We can look at the success of our communication in two ways: the logistics--like, the actual thing that happens after the communication; and the long-term impact--any inside-out change that occurred as a result of the communication. The relationship, the character, the state of the heart.

Changing the outside is easy; it’s the inside-out change that makes all the difference. That’s where the heart stuff comes in. But when we change from the inside-out, when we do the heart work, everything else that flows from it is better because of that change.

So how do we change our communication from the inside out? How do we change our hearts so that our communication is pleasing and effective? I have three ideas.

First, we figure ourselves out.

God’s love language is PEOPLE. He sent us a savior so that we would be free from the old law and embrace his final word of grace, and to me that says that people are pretty important to him. One way to honor that is by honoring his love language, honoring people. Which we can do when the goal of our communication is true, right, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

Listen in for some ideas on how to up the love in your daily communication.