Scripture Text: Philippians 4:8

Abstain from all appearance of evil! Once it's looking like evil or sin, flee!- 1 Thessalonians 5:22

What is Emotional Affair?

The term emotional affair describes a type of relationship between people. The term often describes a bond between two people that mimics or matches the closeness and emotional intimacy of a romantic relationship while not being physically consummated- Wikipedia

Emotional affair can also be called emotional infidelity. Emotional infidelity involves a partner engaging in any activity with another person, whether real or imaginary, which has a negative impact on the established relationship. The person becomes emotionally unavailable, and this impacts the physical and emotional energy they can extend to their partner.

Emotional affairs often start out as a harmless, platonic friendship, but can develop into infidelity when someone becomes too invested in and too reliant on someone that is not their partner. It's important to distinguish here between close, healthy friendships and emotional affairs.

Married partners must value their relationship the way the Lord does and work on ways to strengthen it and build closeness. The Lord also forbids adultery or lusting for a person outside of marriage (Proverbs 6:25; Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:28).

Causes of Emotional Affair?

Emotional affairs are often a result of feeling neglected, misunderstood or overlooked in a relationship. If a person believes that their partner does not value them, or does not have time for them, then they might strike up a friendship with a new person who offers more emotional investment and support.

Some Signs of Emotional Affair

Today, many people are innocently having emotional affairs, which may be injurious to relationship with their spouse and with God. Some signs you must not overlook are:

1. When you intimately think about someone or opposite sex more than your spouse to the extent that you are having sex with the person in the dream. You prefer to discuss or confined with them rather than your spouse .
2. When you see someone and you are sexually aroused and the person is not your spouse, especially when such feeling doesn't bother you or immediately leads you to ask for God's forgiveness and total repentance.
3. Speaking with the opposite sex for hours while you don't talk long with your spouse, especially on sensitive issues that may be emotional.
4. Pointing out your lips or carrying your body in front of opposite sex seductively.
5. Hugging an opposite sex who is not your spouse in a compromising way.
6. Frequent contact with someone you may be attracted to and who is not your spouse.
7. Sharing secrets with someone who is not your spouse.
8. When you have a physical chemistry around someone who is not your spouse and you are not doing anything to stop that feeling.
9. You share things with the other person that you haven't shared with your spouse.
10. You think about this other person as the source of your strength whenever you are facing any challenge but never think of your spouse in such manner.

However, if emotional affair is not well handled, the possibility of it turning into physical intimacy is very high.

How To Overcome Emotional Intimacy

- Be an immigration officer to the door of your heart. Guard your heart and know the thoughts that come into it.
- Don't be too friendly with an opposite sex who is not your spouse.
- Avoid sharing your problems with someone who is not your spouse, especially with an opposite sex who is having similar issues or problems.
- Be godly, holy, self-disciplined, and guard your mouth.
- Do not spend more time with another person than you do with your spouse.
- Avoid secret conversation with an opposite sex who is not your spouse.
- Do not share intimate details of your life with anyone before sharing it with your spouse.
- Live transparently. Do everything as if your spouse were present
- Devote personal time to prayer and Bible study. Ask God to put a hedge around your marriage (Job 1:10).
- Avoid emotional and sexual affection that can destroy your marriage or home.
- Ask God for the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in you, especially self-control.
-Plan time with your spouse on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and use those times to build emotional closeness.
-Maintain a pure thought life. Do not entertain fantasies about other people.
- As shown in today's Scripture: Philippians 4:8 "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are:
True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Of good report
Virtue
Praise
Think of these things.

God bless you, amen!

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world, in Your name I pray, amen"

Congratulations!!!

Peace!