By Shannon Primicerio

Let’s face it. We all send signals. Some are intentional—like when the weird kid in your biology class seems to take a liking to you and you want him to buzz off. Others are a bit more unintentional—like increasing phone time with a friend of the opposite sex that you view like a sibling. Most “just friends” relationship disasters end poorly because someone sent signals they didn’t mean to send and the other person misinterpreted their intentions.

For instance I can remember far too many high school moments that began with, “Do you think he likes me? I mean he held eye contact with me for over fifteen seconds.” What a nightmare! I can’t tell you how many broken hearts my friends and I set each other up for due to reading into signals that either weren’t there, or were sent unintentionally.

Having someone look at you does not mean he is in love with you, or even that he likes you as more than a friend. Saying hi isn’t the same thing as a marriage proposal. Yet so often we treat it like it is. When you run in the same circle of friends, or you happen to be at every church service someone else is at, a relationship is bound to form. But it isn’t always a romantic relationship. All too often we read into things, making them into more than they really are, and we wind up paying dearly for it.

Wires get crossed and mixed signals get sent because a guy may like you—just not in that way. So, how can you guard your heart in relationships with your guy friends?

Don’t ever let yourself fall in love with someone who is “just” your friend. Wait for him to pursue you before you give your heart away.

Don’t let yourself daydream and imagine what life would be like if you were dating the friend you have your eye on.

Don’t talk to your friends about how attractive your particular friend is.

Don’t view that friend—and all of his actions—through the lens of romance and not the lens of friendship.

Once these things happen you have crossed the threshold of risk and your heart is on the line whether your friend knows it or not—and many times everyone knows it. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.”

An author of ten books, Shannon Primicerio teaches teenage girls how to apply the Bible to the drama of real life and read it like it's God's love letter to them. By helping girls establish intimacy with Christ, she puts them on a path that will ensure they will still be walking with Him long after high school and college. Her books and conferences provide:

*Guidance and structure for how to have a daily quiet time

*Strategies for battling peer pressure in areas like dating, purity and friendship

*Insight on how to see yourself as the beautiful treasure you are

*Direction on how to find your purpose and live your passion for the glory of God

You can learn more about Shannon at www.beingagirlbooks.com