How I Know (Part One)

You may not believe this, but I did not really want to date Magnus when we first started dating. Well, not just Magnus. I didn't really want to date. I came out of my first year of seminary with God recognizing my need to be content in Him alone (for more, see Where's My Heart At?). So I came into the semester looking forward to serving.
But I quickly found out that this boy liked me (a friend let it slip). I was ticked. I didn't want to deal with a silly boy who I was CONVINCED was just going to flirt and play around and not really straight-up have a talk with me letting me know he liked me. I was also convinced that if he ever did get up the courage I'd simply shut him down. He was a dogmatic pentecostal and I had no plans on getting involved with someone like that.
He finally asked to meet with me on a Monday (thanks to another friend telling him he needed to) and I went expecting to shut him down. It didn't quite work like that. I gave him clear reasons I why I didn't think it would work and let him know I had no plans on dating until after the retreat (in about three weeks), but told him I would pray. That was my mistake.
I spent time that week praying - mostly frustrated with God because I wanted him to shut it down and wanted him to tell me no, but he didn't. As I prayed that week and prepared to talk with him later that week (Magnus asked to talk through some of my concerns on Friday) God started making a few things clear.
First, I had made up a prayer card and been praying weekly for my future husband since September 2010 and I felt God telling me that Magnus had the characteristics I have been praying for in a husband. I was saying "Oh crap" a whole lot when I realized that. Dang, I had to give the boy a chance.
Second, God started to show me that I had set up the time table for when I wanted to date, so that time after the retreat was not of him. Again, "oh crap" and processing that this may happen sooner.
Third, God reminded me of what he told me last Spring. I had met Magnus in April when he was out running and I was out for a walk with a friend. This was after I had processed a lot of the contentedness with single and hearing God's "no" in regards to certain guys. I had prayed a frustrated prayer of "God, please just TELL me when I meet the man who is to be my husband!" After I met Magnus and started walking away, the Holy Spirit said "He's the one." I had ignored it because I really didn't believe that crazy guy I had just met was someone worth considering, but after Magnus talked with me and as I prayed God reminded me of what he told me and affirmed that yes, God told me who I am to marry.
And that's (part of) how I know Magnus is the one God has for me.