Do you know that every time you have a close, intimate relationship with the other gender, you are giving a part of your heart away to that person that you can never get back, you'll never be able to give your spouse someday that part of your heart.
Let me tell you a story to help illustrate my meaning, this story comes from Joshua Harris's book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye".
It was finally here - Anna's wedding day, the day she had dreamed about and planned for months. The small picturesque church was crowded with friends and family. Sunlight poured through the stained-glassed windows, and the gentle music of a stringed quartet filled the air. Anna walked down the aisle toward David. Joy surged within her. This was the moment for which she had waited for so long. He gently took her hand, and they turned toward the alter.
But as the minister began to lead Anna and David through their vows, the unthinkable happened. A girl stood up in the middle of the congregation, walked quietly to the alter, and took David's other hand. Another girl approached and stood next to the first, followed by another. Soon, a chain of six girls stood by him as he repeated his vows to Anna.
Anna felt her lip beginning to quiver as tears welled up in her eyes. "Is this some kind of joke?" She whispered to David. "I'm...I'm sorry, Anna," he said, staring at the floor. "Who are these girls, David? What is going on?" she gasped. "They are girls from my past" he answered sadly. "Anna, they don't mean anything to me now...but I've given part of my heart to each of them." "I thought your heart was mine," she said. "It is, it is," he pleaded. "Everything that is left is yours." A tear rolled down Anna's cheek.
Then she woke up. Anna told me about her dream in a letter. "When I woke up I felt so betrayed," she wrote. "But then I was struck with this sickening thought: How many men could line up next to me on my wedding day? How many times have I given my heart away in short term relationships? Will I have anything left to give my husband?"
Well, you might be saying "It's too hard to wait, I can't." Well, the Bible says that:
Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Song of Solomon 3:5
I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the deer of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
Here's a poem called "Wait", the author is Russell Kelfer.
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said,
"Child, you must wait."
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heart?
By faith, I have asked, and am claiming Your Word!
My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to wait?
I'm needing a "Yes" go-ahead sign,
Or even a "No" to which I can resign.
And Lord, You promised that if we believe.
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
"I'm wary of asking! I need a reply!"
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taught
And grumbled to God, "So I'm waiting...for what?
He seemed then, to kneel
And His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause the mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you could be.
You would have what you want~
But, you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the power I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me;
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have last.
You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that, "My grace is sufficient for thee."
Yes, your dreams for your loved one
Over night would come true,
But, oh, the loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!
So be silent, My child, and in time you will see.
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "wait".
Here's another poem that shows the charge of Christians. It's called "A charge to keep I have" by Charles Wesley.
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify;
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill-
Oh, may it all my powers engage
To do my Masters will.
Arm me with jealous care,
As in thy sight to live;
And, oh, thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give.
Help me to watch and pray,
And on thy self rely;
Assured if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
For those who love battles, and even those who don't; I hope this next poem called "A maiden's Warfare" by Carol DeLadurantey will be enjoyed.
Press on to heights of glory how; and keep thou steady eye.
One must not falter in this fight
though some may flee or fly.
Take hold the charge thou hast been given,
To battle we must go.
But not with our own maiden hands
do we take up shield or bow.
We wage this war in words and actions, with our every deed
We follow Christ our captain,
thro' Him we will succeed.
Tell me now have we forgot the charge from God above
To keep our hearts in purity,
grace, modesty, truth and love.
These are our weapons, our shield, our swords;
in this battle we now fight.
We strive not for an earthly king,
But for our God of truth and might!