KEEP FOCUSED ON YOUR MARRIAGE (Part 2)

                                                  KEEP FOCUSED ON YOUR MARRIAGE (Part 2)                                                  

Thank God that he has given us guidelines to live by.

Many times they are not easy or fun, but boy do they work.

We always encourage people to live by God’s guidelines in order to get the results they want with a lifetime of peace.

In order to have a “Vibrant Marriage”, we must follow God’s guidelines.

Third, Communication is Every thing.

“Sweetness of the lips increases learning.  The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.”  Prov.16:21, 23 

A.)    You must follow God’s guidelines for good communication.

Are your words soft, sweet, suitable, and slow?

B.)    Identify any speech patterns that must go.

Put away speech patterns that don’t match up to God’s standards.

CASE AND POINT:  We saw a movie called “The Iron Lady.”  It was a story about Margaret Thatcher who was the prime minister of the United Kingdom during the time that Ronald Reagan was president.  The prime minister is similar to the president of the United States.  She was prime minister during the 80’s when we were missionaries in England.  She was a great lady and worked hard to pattern the footsteps of her nation after the United States to stay a vibrant and democratic country.  One of the things she had to learn early in her career was how to talk to men since she had to lead them.  Men could be loud and emotional, but she couldn’t or she would be labeled as a high strung rational woman.  They told her that men can’t handle the high pitch in a woman’s voice because it makes them emotional.  They taught her to talk low and slow and raise her voice gradually without yelling.

Margaret Thatcher changed her way of speaking so that she could change the destiny of England and lead men in the right direction that would have a lasting change for the future.

How much more should us as wives change our voice for the eternal destiny of our marriage and family.

What you say and how you say it is crucial.

Read Jesus’ words about “radical surgery” in Matt.5:29-30.

C.)     Make it a goal to encourage your husband.

Your goal as a wife is to help, heal, and minister to your husband with your words, not to slice him to pieces.

Your ugly words are like a thrust of a sword or they can be like a refreshment that edifies and encourages grace to your husband.

WORDS

A careless word may kindle strife.

A cruel word may wreck a life.

A brutal word may smite and kill.

A gracious word may smooth the way.

A joyous word may light the day.

A timely word may lessen stress.

A loving word may heal and bless.

D.)    Be quick to say you are sorry.

This is the best way to defuse a situation that could get worse.

E.)     “Say what you mean, but don’t say it meanly!”

F.)     Seek to please God with your words.

NOTE:  Many of the comments and the poem were taken from the book “A wife after God’s own heart” by Elizabeth George.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage succeed.