IGNYTE I will ignite the kingdom life within you,a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out -Matthew 3:11-

We have just come back from the Youth Encounter. We have been refreshed, rejuvenated, renewed and we had fun, laughter, joy and a personal face to face encounter with God. We have left the old at "Peniel" and we are walking towards a new destiny and a new season (Ps. Henry's preaching of Joshua 3 - "we have never travelled that way before" ) of our lives.

But we have to realise that we may have changed (and prayerfully for the better), but we still go back to the same old environment. That is where the rubber meets the road. We "create" the environment that we want it to be. By our presence we transform the place we live in, the friends we mix with and our interpersonal relationships.

Today we sidetrack from our normal topic and I will give you the answers to the topic on communication.

a. Be a good listener and do not answer till the other person has finished talking (Prov. 18:13, James 1:19)

b. Be slow to speak. Try not to interrupt. Think first. Don't be hasty in your words. (Prov. 15:23, 28; 21:23; 29:30; James 1:19)

c. Speak the truth but always do it in love. Do not exaggerate. (Eph 4:15, 25; Col 3:9)

d. Do not use silence to frustrate the other person. Explain why are hesitant to talk at this time.

e. Do not become involved in quarrel. It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable. (Prov. 17:14, 20:3; Rom 13:13; Eph 4:31)

f. Do not respond in anger. Use a kind and soft response (Prov 14:29, 15:1; 25:15; 29:11; Eph 4:26, 31)

g. When you are in the wrong, confess it and ask for forgiveness (James 5:16). When the other person confesses to you, tell them you forgive them. Be sure it is forgotten and not brought up to the person later (Prov 17:9; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13; 1 Pet 4:8)

h. Avoid gossip. (Prov 10:19; 17:9; 20:5)

i. Do not blame or criticize the other person but restore him/her, accept and edify him/her (Rom 14:3; Gal 6:1; 1 Thess 5:11). If the other person verbally attacks, criticises, or blames you, do not retaliate in the same manner (Rom 12:17; 1 Pet 2:23, 3:9)

j. Try to understand the other person's perspective. Make allowances for differences. Be concerned about his/her interest (Phil. 2 : 1-4; Eph 4:2)

Hope we will learn to be good communicators.