A Note to all Girls

          To the girls  (and guys too, if you'd like) in the world who are pinning away for a aboyfriend ( or girlfriend  for boys), this is a reminder to GUARD YOUR HEARTS, this is for you.

        I overheard my friend Ashley ask this question : "Why do you want a boyfriend?" Sure, the answer can be really easy. Maybe it's because you want someone to tell you that you look beautiful, maybe it is because you like to snuggle, maybe it's because you want to go out on a date, or to be treated special, or looked at like you are the only girl in the world. If you really think about those reasons, they really aren't that great. Besides, you are beautiful and precious with out a man on your side!! I mean sure, every girl likes those things, but those aren't substantial reasons for wanting a boyfriend.  If you pick up a random guy off the street, I am convinced that you could get him to act like anyone of the traits, but soon after realize that he is not high quality. Let me be frank, singleness is a gift, even if you hate being called single,or sigh everytime you  see a couple holding hands. 1 Corinthians 7 speaks volumes about this. It is the chapter about marriage, but what Paul says is this:

32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.  

Paul also goes on to say that if you do marry or date, you are not and have not sinned (vs 28). In verse 40 he brings up a really good point. 

 40 In my judgement, she is happier if she stays as she is-and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

The arguement can be made that either way a girl can love the Lord and be a strong christian. While that is very true, I believe that singleness can be a gift. I say this because for some girls they have been bouncing around from relationship to relationship since middleschool. On the other hand some girls may have never had a date.  I would like to suggest that, like verse 34 says, women can be easily distracted and concerned with other things in life, creating a side track that can distance us from God.  If we are 'married' or even in a relationship,  it is hard not to always be concerned about maintaining the relationship and what not. In my opinion singleness is a gift for these reasons (not to say that being in a relationship is bad, not at all!) :  1)  being single provides a great path for aiming to be devoted to God in both body and spirit, and 2) because the experiencing of God's love can be so much richer if there are no distractions.
       Think about this, would you like to date a guy only because on the surface he makes you feel good for a little while? Imagine having a Dove Milk Chocolate candy bar set infront of you. You are offered a tiny corner of the candy bar. You know that you will only be able to savor the delicious taste for a about 15 seconds. But what if you could have the whole candy bar. you could savor the taste for a lot longer.  My point in saying this is that sure, all girls think it would be nice to have a boyfriend and husband, but the quality of a relationship is much more important than the timing!!!
      So, with that said I want to encourage you to think about these passages. First, there is Psalm 48:9,"Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love".  2 things about this verse: singleness can bless us so that we can truly meditate on the unfailing love of God, furthermore, this is the kind of love that we should aim to seek out.  Matthew 10:30-31 says " And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered so dont beafriad; you are worth more than many sparrows." This verse is encredibly encouraging, not only does God know how many hairs I have, he knows [if] there is a guy out there for me in my future. So stop pinning  away and longing for a guy that just wont cut God's high standards. Lastly, Psalm 48:14 says " Fo this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end". When it comes to guys, they are confusing! But, when we are content and focused and in love with God more than the idea of having a boyfriend His guidence with be so evident, and so real to us that a boyfriend or husband really doesn't matter half as much as we, and our society, make it out to be.
         It is my prayer  for you that you know and long for the love of our Father in heaven. I pray that instead of wishing and hoping for a relationship with boys who are bound to let you down, you desire a relationship with the Almighty. I hope that you find a LOVE that is unfailing and stronger and dignified within the arms of Jesus Christ.