Most people don’t set out to cheat on their spouse. It all starts small. It begins with a thought that goes uncontested, perhaps even nurtured into a fantasy. Those thoughts grow into an attitude and then the attitude grows into a disposition. That disposition erodes boundaries and clouds our sense of right and wrong.
This is difficult for most men. Our DNA is pre-loaded with the strong instinct to feel attraction and desire, yet life and morality demand that we are able to control those instincts. So how do we do that? For the sake of our marriages, relationships, or just spiritual well-being, we need to be able to find the answer. You are in a battle against sexual temptations and it’s important to win early.
As we saw in part one, the first way to overcome sexual temptation is to:
- Set your Mind to beat Temptation.
And here is the next key…
- Avoid Tempting Situation or Places
Winning early means staying away from traps. The last thing you want to do is find yourself alone with the object of your unhealthy desires, whether it is images or actual people. If contact with that person is a must, then make sure it is always in a public space and others are around. Set boundaries surrounding your phone, the computer, and TV. Find a partner who is willing to help you with accountability.
Key number three is…
- Consider the Consequences.
While pondering the object of your desire, also ponder the consequences of action. Is it going to help or hurt your marriage? How would your wife respond if she knew? Think about where your actions can lead and then imagine your wife finding out. Do you want to deal with the fallout? Always think of the end game. Where do you want to be? Are your thoughts and actions leading you there?