Most of us say, “It will never happen to me,” or “My marriage isn’t at risk.” But listen to the cold, hard facts: It’s estimated that roughly 30 to 60% of all married individuals (in the United States) will engage in infidelity at some point during their marriage.

If you think your marriage isn’t at risk, or that you’ll never be tempted in your marriage, think again. The fact is, we’re all at risk – if we don’t take steps to stop an affair before it starts. So just who is susceptible to an affair? Someone who is experiencing:

• Boredom in marriage
• Lack of sexual activity in marriage
• Lack of compliments, validation, and appreciation from your spouse
• Lack of attention from your spouse
• Lack of intimate time in prayer and God’s Word

For men and women, adultery begins in the heart. And for men particularly, it begins when the heart is not guarded against what the eyes sees and what the mind fantasizes. A woman is more likely to be tempted sexually on an emotional level. There is certainly a physical attraction, but it’s usually the accompanying emotional bonding and attachment that leads a woman into an adulterous affair. She is enticed by a man’s tenderness, openness, warmth, personality, affection, and attentiveness.

When you sense that someone else is captivating your heart in some way, when this attraction results in increased disappointment or frustration toward your spouse or when you begin to dwell on or flirt with your fascination, it’s time to confront the threat. It’s not too late, but it’s late enough.

Are you entertaining any of these common lies and partial truths – or others like them?

• His/her flirting and attention makes me feel good or young again, and it’s not hurting anyone.
• We have a connection. He/she really understands me.
• I can talk easily to him/her about everything. He/she focuses on me and gives me time to talk.
• There’s chemistry between us. I can tell he/she is attracted to me. I can see myself ending up with him/her.

Stop! You must set a boundary now! You must establish a respectful relational distance between yourself and the man or woman who captures your attention. We’re not talking about cutting off all contact with the opposite sex. We’re talking about being cautious and alert for temptation in these relationships and maintaining a margin of distance that will help you resist those temptations.

If you find yourself attracted to another person, or entertaining some of the lies and partial truths we listed, you need to set up those boundaries now. Don’t allow any unwholesome thought to take hold in your mind. Don’t gaze into the other person’s eyes, the windows of the soul; eye contact in a conversation is good, but if you catch a look that’s too intense or too engaging and that makes you uncomfortable, avert your eyes and resist that gaze. Don’t meet alone with members of the opposite sex behind closed doors or in private settings. Be careful with physical touch. Keep conversation general. When all else fails, run for your life. Literally.