“I will think before I speak, making sure my words are good, promoting harmony, edification, and health to the listener.”
How you say it is just as important as what you say.
Communicate; Communication: (Websters) To express oneself effectively. The exchange of ideas, messages, or information by speech, signals, or writing.
Words are powerful!
Proverbs 18:20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, from the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (NKJ)
We create our environment with our words.
The healthy or unhealthy atmospheres of our homes are created by words. Some of the greatest joys in life are things people have said to us. Some of the worst things in life are things people have said to us. Some of the deepest regrets we have in life are things we’ve said.
It’s important to keep our relationship free from offenses and unforgiveness. We need to give our spouse a safe place to come.
WHAT THE WORD SAYS
1 Peter 3:10 For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.
James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
TEN COMMUNICATION KILLERS
- Negative body language.
- Failing to fully listen.
- Withdrawing.
- Changing the subject
- Clamming up or pouting.
- Losing control.
- Making big things out of little things.
- Attempting to mind read or psychoanalyze.
- Seeking peace at any cost/caving in.
- Turning up the volume on the TV.
THE NEXT STEP
It’s important to take time to communicate your wishes, hopes & dreams as a couple.
Ways to set aside time:
- Annual vision retreat.
- Quarterly get together.
- Weekly consultations.
- Daily catch-ups.
Plan your first retreat around the Marriage Building 101 Small Group. Get the individual kit for you and your spouse or get the full class kit for a group. Use those six weeks to jump start and refresh your marriage relationship.
DOWNLOAD THE FIVE-YEAR-PLAN FOR COUPLES
A NEW MARRIAGE RESOURCE FROM JOE
For your gift of any amount to the Fighting for Families radio outreach this month (August), we’ll send you the new DVD Becoming One as a thank you.
[If you would prefer to purchase the DVD, click here.]
STAY CONNECTED
Newsletter Signup
