Change Your Words, Change Your MarriageSample

Fast Words That Destroy Your Marriage

We live in a toxic verbal culture. It is as if all the boundaries of decency and morality are gone. John Maxwell, the marvelous Christian author, said he discovered the most profound behavioral principle of life: people do what people see. Here's the deal: we are influenced and impacted by what is happening around us. The radio, TV, movies, and just about any other form of mass communication exposes you and your marriage to vulgar, debasing language. The "F-bomb" is a part of everyday talk.

But it gets more alarming. Marriage, the staple for God's family, receives the brunt of sarcastic humor, caustic portrayal, and verbal attacks. Marriage is in the direct line of the enemy's fire.

God's vision for your marriage is intimacy and unity. It is His essential purpose. And the enemy is always out to destroy God's essential purpose. Satan uses complaining, sarcasm, criticism, judgments, and gossip to keep God's purposes at bay in your relationship.

How are you to turn back the enemy's attacks and the world's influence on your marriage? Fast these negative words into oblivion! Fast? Yes, fast. There are things in the spiritual realms that only occur by prayer linked to fasting (Is. 58:6). When you fast these negative words, you break the enemy's chains on your marriage. You will set yourself free to develop greater intimacy in your relationship. Bad habits and baggage you have carried around for years or a lifetime will fall by the wayside.

On Day 1, I wrote about the power of words. It is a concept that's easy for us to understand—it is where we live every day. However, considering the dynamic power of fasting words may be new ground for most of you.

Why is fasting words so powerful? You have to read God's Word for the answer. Take the time to study these scriptures: James 1:26, 3:2, Matt. 15:18, 18:18, and Prov. 13:3, 17:28. There are so many more scriptures that address the power and results of not speaking damaging words. They point to this dramatic conclusion: fast complaining, sarcasm, criticism, judgments, and gossip, and you will unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in your life for wisdom, to cleanse your mind, and find intimacy with Christ and your spouse.