According to 2 Tim 3:15, among so many other important good things, the Word of the Lord is meant to achieve in our lives, a major one is that the Word of God is given to us as instructions for righteousness (right living):
* Instruction for life and destiny construction
* Instruction for life and destiny redemption (reconstruction)
The Word of the Lord is hardly meant to be information for condemnation; for now, it seems to me that receiving the Word and taking a position of condemnation is either a self-made choice or a satan-induced affliction.
. This understanding is necessary because, according to the Scriptures (John 1:1-3; Gen 1:1-2; Heb 1:3) God created all things and sustains all things by the Word of His power and He continues to build His work by the same Word of life and grace - Acts 20:32, Jn 6:63b. Having had this understanding, let us now explore how we can use words to build up our relationships, but especially focussing on the family.
Admiration is about acknowledging, verbalizing, and expressing a feeling of great worth, respect and approval you have for something or someone, in this case now your spouse.
The making of earnest and passionate request. Other synonyms are entreaty, pleading, prayer, plea and supplication. Engaging words of appeal in your relationships is an indication that you are not operating from a pedestal of authority or privilege when making a request.
An average husband, especially among the Africans, wants to operate from the pedestal of authority – I am the husband; while the wife wants to operate from the pedestal of privilege – I am your wife, therefore you have to perform your responsibility.
Rather we should learn to add ‘please’ to every request made even when we think we have a claim for it. We should remember that as husband and wife, according to 1 Peter 3:7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
Prov 25:15
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. KJV
Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones. NLT When we engage the words of appeal in making request:
* It touches the heart of the person involved to want to respond – hearts are opened to respond.
* Feelings of identification and desire to care are provoked.
Counsel to Couples:
* Learn to say ‘please’ when making demands from each other. A responsible gentle man/ a cultured lady says “please” readily and often.
* Avoid using harsh/hard tone when making requests from your spouse.
* Be careful that you don’t take the posture of appeal of your spouse for granted – it should not be abused.
* Avoid nagging – do not pressurise your spouse into doing anything - Prov 21:9 - Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse. The Message
3 WORD OF PEACE – (ORO ALAAFIA) Prov 21:9
9 It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. NLT
Prov 21:19
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. KJV
It's better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. NLT
Prov 27:15-16
15 A quarreling wife is as bothersome as a continual dripping on a rainy day. 16 Stopping her is like stopping the wind or trying to grab oil in your hand. NCV
Counsel to Couples
* Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.
* Peace is not the absence of conflict from life, but the ability to cope with it.
* Avoid shouting at each other
* Avoid using offensive words
* Speak word of peace about/to each other;
* Make up your mind that you would not be a source of quarrel with your spouse or even anybody -
Rom 12:18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. NLT
* Mutually commit to the rule of God in your individual hearts: when God rules the heart, there is true peace in the home.