Ephesians 4:15, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ." Proverbs 15:1 (TLB), "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels."

Think

When it comes to communication in marriage, honesty is always the best policy. But we must realize, it's the way in which we speak that most frequently incites conflict, not necessarily the content. Think about how many arguments have been ignited by the words, "I'm just being honest!"  To make the most out of the marriage relationship, husbands and wives must choose their words carefully and speak truthfully to one another with compassion and tenderness. Anyone in sales and marketing will tell you that when selling a product, the packaging is as important as the product itself. When we communicate with our spouse, truth should supply the content, and love should supply the packaging. We must wrap the truth in tenderness. Never shy away from delivering the truth to your spouse, no matter how difficult it is to say. But never forget the call God has given you to love your spouse as well!

Act

Proverbs 15:1 should be kept near and dear to our hearts. Today, as you communicate and respond to your spouse, keep this verse in mind. And if you catch yourself responding to them harshly, stop! Collect yourself, and redirect your words with a tender tone.

Pray

Father God, thank You for showing me how to speak the truth in love. Help me to present the truth with tenderness and compassion, rather than being offensive and abrasive. I praise You for being the Author of truth and love! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.