The Countdown: 7-Day Devotional for the Soon-to-Be HusbandMostra

LIPS

Typically, at the end of a western wedding ceremony, the officiate tells the man to take the lead and salute his new bride with a kiss. Although you may be looking forward to this moment to seal your covenant with your future wife, I would love for you to consider leading your future wife in another important area using your mouth–that is your words.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (NKJV) The writer of Proverbs is offering us great wisdom here especially as a future husband. You see, we can choose the type of atmosphere we want to have in our homes by the words that cross our lips.

My question to you is a simple one, how are you doing with that? Are you a man who uses his words to build up or to tear down? My friend, the fruit of your words that you sow creates the environment you both will reap. My prayer is that you will be a man who leads his wife in speaking life and not death. Even God the Father encouraged the children of Israel to “choose life” in Deuteronomy 30:19. It’s your choice.

How should we avoid death in the way we speak to our spouses? I’m glad you asked! Lying, gossip, backbiting and even slander can be detrimental to your relationship. It is wise to avoid all of these, especially slander. Webster defines slander as “a false and defamatory oral statement about a person”. When you slander a person you are trying to destroy their reputation. The Midrash Tehillim, a commentary to the book of Psalms, says when you slander, three people are harmed in the transaction: the slanderer, the slandered, and the person who is listening.

However, as the leader of your home you can choose life-giving words. These could be words of praise, affirmation, blessing and even intercession. That’s right, you get the wonderful opportunity to pray for your spouse. How amazing is that? You get the privilege to offer prayers openly or even in your private time for your spouse. And the opposite happens when you choose to intercede instead of slander. Three individuals are actually blessed when this transaction takes place: you the intercessor, your spouse the one you are interceding for and Christ the One who is receiving your prayers for your spouse.

My friend, I hope this has motivated you to yield your mouth to the Lord. As you lead in this area, the spiritual legacy that you will start will have ripple effects for years to come.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the gift of speech. I repent for not always using my words to uplift and bless. Help me use my words to speak life-giving words not death over my future family. I also pray that my speech will always be gracious and seasoned with salt as Colossians 4:6 instructs. It’s in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.