Some people are in the habit of saying: You “speak” it over us. In other words, because you say it, it will happen.

I do not always agree with this, although I know there is power in words, but often it doesn’t take a lot of insight or deep wisdom to see something is on the road of destruction. You don’t even need Psychology 101 to know that a terrible accident will be the end result. Speaking or no speaking.

I have to talk to my Grand West pal again. I know we still have a lot to talk about to turn his life around. I must say to him directly and clearly that a third person has no place in his marriage, except for the Lord.

As a result, you could lose your wife, your children and maybe even your business. Not that I’m “speaking” something over his marriage. It’s just that this will be the end result. It’s as simple as one plus one makes two! Continue with a relationship outside your marriage and you’re going to lose big time. That’s it!

I’m also not speaking something over someone when I say: If you are not intentionally trying to keep the peace every day, your marriage is on its way to a very rickety bridge. Even the softest little breeze can so easily blow peace in our marriages out the door, and it is indeed in that lack of peace that a space is created for destruction to blow in.

That is why Paul is so serious about this: ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house.

What do you do when you hit the gravel roads? Are you obstructive or do you move towards peace? Do you put yourself first or do you take the other one into account?

Can I tell you something? If you’re always criticising the other one, you are being obstructive. If you’re always pointing out his or her faults, you are not choosing peace. If you do not put on the love jacket, there will be no peace in your marriage. And this is not speaking something over you. This will be the logical result.

For one reason or another we are being confronted with the same thing these past few times. Maybe we should give it some more attention. Maybe you and I should make a commitment to love and peace. Let’s consciously try not to choose for ourselves first, not to sow criticism, and to leave the other one’s mistakes buried deep.

I trust you choose peace!

Scripture

Colossians 3:12-17

https://bible.com/97/col.3:12-17.msg

Reflection

I ask again:

Where does your peace fail?

Why do you think that happens?

What can you do differently?

Prayer

I pray again: Lord, today You are once again talking to many of us. Your peace is so precious and we need heaps of it. But then life interferes and we forget about it. Please help us build a bridge and get over it! Amen.