Keeping Safe What Is Important To You

 Someone once said, “No one stores valuable treasures in open unsafe places.”Valuables are stored in secure environments, away from thieves and dangerous conditions.

  Out of naivety, ignorance or independent, prideful, ‘do as I please’ spirit, some of you leave your highest and most prized treasure, your marriage… out in the open. Bared naked to strange elements (other women/men), vulnerable, unguarded and unsafe. Friends, I’m talking about the World Wide Web…. social networks. When this happens you’re walking in dangerous territory and opening your marriage to danger. Online affairs are emotional affairs that may not involve physical contact but virtual affairs are just as devastating to the family as a physical affair.

  I believe this happens when someone decides they want their cake and eat it too. You might have a strong secure marriage but you want to keep your “freedoms” when it comes to relating to the opposite sex.

  Some people find the idea (of keeping boundaries with the opposite sex) old fashion. Well, call me old fashion if you want to, but I’m seen firsthand the problems that can come about through these ‘friendly’ relationships.

  Consider this…you can have all sorts of security devices installed in and around your home but unless you lock your doors and secure your windows, those devices remain useless. I know what you’re thinking….. that “our love is enough“, that “we trust each other and would never be unfaithful“, that “a little flirting is harmless” but let me tell you something….it’s an open door and a welcome sign to all intruders. Not counting the fact that hearts can be broken because someone takes that ‘innocent’ flirting to heart and may actually believe what you’re saying.

  I’ve seen hearts broken and marriages torn apart, wives leaving husbands and husbands leaving wives for someone they’ve met and ‘innocently’ started a friendship online and usually with someone they’ve never even met face to face or actually even talked to. They just got caught up in the snare of the ‘web’. Why do you think it’s called World Wide ‘Web’?  Be careful folks, you may be swimming in dangerous waters full of ‘sharks’!  One day you may find yourself on an airplane or in a car headed cross country and kissing your marriage good bye. For what? For someone you never even met!  Someone you think you know but do you… really?

  There’s a way to prevent that…..protect what is precious to you. Keep your marriage and marriage problems to yourself. Don’t air them out in public! When you do that, you’re opening the door and sending an open invitation to all those unwanted visitors The internet is full of predators looking for someone just like you. “Come into my web said the spider to the fly.”
  There’s a quote by Jim Rohn…..”You can’t drift to the top of a mountain.” If you want marital success, you’ve got to let go of that ‘I’ll do what I want to’ mentality and put on some mountain climbing gear. You must protect that which matters to you. Close and lock those doors! Put up a ‘no vacancy’ sign, do whatever it takes! Lives and hearts are at stake!

  I know, it can start innocently enough….you’re feeling lonely and neglected at home, not getting the attention you think you need or deserve. Maybe you’re getting up in age and feeling old and wondering if anyone will ever love you again and then someone comes along and tells you how beautiful and sweet you are. They may go as far as telling you they love you! They’re filling a void.

  “We can just be friends, we won’t be hurting anyone.” Then you start opening up, telling each other your secrets, confiding in and  consoling each other and yes even praying together. “It’s okay, God brought us together.” And if He brought us together, it’s got to be okay. Right?
  But what does Abba really think and say…..”Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman/man lustfully has already committed adultery with her/him in his/her heart.”

  I’ll leave you with these things to consider when it comes to keeping boundaries with the opposite sex:
Don’t spend more time with someone than you do your spouse.
Don’t flirt with anyone other than your spouse or significant other.
You’re not as strong (or spiritual) as you think you are. *smile*
Temptation and sin often appear harmless….in the beginning.
All of us have some common sense but it can be dulled by lack of use. *another smile*
And here’s a goody…even the best car will leave the road if the driver takes his/her hands off the wheel.

  Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. 

In His love,
Elizabeth