Memory Verse: Jeremiah 33:3 ’Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show
you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
God
says, “you talk to Me and I’ll talk back …”
Communication is a necessity in every relationship.
Communication
is a necessity, not a luxury
Communication
means that the message that was sent is the same message which is received.
Meanings are not in words, meanings are in people … words are very
imprecise vehicles of communication.
To know the meaning of the word used, you need to know the person
who used it.
We
are all from different worlds, speaking different languages.
If
a spouse or family member says to you, “That’s not what I meant!” – Just
believe them … why? Because, that’s not what they meant!
Ecclesiastes 7
21 Also do not take to heart
everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you.
22 For many times, also, your
own heart has known That even you have cursed others.
There
is a difference between Conflict avoidance & Conflict management
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer
turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
You
are communicating even when you are not speaking and often, your silence is
screaming louder than you think … and it might not always be saying what you
are thinking … but you are responsible for it anyway!
Here
are 7 Tips to Facilitate Healthy Communication
1.
Seek to understand before you seek to be understood
a. Hear before being
heard
b. Ask for clarification
c. Swift to hear, slow
to speak and slow to anger
James 1:19 Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to
anger
2.
Don’t interrupt
a. Rude roadblocks to
communication
b. Causes diversions
c. Adds additional
problems
Note
on Problem Solving:
Solve one problem at a time!
3.
Agree with the truth
a. Disagreement makes
you look like you are not listening
b. Or don’t care or
just being obstinate or mean
c. Parrot the truth –
it will evoke clarification/redirection
4.
Role Play
a. Switch roles – argue
the other side
b. Give one good point
for every one bad point
5.
Sit down and take time to communicate
a. Set up a non
distracting environment
b. Choose a
non-threatening time – not immediately after a problem … that’s often read as
fussing
c. 2 minute intervals –
take turns
i. 1 speaks
ii. 1 listens and does
not interrupt or make gestures
6.
Establish principles before problems
a. Issue oriented
communication can evoke emotional barriers
b. You cannot win an
emotional argument
7.
Get on it, get off it and get over it
a. While you are
getting, get help if you need it!
