Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Don’t Just Talk, Communicate!

Dear Reader,

I want to specially welcome you to this edition of your usual column. It is my prayer that as you take practical steps to apply the Word of God that is coming your way, your home shall be heaven on earth indeed, in Jesus’ Name!

This month, via God’s Word, I will be looking at a topic titled “Don’t Just Talk, Communicate!”

Today, many marriages break down as a result of faulty communication. Couples talk and nag until they become weary of each other. Why?  Because there is no effective communication.

Communication is very vital in marriage. You may not enjoy your marriage, if you and your spouse don’t know how to communicate effectively. It is like having gold in a garden, but not knowing how to dig it out. The gold is there, but as long as it is not dug out, you cannot be enriched by it.

That is why the basis of any fruitful and lasting relationship is effective communication. God, our Father and our ultimate example, proved this to us by communicating His plans and intentions to those whom He trusted. He spoke clearly to Moses, Samuel, David, right through to Jesus and beyond Him, to those of us who love and serve Him.

Marriage without effective communication can never work! In times past, particularly in African societies, women were regarded as mere objects and a part of a man’s possessions. They were not consulted on major issues, neither were their views regarded as important.

In those days, women stayed married because they had no choice; but that has never been God’s plan. He made marriage as an avenue for both husband and wife to find fulfillment, and this comes when there is effective communication.

Remember, it takes deliberate efforts to build an enviable home.  Thus, effective communication is one of the requirements for building a successful marriage and family. Note that the need to constantly improve your communication skills and strategy cannot be over-emphasized.

However, no matter how effectively you communicate with your spouse and family members right now, it can still be improved upon;  because, there is always a better way of doing things.  As someone rightly said ‘the largest room in the world is the room for improvement.’

Don’t ever believe that you are communicating the best way.  The truth is: You can communicate better than you have been doing before, if you care to constantly improve on the strategies you engage.

Communication is the key to success in marriage. A wise man said, “If you talk together, you stay together,” and I believe it is very true. Marriage is about living lives together!

Adam’s family, for example, will help you appreciate the importance of effective communication. God commanded Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam, I suppose, believed, but failed to effectively communicate the seriousness of this command to Eve; and she took it lightly.  If you read the account carefully, you will find that in Eve’s dialogue with the serpent, she mentioned that God “said”, not “commanded” (Genesis 3:3). But God did not just say, He commanded.

So, communication must first be one-on-one, between the man and his wife, and then other members of the family. That responsibility cannot be shifted to God. He will not leave heaven to come to your home and speak to your wife or your children on your behalf. It is a non-transferable responsibility.

However, until you are born again, you cannot successfully communicate with God, which is the basis of effective communication with spouse and family members. Being born again entails confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. If you are set for this awesome experience, please say this prayer of faith with me: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today acknowledging that I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I believe You died for me and rose again on the third day. Forgive me my sins, wash me with Your Blood and write my name in the Lamb’s Book of life. Thank You Lord for saving me.”

Congratulations, you are now born again! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).