You hear the phrase "guard your heart" in a lot of religious circles, or from older (wiser) people who probably know a lot more about love and life than us young people do. I know for myself, in the past, I've accepted what they had to say with a nod and a smile, then went on my way and forgot about it completely. Now I want to share with you my thoughts on how important it really is to remember to guard your heart in every situation (not just romantic relationships), because your heart is a treasure.
Side note: this blog post is for both guys AND girls.
Ok - I am going to attempt to be completely honest and open in this blog post, and for me (with this subject) I don't really care to share much with anyone but the people I know intimately. Nonetheless, I feel like I am supposed to share my recent experience in order to make my point on the subject.
I have never dated anyone (which I am very VERY thankful for; the Lord has really protected me from getting into a lot of unhealthy relationships, and I'll talk more about that later), but I have liked many a man over the years. Liking someone, or feeling attracted to them, is a normal part of life and essential for being human; romance is a gift from God, and one that we should be stewarded well. I can't say that I've approached it correctly in all, or any, of the relationships I've pursued.
When it comes to Jesus, I'm head over heals; with my personality I love to be in love, so obviously my biggest desire is to be in love with the man of my dreams one day as well. When I found myself getting attracted to someone (in the past), I would let that desire and dream for a future relationship almost blind me to God's plan for a future relationship - and that is NEVER good. Recently, I found myself "falling into like", as I enjoy calling it, with someone I met over the summer. I tried to convince myself, and everyone around me, that we were just friends. But we talked every day, sometimes for 3 + hours (almost always late at night). Who was I kidding? I talked to him more than I talked to my best friends, which also kept me from receiving the proper council throughout the whole situation; I would think about him all day, and surf through his photos on facebook. I didn't bother to guard my heart. I had a very dear friend who knew the guy pretty well, who told me a couple times that I really needed to guard my heart, but I just didn't know how to do that - I didn't know what that looked like.
Thankfully (and I say this honestly), God ended it only a month into it. I was upset, but I feel like God gave me a beautiful grace to handle it. He revealed to me how I had not protected my heart throughout the process, at all, and how incredibly important it is. My heart belongs to Jesus and my future husband, not every guy I'm attracted to. My heart is the most valuable thing about me, and it's something that should be treated as such. We don't just hand out our most valuable posessions to every person we pass on the street, right? So why do we do that with our hearts'? It's the same thing.
Our future spouses' and Jesus (the guy who sacrificed His very life for OUR hearts') deserve so much more than just a used organ on our Wedding day! They deserve the very best; a treasure that was guarded and protected specifically with them in mind. Purity isn't purity if the heart isn't kept safe. We can resist temptation all day long, but if our hearts' are bruised and broken over and over again, what's the point? The Word says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring fo life. (Prov. 4:23)" Our very life bubbles from within our hearts. Our hearts tell the people around us who we really are, inside and out. Why damage that, or risk breaking it? I'm not saying we shouldn't take risks in love (because love is definitely risky), but we should use wisdom in love.
For me, God's word for my life is clear: He will bring love in it's perfect timing; "...I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. (Song of Solomon 8:4)" Any love with someone that we could conjure up or imagine, is nothing compared to the love He has in store for us in perfect relationship set up by Him and with Him. He is the perfect Planner. He knows what's best. He will help us, if it is our desire, to guard our hearts' from things that long to take it captive (not just in relationships, but in media and other things as well).
Most people know, or can tell by the way I say and do things, that I long to be married one day. I don't think there's anything more beautiful than the union of marriage. Such a deep, close relationship shared by two people - & then family produced from that beautiful union - it's just so captivating. Something worth waiting for, right? I would think so :)
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Awakened Like Samuel In The Night
Good morning, my faithful readers! I am writing to you from Bogotá, Colombia! I arrived here on Monday afternoon, and have enjoyed every second of every day in the company of my Colombian family.
Apart from just having a great, fun time, the Lord has been speaking to me in strange and new ways; ways I never pondered before. You know when you hear of something happening to someone else, and you think in your heart "Well that would never happen to me." Yeah, I've done the same thing. But the Lord has proved me wrong in so many different ways already, and it's only the 4th day of my 10 day trip.
One thing in particular, happened last night (or, rather early this morning). I was tossing and turning in my bed, unable to sleep (& if you know me at all you know that I usually have no trouble sleeping), when I suddenly found myself wide
awake, sitting up in my bed. You can call me a liar if you want, but I could have sworn I heard someone calling my name! It was the strangest experience. But instead of making Samuel's mistake in 1 Samuel 3 (where the Lord called unto Samuel and he thought it was Eli calling him), I just said to the Lord "what do you want to tell me?" And I heard the verse Psalm 4:4. The funny thing is, I glanced at my phone and it said 4:04 AM, but it was really 3:04 because my phone is stuck on US time (but I think God is funny that way. I think He wanted me to see 4:04 because of the verse He gave me).
Anyway, the verse reads:
Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah (Psalm 4:4 ASV)
Funny. I was sitting on my bed when I read this verse, so I just decided to lie down and search my heart. I probably spoke with God for about an hour before I fell back asleep. It was the most refreshing conversation I've ever had with Him. He revealed a lot to me.
I am feeling very thankful for the experiences He is bringing to me on this trip. I feel renewed.
Apart from just having a great, fun time, the Lord has been speaking to me in strange and new ways; ways I never pondered before. You know when you hear of something happening to someone else, and you think in your heart "Well that would never happen to me." Yeah, I've done the same thing. But the Lord has proved me wrong in so many different ways already, and it's only the 4th day of my 10 day trip.
One thing in particular, happened last night (or, rather early this morning). I was tossing and turning in my bed, unable to sleep (& if you know me at all you know that I usually have no trouble sleeping), when I suddenly found myself wide
awake, sitting up in my bed. You can call me a liar if you want, but I could have sworn I heard someone calling my name! It was the strangest experience. But instead of making Samuel's mistake in 1 Samuel 3 (where the Lord called unto Samuel and he thought it was Eli calling him), I just said to the Lord "what do you want to tell me?" And I heard the verse Psalm 4:4. The funny thing is, I glanced at my phone and it said 4:04 AM, but it was really 3:04 because my phone is stuck on US time (but I think God is funny that way. I think He wanted me to see 4:04 because of the verse He gave me).
Anyway, the verse reads:
Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah (Psalm 4:4 ASV)
Funny. I was sitting on my bed when I read this verse, so I just decided to lie down and search my heart. I probably spoke with God for about an hour before I fell back asleep. It was the most refreshing conversation I've ever had with Him. He revealed a lot to me.
I am feeling very thankful for the experiences He is bringing to me on this trip. I feel renewed.
Location:Bogotá,Colombia
Monday, October 10, 2011
Leaving My Comfort Zone
Right now I'm sitting in the Fort Lauderdale airport getting ready to board my flight to Bogota, Colombia. Normally that wouldn't be much of a big deal, but that was when j wasn't leaving the country by MYSELF for the first time.
Every time I experience a new adventure like this, I can almost taste it in my spirit. It's something new, something fun, something amazing. I cab hardly wait to get there and breathe in the fresh Colombian air. I love it there; it's like a second home, honestly. I feel so alive when in there; so new.
I'm sure the experience will yield lots of things to write about. Pray for me; for new adventures, and safety for the whole trip. Cya USA! hello Colombia! :)
Every time I experience a new adventure like this, I can almost taste it in my spirit. It's something new, something fun, something amazing. I cab hardly wait to get there and breathe in the fresh Colombian air. I love it there; it's like a second home, honestly. I feel so alive when in there; so new.
I'm sure the experience will yield lots of things to write about. Pray for me; for new adventures, and safety for the whole trip. Cya USA! hello Colombia! :)
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