure that we are ready to marry. We must have
enough maturity to look beyond the here and now and be able to commit
ourselves to joining with this one person for the rest of our lives.
We must also recognize that marriage requires sacrifice and
selflessness. Before marrying, a couple should study the roles and
duties of a husband and wife (Ephesians 5:22-31; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16;
Colossians 3:18-19; Titus 2:1-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7).

A couple should make sure they know each other for a sufficient amount
of time before discussing marriage. They should watch how the other
person reacts to different situations, how he behaves around his
family and friends, and what kind of people she spends time with. A
person's behavior is greatly influenced by those he keeps company with
(1 Corinthians 15:33). They should agree on issues such as morality,
finances, values, children, church attendance and involvement,
relationships with in-laws, and employment. These are areas of
potential conflict in marriage and should be carefully considered
beforehand.

Finally, any couple considering marriage should first go to premarital
counseling with their pastor or another trained Christian counselor.
Here they will learn valuable tools for building their marriage on a
foundation of faith in Christ, and they will also learn how to deal
with inevitable conflicts. After all these criteria have been met, the
couple is ready to prayerfully decide if they desire to be joined
together in marriage. If we are earnestly seeking the will of God, He
will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).