Heart Health
Heart Health
The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. (Matt. 5:8)
Marla was torn. It had only been a week since she met Chris through a mutual friend, but she could tell she was opening herself up to him emotionally and thinking about him a lot more than she needed to be. He was a thoughtful, sweet, godly guy, and Marla enjoyed spending hours just messaging and chatting online. She could practically picture the ring on her finger, and she had already written out her new last name.
She called her best friend, Jenna, for a heart-to-heart. “I don’t want to give my heart away so quickly, Jenna, but I don’t want to miss my chance either!”
“I know you want a serious relationship with a godly guy, Marla, but you really need to guard your heart. Sit back and pray about this. If he’s the right guy, God will open the door to a real relationship that’s more than instant messages and e-mails. God has an awesome plan for you, so try to trust Him to make it happen.”
We often talk about protecting our physical purity by preserving sexual activity for marriage, but we also need to consider protecting our emotional purity. Women are relational by nature, and we are drawn to intimacy with others. However, when considering marriage, it’s important not to rely on feelings alone.
Many people approach marriage with unrealistic expectations, thinking their prospective spouse will be the answer to all their problems and will meet their every need. But because no person can do that—nor are they meant to—the end result is often disappointment and hurt feelings all around. Set smart limits in all aspects of your dating relationships, and realize that God alone is the keeper of your heart.