Seventeen Magazine's sex survey netted some disturbing statistics. One of the results listed on their website is as follows:

"38% of you feel comfortable having sex with a guy when you've both said, 'I love you.'"

That means at least one in three of the girls surveyed think sex is a "comfortable" step once three little words are uttered. In their minds, saying "I love you" green lights the most intense physical intimacy possible.

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV) says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

Our hearts absorb the words "I love you" like a sponge. We long to experience real love, so we allow our hearts to deceive us into believing that spoken love warrants physical love. And although there are definite physical risks that come with sexual intimacy, the risks that come with emotional intimacy can be even greater. Truthfully, there is no such thing as "safe" sex. Engaging in a sexual relationship is always a risk for your heart.

So the challenge we face is to teach girls about more than safe sex. It's our job to teach them how to guard their hearts for they truly are "the wellspring of life." (Prov. 4:23, NIV)

Talkback Questions:
What are some ways we can teach girls about guarding their hearts?