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That Other Thing in Your Life: The Internet

Devotional

The internet is amazing. It is such a big part of our lives today. It has made our world smaller. Connecting with someone on the other side of our planet is almost instant. Think about the ways it can help your marriage. You can send an email to your spouse and eliminate the middleman. We can enjoy streaming entertainment together on demand. Online shopping is a daily part of our lives so we can order that perfect gift for our spouse and have it delivered to our door as soon as today. You can read and study the Bible together with an unlimited number of resources. You can have your favorite love song played for the two of you as soon as you request it. The internet is amazing.  

Yet, as with so many good things there are also some negatives. There are things we need to be aware of if we are to have the marriages that we want and desire. One of the things that most of us don’t have enough of is time. Time is precious. The time we can spend together as a couple is priceless. Letting the internet eat into time with our spouse can be dangerous for our marriage. Sitting in front of a computer or mobile device blocks out everything else around you and that can include your spouse. I have found that I have to unplug. I have to get away from technology. Only then can I be truly present with Nancy. She needs that, I need that, and our marriage needs that. Then there is the issue of money. With everything we ever dreamed of and more online, the temptation to buy is always there. It is so easy to put something in your cart and then buy it. Yet, every time the cart wins over your budget, your marriage can be in trouble. 

Finally, the internet brings us two marriage killers. The internet has brought pornography into our homes in ways that were not possible in the past. I know so many men that never had a problem with porn until the internet. It makes going there way too easy. The other killer can be the people you meet online. Today one of the top three starting places for an affair is online. The reality is that porn and affairs are not going away.  They will always be temptations. The consequences of both can be devastating. They will damage many marriages and end many others. The marriage that you can have the most influence on is your own. You can control how you use your time and how well you follow the family budget. You can choose not to click on certain sites or connect with certain people. The internet can enhance and grow your marriage or do the exact opposite. It’s your choice. What will you choose?

Today’s Challenge

Together make a list of “no click” places to go online.

Going Deeper

Where are you vulnerable online? What are you doing or what can you do to protect yourself and your marriage?

Resource:

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