Yesterday, we continued spring cleaning by ridding our heart and home of negative words/talk. Today, let's pay attention to another destructive habit, which involves our tongue--gossip.
The psalmist David asked, "Father, who can live in Your presence?" and part of the list includes "[the one] who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander [gossip, backbiting] on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man" (Psalm 15:1-3). How do you measure up with that list? Do you lie or gossip? Do you have a family member who does? It's time to get it out of your home!
In Leviticus 19:16 we are commanded, "Do not go about spreading slander among your people." Another translation says, "Do not go about being a tale bearer." Exodus 23:1 says, "Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness." Refuse to hear or speak gossip. It does not matter if it is true or false.
Matthew 7:1-2 [NIV]
"[Jesus said,] 'Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.'"
What this has to do with weight loss: I get nervous when someone asks me, "Can I tell you something?" Because I don't know what the person wants to tell me, I often respond with, "Sure. All I ask is that you tell it to Jesus before you tell it to me." That way, the Holy Spirit has an opportunity to intervene, if needed. I don't know why it is, but many of us on the weight-loss journey enjoy discussing a fellow journeyer's eating habits or weight-loss progress (or lack thereof). That's gossip, and the attitude that is often the foundation of gossip is a judgmental attitude. While it's so easy to judge people, it's detrimental--both to the one being judged and the one doing the judging. Let's just be concerned about and speak of our own journey.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, there are times when I enjoy talking about someone else. Even if it's true, it's not right. Forgive me for the times I did not speak truth from my heart, or spread a false report. Help me to take a stand against gossip, both in my heart and in my home. Help me to refuse to hear gossip, for my ears are not garbage cans. Help me to refuse to speak gossip, for my mouth should be consecrated to spreading the good news. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, free of gossip in your heart and home.
For comfort and direction, especially when facing any surgery, listen to Psalms for Surgery. Check out this CD at http://www.cdeanhall.com/products.html. Sound bite of each track available.
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