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Emotional cheating and physical cheating, is there a difference? Ask a man and he would say, "Yes." Ask a woman and she would say, "No." Surprisingly, both sexes are correct. Playing around with thoughts of infidelity will eventually lead to the ultimate deception, the physical act.

Cheating with one's heart or one's body is similar to an organized bank robbery. The criminals select a bank, recruit partners, pick a date, and strategically design an escape plan. However, the police receive information that a crime is about to unfold. The criminals will still be arrested for an attempted robbery verses and actual robbery. A husband will still have to pay the consequence of deceptive thoughts. Yet, his consequence will probably be less severe if his crime does not reach its full potential. A spouse will still be crushed, but dealing with an emotional affair is easier to swallow, than, knowing your life partner willingly acted on those desires. Therefore, emotional cheating is still cheating, however, it is different than physical cheating.

To prevent an emotional and/or a physical affair one must guard his heart. The crime starts in the heart and if given root produces death, the death of a relationship. Biblically, "anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) Lustfully, is not just a quick glance of admiration for beauty, it is a strong desire rolled over and over in one's mind that will destroy the bond of marriage. By remembering to turn away from temptation and focusing on ones spouse, a person will stay out of the claws of deception and faithfulness will count, not cheating.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Burkhardt.
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