Slice of Life

Heart Reflections

love I made it mine

I made it small I made it blind

I followed hard only to find

it wasn't love

it wasn't love

love of songs and pen

oh love of movie endings

takes out the break

leaves out the bend

misses love

love not of you 

love not of me

come hold us up

come set us free

not as we know it

but as it can be

~ Sara Groves

The celebration of love at this time of the year can make a girl long for companionship in ways that should not yet be aroused. Many girls oftentimes get caught up in the excitement of Valentine's Day, weddings, or any special occasion where love is highlighted. The danger does not lie in a young woman feeling love; the danger lies in what she will choose to do with that love.

I am an unmarried, young woman. I chose at a very young age to save my heart for my future husband. I'm entering a stage of life when many of my friends are being blessed with marriage. I know the Lord, in the fullness of time, will bring me into matrimony with a godly young man. I long for that day and I feel the great pull to be united, with someday the blessings of children, but I know not when that day should come. So I wait... but what should I do with all the emotions and desires of love until that time comes?

The Lord has given us these longings for a good reason. After He created Adam, He said that it was not good for man to be alone, so God created Eve. It is a beautiful thing to see a young woman long for love, but oftentimes she will confuse that love with many other cheap feelings. Lust, impatience, and romance can be disguised in the name of love, but will lead to empty, broken hearts. Yet, when we wait on God's fullness of time and the men He would desire us to marry, we can be continually filled with true, unwavering love and pure passion.

Is it hard to wait? Some days it can be, like on Valentine's Day. It's like taking a child and sitting her in front of a cupcake and asking her not to touch it until you say. But just like the child and the cupcake, how much harder will it be if you leave the child alone with the tasty treat? As a plea from a young woman, don't leave your friend or daughter alone with all of her desires for love. Nurturing that love is so precious, growing it in righteousness will bring joy.

Let's try to nurture, grow, and cherish love. This can be a dangerous game, so we must first submit it all to the Lord and place our dreams in His hands, knowing that in Him we will never be lonely or without love.

Challenge of the Heart #1

Pray for your future mate.

Today, say a prayer for your future husband. Here are a few things I continually pray for mine, if the Lord so blesses:

~Protection

~Health

~Uncommon knowledge, wisdom, and favor

~Clean hands and a pure heart

~That he will love Christ far more than anyone or anything

~Continued spiritual growth

~That he will save his heart for me

~That his feet and eyes will not go astray when faced with temptation

~That the Lord will bring victory, success, and clear direction in his occupation

~For his family and church -- that he may be a blessing to them and they to him

~That he will grow bold before man and humble before Christ

~That he will desire to raise the next generation for the building of Christ's kingdom

Will you join me? Ask your parents to pray with you and friends to pray for each other. Whatever you do, don't be alone. Don't bury love or treat it lightly. Give it to Christ; save it for your future mate.