Power of Words

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:36-37

We may not realize the power of each spoken word, but our spouse does. It either uplifts or cuts them clean to the core.

First responders encounter people who by the very nature of what they say may be understood as a threat to our wellbeing. They can be charged with a criminal offense, yet, when we use the very same context toward our spouse, we don’t consider the severity of what was said against them.

Your spouse is not the enemy or some street-level encounter. Married couples should not measure individual successes by arguments won and lost. Both lose when confrontation becomes the standard.

Wasted words also have eternal consequences. If couples could witness this holy judgment like they watch episodes of #LivePD, there would be fewer negative, hurtful words spoken to each other.

And, while we’re thinking through the verse above, please review everything you’ve said to your spouse in the last 24 hours. How about the last 12 hours, or more realistically, the last few hours? How would you be judged — condemned or acquitted?

Just as we learn the laws as to not break them, we too can learn or relearn to speak positive, affirming words to our spouse. When we truly see our spouse in the context of God’s gift to us, there’s no desire to demean or harm that gift through negative communications.

Forgiveness, affirmation, and understanding will help you avoid the marital autopsy. Learning to say, “I’m sorry,” also defuses lots of hot situations.

CALL TO ACTION:

Commit to focusing on what you say to your spouse. Set the timer on your phone for one hour, with the reminder to record your words. Only your words, not theirs.

After the timer goes off, start writing out strong, aggressive, and hurtful words you used while talking to your spouse. Then decode the pattern of your speech as to whether it’s similar to street and locker room talk or positive speak that uplifts your spouse.