Devotion 9/28, The destruction caused by gossip
Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
Proverbs 26:20
Oh, the wisdom that is so relevant today that comes from Proverbs. From a past article in the Atlanta Journal:
“I am more deadly than a screaming shell of a howitzer. I win without killing. I tear down homes, I break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. I never forget, and seldom forgive. My name is Gossip!”
Gossip is a tool of satan, and should at the very least be avoided by God’s children (Proverbs 20:19). In fact in some cases, when we know the truth of the situation, we should correct the false statements that are being spread around (Ephesians 5:11). Our words should be chosen carefully and with one purpose, to represent the heart of God in what we say and how we say it. We must not participate in stoking the fire, the destruction, with words that are part of, or encourage gossip.
Please bless and heal those whom I have wounded with any participation in gossip. Give me the strength to say only what is helpful to bless others according to their needs, the courage to mend the relationships I have damaged because of my reckless words, and the wisdom to know how to discourage those seeking to spread gossip in front of me. In Jesus’ name, I ask it. Amen.
Father God, thank You for sending Jesus to pay my sin debt and give me eternal life with You. Help me to live my life in obedience to You Father, and to never spread gossip or do anything that would reflect badly on You. my hope is found in You. I pray the Holy Spirit give me strength to break the chains of sin, that all I say and do would be pleasing to. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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