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There was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up…. Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
Jonah 1:4; Acts 27:20

Recommended Reading: Acts 27:21-25

Jonah encountered a storm in the Mediterranean Sea that nearly took his life. A similar thing happened to the apostle Paul in Acts 27 on the same sea and with the same raw terror. In Jonah’s case, the prophet’s sin precipitated the storm. In the case of Paul, the storm arose for other reasons. In both cases, God used the storms to develop the souls of his two servants.

Not every storm happens because of sin, but every storm can be used by God to shape our faith and character and draw us closer to Him. How we wish we could avoid storms! Bereavement! Illness! Anxiety about our loved ones! Yet there has never been a storm beyond the reach of our Savior’s outstretched arm. We often learn more about Him in the storm than in the sunshine.

When you experience a difficult trial, look for how God is helping you to grow in your relationship with Him.

The Lord’s our rock, in Him we hide, a shelter in the time of storm.
Vernon Charlesworth

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“Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “do I not fill heaven and earth?”
Jeremiah 23:24

Recommended Reading: Jonah 1:1-6

An online article featured hilarious photos of children trying to play hide-and-seek. One boy was betrayed by his shadow. Another thought hiding under a blanket in the middle of the kitchen was the perfect spot. A third crawled beneath a rug, unaware of the obvious hump she created. And a fourth removed the lampshade from a lamp, placed it over his head, and assumed he had disappeared completely.

The Lord must look with amusement at our attempts to hide from Him. We cannot run away; He fills heaven and earth. When Jonah ran from God, the Lord sent a storm after him. There was no place he could have gone where the Lord wouldn’t find him. Yet doesn’t that show us how much God loves us? When we move away from God’s presence, we can be assured He will find us.

If you’re hiding from God or if you are trying to hide something from Him, admit it. Ask the One who fills heaven and earth to fill you with His love and mercy.

When you feel like running away, claim your privilege as a child of God and approach the throne of grace.
Warren Wiersbe

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Then [David] took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had.
1 Samuel 17:40

Recommended Reading: 1 Samuel 17:40-47

The story of David—especially his epic face-off with Goliath—speaks to every generation. Even recently, a television series and a major animated feature film have brought the story of David to life for modern audiences. When we read the Bible story, we cannot help but notice the number five.

Why five stones? The Bible doesn’t say. Some suggest David anticipated more than one opponent since Goliath had relatives. Others point out that a skilled slinger would naturally carry several stones. Most simply, David was prepared. His faith in God didn’t eliminate wise action. Like an old Revolutionary War adage—“Trust in God, but keep your powder dry.” David trusted the Lord fully, but he was also well armed.

Here is an application for us. We face many giants in life. Some are problems that we must try to solve, and others are temptations that we must overcome. The Bible has more than 31,000 verses. So when a giant problem or temptation confronts you, gather into your mental pouch five smooth Bible verses. God’s Word is rock solid when it comes to our victory.

The Bible was given not to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.
D. L. Moody

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Then [David] took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had.
1 Samuel 17:40

Recommended Reading: 1 Samuel 17:40-47

The story of David—especially his epic face-off with Goliath—speaks to every generation. Even recently, a television series and a major animated feature film have brought the story of David to life for modern audiences. When we read the Bible story, we cannot help but notice the number five.

Why five stones? The Bible doesn’t say. Some suggest David anticipated more than one opponent since Goliath had relatives. Others point out that a skilled slinger would naturally carry several stones. Most simply, David was prepared. His faith in God didn’t eliminate wise action. Like an old Revolutionary War adage—“Trust in God, but keep your powder dry.” David trusted the Lord fully, but he was also well armed.

Here is an application for us. We face many giants in life. Some are problems that we must try to solve, and others are temptations that we must overcome. The Bible has more than 31,000 verses. So when a giant problem or temptation confronts you, gather into your mental pouch five smooth Bible verses. God’s Word is rock solid when it comes to our victory.

The Bible was given not to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.
D. L. Moody

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But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:1-6

In the old movie Young at Heart, there’s a scene in which Barney Sloan (Frank Sinatra) is so discouraged he turns off his windshield wipers while driving in a snowstorm. He can no longer clearly see the road, and everything is blurred. It’s a frightening moment that illustrates how we often look at life. We can “turn off the wipers” in our own lives by neglecting truth and withdrawing from God’s Word.

The only way to see clearly is by looking at things through the eyesight of Jesus. Paul twice spoke of “the mind of Christ.” He told the Philippians, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), and he said to the Corinthians, “But we have the mind of Christ.”

Having the mind of Christ means having the Savior’s point of view. We learn to think as He does, not as the world thinks. Here is a verse to say aloud today and to turn into a prayer for this hour: “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5, NIV).

Believers must regain the use of the mind for God’s glory.
Bill Muhlenberg

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Recommended Reading: Psalm 37:3-5

The digital age has brought us cars with built-in navigation systems and phones with maps powered by GPS satellites. We also have the option of riding in self-driving cars! Making the transition from depending on our own skills to trusting computerized devices can be challenging.

The same can be said when it comes to navigating through life. Before becoming a Christian, we trusted in our own skills, instincts, and decisions to make our way. But once we enter into a relationship with God, we find a different strategy is recommended—the strategy of trust. When we are driving and using a computerized map, we might question directions we are given based on traffic or construction delays. We might even ignore the directions and go our own way. But Solomon warned against such a strategy for life. Against our natural inclinations, we are told to “trust in the Lord with all [our] heart, and lean not on [our] own understanding; in all [our] ways acknowledge Him.”

If you need direction for your future, depend on God’s instructions instead of your own; let Him direct your path.

Doubt breeds distress but trust means joy in the long run. 
Charles Spurgeon

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He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
Proverbs 15:27

Recommended Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-10; 1 Timothy 6:17-19

The apostle Paul had appointed his young protégé Timothy to oversee the growing church in Ephesus. As a large, sophisticated, commercial center, Ephesus no doubt had a sizable population of wealthy people. That fact prompted Paul to write Timothy a lengthy passage about the dangers of pursuing wealth as a source of contentment or godliness and instructions for what wealthy people should do with their money (1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19).

Solomon wrote that pursuing riches for the sake of gain alone would bring trouble into one’s life. And Paul wrote Timothy the same thing: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). Note that it is not money but the love of money that brings sorrow. What should wealthy people do instead? “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (verse 18). Instead of being greedy, be generous.

To the degree God has blessed you, look for ways to be a blessing to others (2 Corinthians 8:11-12).

It is the best riches not to desire riches.
Thomas Brooks

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He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
Proverbs 22:9

Recommended Reading: John 7:37-39

Are you a puddle or a pipeline? When water collects in a puddle, it becomes stagnant and brackish; it has no outlet or circulation. A pipeline, on the other hand, is filled with water; its job is to convey refreshing liquid to the spigot for the benefit of others. What flows in is meant to flow out.

Proverbs reminds us that God blesses those who live according to His will. But His blessings are never intended for selfish consumption. From the beginning, God told His people they would be blessed to become a blessing to others.

Think how God has blessed you—your time, resources, and opportunities. Are those blessings collecting like stagnant puddles, or are they flowing like life-giving streams? The healthiest Christian life is one marked by both receiving and releasing. Ask the Lord today to make you a channel of living water. As you bless others, you’ll discover something wonderful: God keeps the pipeline full.

God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.
Randy Alcorn

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A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
Proverbs 11:13, NIV

Recommended Reading: 1 Timothy 5:11-16

Psst! Guess what? Did you hear? You’ll never guess what happened? I don’t like to repeat gossip, so listen carefully the first time!

Proverbs warns against participating in gossip, but what exactly is it? We all talk about daily events and the situations our friends face. So when does it become gossip? Perhaps when we share something about another person that they wouldn’t want others to know—speaking behind their back in a way that damages them.

Proverbs says, “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.… A gossip separates close friends…. A gossip betrays a confidence…. Without a gossip a quarrel dies down” (18:8; 16:28; 11:13; 26:20, NIV).

We must be careful not to hear or convey evil speech. Our words should always build up and not tear down. Have you been guilty of repeating unkind or unwise words? If so, ask God to forgive you and to give you the internal discipline to refrain from evil gossip. Be discreet; don’t repeat!

All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, except on our prayer lists.
D. A. Carson

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He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.
Ephesians 4:11

Recommended Reading: Ephesians 4:11-16

People took their seats and waited for the concert to begin. The musicians were world-class, and the music would be masterful. Suddenly each musician began playing their instrument with polished skill—violinists, flutists, percussionists. But the sound was a confusing set of grating noises. Then the conductor stepped onto the platform. With a single motion, the instruments began playing in a balanced and beautiful way.

In Ephesians 4, Paul tells us the Church is a group of people, each with their own gifts and role to play, and we must follow the direction of Jesus. Some are apostles, missionaries who are sent to plant churches. Some are prophets, taking the Word of God and exhorting. Some are evangelists with a gift of leading others to Christ. Others are pastors who shepherd the flock and teachers who feed the flock.

The end result? We will be built up with unity and maturity. Take your place, and remember when each of us follows Christ’s lead, our churches will not be a collection of noise but a symphony of grace sounding forth the truth.

Pastors and teachers are to equip the saints…to serve, to build the Body, to be the church in the world and do the work of ministry.
Charles Colson

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From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
Proverbs 10:31, NIV

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 10:21-33

A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.

Try saying that three times in a row! What a marvelous, God-designed gift is our tongue! We use it for talking (even saying tongue-twisters) and for tasting and eating. It can do so much good when we use our words to encourage, to lift up, and to build up. We can use our speech to share the Gospel and lead people from the kingdom of darkness into the realm of grace. We can say, “Thank you,” “I love you,” and “How can I be of encouragement to you today?”

But the same tongue can also cause a lot of pain and trouble. As Christians, we must break our tendency to gossip, curse, lie, flatter, criticize, and brag.

Spend time each day in the Word of God, guarding your heart so that only righteous words come out of your mouth. “From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom.” The tongue reveals what the heart is storing.

A timely word—spoken at just the right time to meet a particular need—how good it is!
William MacDonald

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In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Recommended Reading: Philippians 4:4-6

When Jesus gathered His disciples for the Passover meal on the night before His death, “He took the cup, and gave thanks” (Matthew 26:27). While giving thanks was normal, what the cup represented was not normal: “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (verse 28). Jesus was giving thanks for what was about to happen—the shedding of His blood.

This illustrates what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Giving thanks for the impending experience of one’s own death is certainly an example of giving thanks in everything. Both Jesus and Paul used the same Greek word for giving thanks: eucharisteo. But Paul used the imperative form of the word, making it a command. It is God’s will for us to give thanks in everything; not to be thankful is to be disobedient to His will.

Begin the practice of giving thanks in those circumstances where you might not be inclined to do so—remembering that it is God’s will.

The measure of our spirituality is the amount of praise and thanksgiving in our prayer.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

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And [King David] appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel.
1 Chronicles 16:4

Recommended Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:7-10

Children usually approach their parents to request something. Less frequently, it is to thank their parents. And the same happens in our relationship with God. We normally approach Him with requests rather than to give thanks. But based on the infinite reasons we have to be thankful, prayers of thanksgiving should far outnumber our prayers of petition.

When King David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem for the first time, he appointed some of the Levites “to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel.” They were a permanent choir of leaders whose assignment was to offer thanks and praise to God. That choir of worship leaders were the forerunners of the choirs we have in our churches today—worship leaders who lead the congregation in songs of praise and thanksgiving.

How often do you dedicate a portion of your prayer life to giving thanks to God for the benefits and blessings of knowing Him? Begin the practice of allocating more time in prayer to giving thanks.

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.
Ambrose

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Then [King David] said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”
2 Samuel 9:3

Recommended Reading: John 15:7; John 15:13-15

Saul and Jonathan died in battle, and David ascended to the throne over Israel. But David remembered his friendship with Jonathan and inquired whether any members of Saul’s house still lived.

David learned that Jonathan had a crippled son, Mephibosheth, who was living as an outcast; David summoned this son to his court. When Mephibosheth arrived, he feared for his life. But David showed him “kindness for Jonathan’s sake” (2 Samuel 9:1). He restored property to Mephibosheth and made him a resident of his court. David did this to honor his friendship with Jonathan who had saved his life when Saul sought to kill him. Jesus mirrored this kind of friendship with His disciples (John 15:13-17). Just as Jonathan had pledged to meet David’s needs (1 Samuel 20:4), so Jesus made the same pledge to His disciples who were His friends (John 15:7, 13).

Are you that loyal of a friend? Ask God for grace to be the kind of friend who is faithful in adversity.

Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods.
C. S. Lewis

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A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

Recommended Reading: 1 Samuel 18:1-3; 1 Samuel 20:1-4

The saying “blood is thicker than water” originated as a way to prioritize the bonds of kinship over friendship. But Solomon, evidenced by Proverbs 18:24, might have begged to differ. And he might have been drawing on the experience of his own father, David.

David was the youngest of eight brothers and was anointed by Samuel to succeed Saul as king of Israel (1 Samuel 16). But when David arrived at the camp of Israel’s army, his brothers treated him with disdain and ridicule (1 Samuel 17). Ironically, it was Saul’s own son Jonathan who became David’s best friend, protecting him from the attacks of Saul (1 Samuel 18). When Saul devised a plan to kill David, it was Jonathan who saved him. Jonathan’s words to David exemplify the words of a true friend: “Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you” (1 Samuel 20:4). David never heard similar words of loyalty from his own brothers. This experience may have inspired Solomon to write that there “is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Solomon also suggested that to have such a friend, one must be such a friend.

Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.
Unknown

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To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood… to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:5-6

Recommended Reading: Revelation 1:1-8

If you visit the Ulm Museum in Germany, you can find a remarkable panel from the old Buxheim monastery dating to around 1500—Arma Christi with Five Wounds. It portrays not the full figure of Christ but the five wounds of the crucifixion—His hands, feet, and side. Theologians and artists have long pondered the five wounds of Christ. But the precious blood of Jesus flowed from more than five wounds. Think of the puncture wounds from the crown of thorns and His shredded back tortured by the scourge.

Our minds are too finite, our souls are too limited, and our imaginations are too small to fully comprehend the love Jesus showed us on the Cross. Perhaps we’ll not be able to grasp all the ramifications of His death even in heaven, for it is bound up in the infinite mystery of the grace of God.

But we can say, “Thank You!”

The blood of Christ, Thy spotless Lamb, O God, is all my plea; naught else could for my sin atone; I have no merit of my own, which I can bring to Thee.
William S. W. Pond

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He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
Proverbs 13:24

Recommended Reading: Hebrews 12:5-11

Thomas Watson is one of the most quotable of all the Puritans. About divine discipline, he wrote, “Afflictions to the godly are medicinal.” Let that quote linger in your mind when you read about parental discipline in the book of Proverbs. You’ll find many verses exhorting parents to use appropriate correction to create self-discipline in the lives of their children.

Hebrews 12:5-11 says the Lord does the same to His children. Not every negative thing that befalls us is a direct chastisement, but every situation in life is an opportunity for growth. When we encounter sickness, layoffs, thwarted plans, and various other problems in life, let’s learn to ask: “What can the Lord teach me through this? How can I grow throughout this experience?”

Solomon wrote that to discipline your children is to show your love for them. In the same way, our Heavenly Father disciplines His children. When you receive discipline from God, take time to consider what He is trying to teach you, and give thanks that He loves you enough to do it.

Be chastened of the Lord … not condemned with the world.
Matthew Henry

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Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

Recommended Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Tradition from the biblical world records a practice of mothers with their newborn infants. To stimulate the nursing reflex, a mother would rub the juice from a crushed date on the lips and palate of the infant to stimulate the sucking reflex. That idea is consistent with the meaning of the Hebrew word for “train up” (or “start”) in Proverbs 22:6. The word for “train up” is also translated as “dedicate”—as in dedicating a house or a temple (Deuteronomy 20:5; Ezra 6:16; 1 Kings 8:63).

Initiate, start, dedicate, train up—all are in the semantic range of meaning when it comes to raising a child so he will not leave the moral and spiritual “way” when he is old. The book of Proverbs suggests two primary means for raising a child in “the way”: instruction and correction (discipline). Instruction identifies the way and starts him on it; correction puts him back on the way should he stray from it.

If you are a parent or grandparent, keep these two priorities in clear focus for the children in your family.

Children need to be trained, not just in the facts of life, but in the ways of life.
Anonymous

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Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well…. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
Proverbs 5:15, 18

Recommended Reading: Song of Solomon 4:15

When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, threatened to invade Judah, King Hezekiah blocked off all the springs around Jerusalem so the Assyrian army could not access water. Most famously, he blocked a spring in Gihon outside the city walls and dug a tunnel from the spring to a pool in the city to supply water for Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:1-4, 30). Known today as Hezekiah’s tunnel, tourists to Jerusalem can walk through the entire length of the 1,749-foot-long tunnel.

That historical event shows how valuable water was in the arid Middle East. Wells, cisterns, and springs were protected at all costs. Solomon used wells and cisterns to illustrate the importance of a man protecting his wife (Proverbs 5:15-20). Not only should he refresh himself from his own “well” (wife), but he should also protect his wife so that strangers will never seek refreshment from her (verse 17). A good marriage is a life-sustaining source and force.

May your marriage be nurtured and protected and be a source of life and refreshment.

There is no estate to which Satan is more opposed than marriage.
Martin Luther

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He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 18:22

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 31:10-29

The Bible was not written primarily as a marriage manual, but if you study the Word of God carefully, you’ll find invaluable principles that will help you build a strong family. The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom for choosing a spouse, establishing a marriage, building a home, and safeguarding one’s relationships.

Proverbs tells us that one of the building blocks of marriage is spiritual. If you are married or if you are considering marriage, it’s important to make sure the Lord is in the equation. The man who finds a godly wife—and the wife who finds a godly husband—finds something priceless.

If you are asking God for someone to marry, read through the book of Proverbs and notice how involved the Lord can be in the process. Proverbs 19:14 says, “Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” Proverbs 31:10 asks the question, “Who can find a virtuous wife?” Or husband? The implied answer is—the Lord!

As someone once said, “We can do more than pray after we’ve prayed, but we can’t do more than pray before we’ve prayed.”

A good marriage isn’t something you find; it’s something you make.
Gary L. Thomas

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August 10, 2026

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Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.
Proverbs 4:14-15, NLT

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 4:14-18

One of the most recent studies in marital issues found that 20 percent of married men and 13 percent of married women admit to sexual infidelity—to cheating. But not all infidelity involves sex. More than 90 percent of women and nearly 80 percent of men admit to having had an emotional affair at some point. Where do affairs start? The study shows 37 percent begin in friendship groups, 31 percent in the workplace, and 25 percent begin with social media and online.¹

We are all vulnerable! But we can also run. We can flee. We can do as Proverbs 4 says—don’t follow that path. Don’t even think about it. Don’t go that way. Turn away, and keep moving.

If you’re in a tempting situation, do everything you can to get out of it, and ask the Lord to keep you from temptation. In Genesis 39, Joseph literally ran from Potiphar’s wife, leaving his cloak in her covetous hands. Are your personal defenses weakening? Are you getting careless with your Internet use? Are you becoming too friendly in a platonic relationship? Take corrective steps now!

True love for Christ will mean hatred of sin.
John Benton

1. Kayla Crane, “Infidelity Statistics 2026: Cheating Rates, Affairs & Research Data,” South Denver Therapy, January 27, 2026.

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