This has been me in the darkest times in my relationship with my spouse. How do you interpret this proverb?
Man o man o man o man!!
Anybody else need this wisdom today? I had an instance with my WoA spouse just this morning that I would have been best served to just keep my mouth shut.
Guard your mouth
This is a prayer I need sometimes. Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 Having a WoA spouse, I must be vigilant in what comes out of my mouth and the damage it can do. Sometimes, the imagery of setting a guard over your…
Do you start fights with your spouse?
This is one I am 100% guilty of doing. Sometimes it starts with a legitimate complaint but it can easily escalate into criticism which then baits a fight. As usual, Proverbs has some wisdom for us: Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Proverbs 17:14…
Arrogant Words?
Today we have more wisdom from Proverbs concerning the way we use our words: Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool- Proverbs 17:7a Another translation says it this way: Excellent speech becomes not a fool. From Gill’s Exposition on the Bible: “Excellent speech becometh not a fool,…. A wicked man. Eloquence, or a sublime grand…
Pleasant Words
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words to our WoA spouses do more than pay lip service to their preferred love language. They can actually provide nourishment to their soul and healing to their bodies. I’ve noticed that when I speak WoA into my…
Follow Your Heart?
A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Proverbs 16:23 Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary adds some clues as to what this means for us: “The wise man’s self-knowledge, always suggests something proper to be spoken to others.” Additionally, This seems to suggest that we follow our hearts, be wise, and guided…
T.E.A.M.
I recently heard a podcast interview with Brandy Salazar from https://legendarycouples.com who wrote The Miracle Morning for Couples. One snippet I gathered from the great interview was the acronym TEAM. Which stands for the following she recommends daily for connection in marriages: T – Touch E – Educate A – Affirm M – Meeting When…
Weigh your answers!
I am the king of snide answers to questions my WoA spouse asks. Some are sarcastic and intended to be funny but some frequently go too far. Proverbs has some wisdom: The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. Proverbs 15:28 My takeaway from this is that…
A timely word
I’ve found that some situations require a timely word. Rather than letting it stew, replying to the situation immediately is important. This is not easy for someone who doesn’t speak Words of Affirmation (WoA). What can you do to identify those key moments with your spouse and speak affirming words into them?