how about guarding his heart??

[acts_20_24]

At this point in my life i am content with singleness and unless God wills it; i would prefer to be single just because I want to run after God with all I have and it is so easy, it seems for me to get distracted. I have decided not to date. however there is a gentleman who seems to want to pursue me. He asked if we could hang out sometime and I know that i should not because i want to help him guard his heart, but I just don't know where to draw the line. I don't want to shut him out but at the same time i don't want to lead him on either. I thought about telling him that i don't date, but then i worry about if we hang out there is still that risk

[Donna]

I don't mean to come down hard on you but I am afraid it might sound that way, so sorry. But... look how many times in your post you said "I". I have, I want, I know, I thought.

Don't take God's wants, thoughts, knowledge and have's for you out of your life. I heard a pastor talk the other day on the radio wondering how many times in our lives we have missed wonderful blessings from God because we decided, we knew, we directed our own lives. We went down the road we paved instead of the one God is constructing for us.

In order for us not to go through disappointment and struggles we choose to not do the things God would have for us to do.

What if God is the one that has sent this fellow to you and what if satan is the one that has convinced you to live your life alone? Remember satan knows God's word very well and seems to twist it to benefit himself and stop us from being a useful tool for God.

Be content but be prayerful and open to anything God might be putting on your heart. Don't nix something inoccent. The guy might see in you the same he sees God wanting in his own life. He might want to get to know you better so you can work better for God's purposes.

Remember Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

The hard part for me is... lean not on your own understanding. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says," To trust in the Lord wholeheartedly means one should not rely on his own understanding, for human insights are never enough. God's ways are incomprehensible yet he is trustworthy. All the wisdom a person may acquire can never replace the need for full trust in God's superior ways. Heart in Hebrew refers to one's emotions but more often to his intellect such as understanding, discernment, reflections and will.
As a person trusts in the Lord and acknowledges Him (this is not a nod of recognition but an intimate knowledge of God) in all your heart he finds that God makes his paths straight. This means more than guidance; it means God removes the obstacles, making a smooth path or way of life, or perhaps better, bringing one to the appointed goal."