How to Communicate Well
ICS Daily Devotions
James 3:5-6 (NKJV) Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles? And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
Good communication is the backbone of any healthy relationship. In the above Scripture, James emphasises the need to bridle our tongues and the destructive power of our words. He said that the tongue is a fire that brings a world of iniquity or sin, and it is set on fire by hell. The tongue has deadly poison and unruly evil and will spit out poisonous words influenced by demonic spirits. Uncontrolled, it can be very destructive.
James 1:19-20 (NKJV) So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
We also need to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. We fail to control what we say when we walk in the flesh because it is all about ourselves rather than how others will feel after hearing what we say. Surely, we have all been at the receiving end of harsh and unkind words ourselves.
Clear, concise, and timely communication is key to preventing misunderstanding. This includes the communication of our expectations in roles and responsibilities. Communication has three components with the following weights: content (7%), tone (38%), and nonverbal (55%), so we need to be careful of the tone of our voice because different tones carry different meanings and intentions. We might also want to get a hold of our emotions before communicating what is really on our minds so the flesh does not get the better of us. Face-to-face communication is always better than text messages because people tend to read between the lines. It allows both parties to look into the eyes, listen to the tone, and observe the facial expressions and body language, lessening the chances for the devil to divide and conquer.
Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who live it will eat its fruit.
We live in a culture where people think they are entitled to say whatever they want, free from any accountability, responsibility, or repercussions, but life and death are in the power of the tongue. Many marriages and friendships have been strained or destroyed because of individuals who weren’t able to control their tongues. Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit’s help to discard words that should not be a part of our vocabulary because we will reap what we have sown with our words, especially in relationships.
Sermon Series: Before You Say I Do
