Introduction
Psalms 119:105James 3:2Use a bunch of positive words.
Job 13:4-5; 19:1-3; 2:9 – Job’s friends and wife.Proverbs 18:21 – Words can do a log of good or a lot of bad.Proverbs 21:19 – “a nagging and hot-tempered wife”Colossians 3:19 – a better and harsh husbandOne the positive side, think about how husbands and wives fulfill the verses in Ephesians 5:28-29, 33 and I Peter 3:7.Proverbs 12:25 – Say positive things to your spouse.Use those little words that mean so much.“I’m sorry” – Luke 15:21“I forgive you” – Matthew 6:14-15“Please” – Acts 26:3; Nehemiah 5:10-11“Thank you” – Luke 17:16“Good job” – Proverbs 31:28-29“I love you” – Song of Solomon 1:7Plan your words carefully and soften your start-up.
Proverbs 15:1-2Ephesians 4:15, 29 – Speak in love, for edification.Proverbs 12:18 – “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tonque of the wise brings healing.”De-escalate (and respond when your spouse is trying to de-escalate).
James 1:19 – “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger”Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:8-9, 12-13 – As Christians, we can’t continue to communicate in the same old ugly ways as the past. We are new people, growing and maturing in our attitudes and words.“Four horsemen of the apocalypse” – From The Seven Principles for Making Marriage WorkHorseman 1: CriticismHorseman 2: ContemptHorseman 3: DefensivenessHorseman 4: Stonewalling“Demon dialogues” – Dr. Sue Johnson, Created for ConnectionFind the bad guyProtest polkaFreeze and fleeLearn how to learn and compromise with perpetual differences
Acts 3:19 – If we’re guilty of any sin, that needs to change.Ephesians 5; I Peter 3 – love, sacrifice, nourish, cherish, respect, honor, understandingI Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love!Speak with clarity
Genesis 11:1, 7-9There are a lot of ways God could have stopped that project. But messing up their ability to communicate was the method He chose, and it put an immediate end to their work.Imagine and husband and wife who aren’t able to communicate clearly. How will they share their lives together?I Corinthians 14:8, 19 – If your communication is not clear, what’s the point?Titus 2:4 – Who are they supposed to love? THEIR husbands.Ephesians 5:28 – Love who? THEIR wives.
