Getting to the Altar
Essential Connection

Communication

Art of Listening

What is communication to you? Is it you talking while others listen? Is it you already formulating a response while the other person is still speaking — without really hearing or understanding where they are coming from?

Gen Z coined the phrase being heard, being valued, and being understood — but the truth is, this desire is not new. It has always been at the core of healthy human connection.

Humility

Communication should not be about proving a point or winning an argument. It should be about coming to a mutual understanding — a meeting of the minds — and showing respect for the heart, thoughts, and perspective of another person.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” — James 1:19
Words of Grace

When communication is rooted in humility, it creates safety. When people feel heard, they are more willing to open up. When people feel respected, they are more willing to grow. This kind of communication requires patience, emotional maturity, and intentional listening — not reaction.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” — Ephesians 4:29

True communication is not about getting your point across at all costs. It is about understanding before responding, listening before correcting, and valuing the person more than the conversation itself.

When you approach communication this way — consistently, not selectively — you build a foundation that makes it easier to navigate challenges in courtship and marriage.

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1
Communication practiced well before marriage becomes a strength within marriage. It allows love to grow, trust to deepen, and unity to flourish — long after the wedding day.