Dating & The Single Mom: By Jennifer MaggioSample

Let God Guide Your Heart.

Can we take a moment to acknowledge how powerful our emotions can be at times? There are moments when we can be overcome with anger, fear, sadness, and even excitement or joy. It is safe to say we have all had at least one person in our life who has given us the butterflies when they talk to us. As great as that can be, we must be careful not to allow it to overcome our discernment. We must allow God to guide our steps, even when our emotions leave us feeling giddy and excited.

Step 5 to dating as a single mom: Don’t Be Ruled By Emotions!

Jeremiah 17:9 teaches us that being ruled by our hearts can be misleading or deceitful. Jumping into the water with both feet because he gives you the “tingles” can leave you disappointed in the end. Again, as you’ll note has been a theme this week - take your time. I remember hearing a women’s pastor share about how she met her husband. They met in college, and he was not her type. He was a “preppy” kid; she was more into cowboys with a bad-boy persona. She only went out with him as a favor to a friend. Although he was nice, she found herself uninterested and waiting for the date to be over. When she arrived back in her dorm room that evening, he had sent her a dozen roses with a card that said, “Thanks for the amazing first date.”

She was instantly reminded of the kindness, gentleness, and patience he showed toward her and others that night on the date. She resolved to give it another go. She went out with him a few more times, and God slowly changed her heart as she sought the will of her Heavenly Father. The man she once had no interest in suddenly became the man of her dreams because she didn’t base her decision solely on her emotions. She sought the Lord and allowed the prompting of the Holy Spirit. They have been married for almost two decades, share four children, and pastor a thriving church. Thank God she didn’t let her emotions ruin God’s good thing for her life.

Points to Ponder:

• Is your heart open to God’s plans for your dating life? Are you allowing yourself to be ruled by your emotions? Are you listening to what God is trying to tell you?

Join Single Mom University, free of charge, to learn effective parenting, dating, financial, and spiritual techniques to grow as a mom! Visit www.SingleMomUniversity.com and fill out a scholarship application and mention YouVersion. To learn more about finding a godly man, listen to our podcast on The Life of a Single Mom podcast channel, episode: How to Find a Godly Man.