There are increasing numbers of women being drawn away from their marriages these days, and it "ain't" just because of good-looking milkmen anymore! We are living at a point in history where the whole world, and all it has to "offer", is literally, at our fingertips. The temptations we face, no matter what our occupations may be, are greater by far than what I understand the "milkmen" days were like.
We can say we are strong and not interested, and most of us would be telling the truth; but it doesn't matter, the enemy has been studying us for a long time and he knows our weaknesses. The Bible warns us in I Peter 5:8 that we are to, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." We are all at risk.
Many people, myself included, have looked back at the Garden of Eden and criticized Adam and Eve for their fatal mistake in taking the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (oh, to be able to live without the knowledge of evil ). But I must say that I don't "blame" Adam and Eve like I used to; I have come far enough in life to realize that we are ALL open to the enemy's temptations, and he is very cunning in his methods and timing. We are a generation desperately in need of self-control, support from godly friends and a determination to be alert to the traps we may be exposing ourselves to.
One strategy that God gives us in guarding ourselves against temptation, comes from Matthew 7:3&5, "Why do you look a the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?...You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." This scripture shows us that we have to examine our own hearts on an ongoing basis, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where the "planks" are in our own lives. Satan will try to discourage us from looking at ourselves, for two reasons: One is because he knows if we start paying attention to what is out of order in our own lives we might ask God to put it straight, and two is that we will not be as apt to be judging and critical of others. It is too easy to look at someone else's "speck" and feel pious, while not realizing we are being led away from the real problem - ourselves.
It is of utmost importance that we don't see ourselves "above" anyone else and their struggles or sin - it is BUT for the grace of God, go I. When we hear of someone "falling into sin", we CANNOT allow ourselves even a fleeting thought of how we would not have been capable of doing the same thing. That is the temptation of looking at the specks! If we can only see the sin of others, then we are not being honest about our own weaknesses and looking for the planks in our own lives.
What are some of the possible planks? Ask God to show you and He will!
Be sure to guard yourself against letting your heart even start down a path you know you shouldn't go down. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." We have to be so careful...when I refer back to the milkman days; I am really serious about it. Back then, the temptations for married women seemed far less; the man who placed the milk at your doorstep, maybe the mailman, or some of the friendships as married couples, but for the most part living was somewhat simple and safe. BUT NOW, we are inundated with temptations - we have the option of a career outside the home that can place us in close relationships with men. We can find anything we want and don't want to find on the Internet at any time of night or day. We have social networking that can put us in touch with every man we may have known in the past and the present. Even texting and email can provide ways of communicating with men on a more than healthy level.
All of us, I am sure, can look to at least a few examples that stem from friendships we have had, where one of the married persons have "walked away" for someone else. This doesn't happen overnight, my friends - it happens as one person is slowly drawn towards someone other than their spouse. It may be that they just want to "get to know them better" or "reconnect with them", and the initial intent can be quite innocent. We have to recognize that if we don't see the temptation or the trap that Satan is weaving for us, we will blindly go after the fruit that looks shiny and appealing! DON'T even entertain those thoughts. Why else would we be instructed in I Timothy 2:22 to, "FLEE the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness."?
Remember that our hope is found in GOD ALONE, and He has promised in I Corinthians 10:13 that, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard on temptation was that when we see we are being tempted, we should ask the Lord, "What is the way out?", and then truly be prepared to take it. Also be sure you have at least one friend (female) who will speak boldly into your life and point out potential areas of weakness.
There is a song called Slow Fade, by Casting Crowns, which speaks of the temptation that any one of us could face IF we are not careful. Some of the words are here...
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You might just be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white are turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade
Please don't let yourself fade slowly into any relationship that will take you away from God's best for you and your family. We are not as strong as we may think we are - I wish there were a BELL I could RING LOUDLY to help you see how significant this is. Please take at least a moment to ask the Lord to show you anything or anyone that you need to cut off, in order to protect yourself from making the biggest mistake in your life! Also, consider sending a link of this article to other women you know - we need to be helping one another every step of the way. I am praying for you.
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