Broken Pieces: Repairing the Damage of InfidelitySample

About a year ago, I made a visit to my doctor for my annual physical exam. I knew I hadn’t been eating as healthy as I should have been but I go to the gym weekly so I was pretty confident everything would be fine as usual. After doing the standard observations and examination, my doctor asked me all the usual questions. If there have been any changes in my health habits, like if I’m a smoker, do I consume alcohol, etc. He also asked about family history. If there were things that are common in my family, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc. He then looked at his laptop and revealed some shocking results that had me shook. He said, “Lonnie, the results of your blood work came back and there are a few things that I’m concerned about. It looks like your levels are abnormal than usual and you’re going to have to make some drastic changes in your overall physical health.” My heart sank and I started thinking the worst. I immediately thought about my mother, who passed away at age 49 and my father who died of colon cancer at 51 and my paternal grandmother who had a stroke a year before she passed away and my maternal grandmother who also died of colon cancer. I thought about other family members who dealt with issues of high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. I knew that I had to make some drastic changes immediately. If not, there would be major consequences. Fortunately, the lab results of my blood work showed I was only at a borderline risk of hypertension and pre-diabetes which all could be remedied by losing a few pounds, healthy eating habits and better sleep. This was the impetus I needed to get it together and make some necessary changes in my overall physical well-being.

Maybe you’re a man who hasn't cheated on your wife or had inappropriate interactions with another woman. Maybe you haven’t had an affair at all but you show all the signs of potentially crossing that line. It’s time to make some drastic changes to prevent the inevitable. Throughout this reading plan, I have been strategic in addressing men who have committed adultery or have had some type of extramarital affair whether emotional or physical. I realize not all men reading this devotional plan are unfaithful in their marriage. I believe you can learn from the mistakes of others instead of making those same mistakes on your own. But here’s a fact that a lot of men ignore: EVERY MAN is at risk of temptation and has the potential to fall. Never say what you will never do because you never know. A lot of men said they would never cheat on their wives or their taxes but they did. So before you get all puffed up and prideful thinking it can’t happen to you, think again and humble yourself lest you fall prey to satan’s deception and attacks. But here’s a ray of hope and encouragement. Although every man experiences temptation, God always provides a way out of it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.”

NEXT STEPS: It’s time for a soul check-up. Take an inventory of all the inappropriate apps on your smartphone or inappropriate websites, photos, videos, etc. that could potentially open the door for lust and sin to creep in and spread like wildfire in your marriage. Remove them immediately! Also, reevaluate the friendships, acquaintances or colleagues you work with that distract you from being a faithful husband.