Control My Tongue!

Take control of what I say, O Lord,
and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil
or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
of those who do wrong.

(Psalm 141:3-4 NLT)

Gossip can be pretty tricky and it can snare you pretty quickly. One moment you can be saying something honoring to God and the next moment you find yourself caught up in the trap of gossip. I admit that I have fallen into this trap many times. For me, this usually happens when I am upset, angry, or hurt by someone. All someone has to do is bring up that person's name and it is hard for me to hold back the tongue lashing I think they deserve. Have you found yourself in that trap before? Immediately after I speak a word against someone, I feel guilty. I know it is wrong. I ask God time and time again to show me when I am gossipping. What God has revealed to me about my sin problem is that it is so much easier to speak badly about someone when I am harboring bitterness and unforgiveness in my heart toward them. Some how I think that by speaking ill of them, they are getting what they deserve for hurting me. Been there? In reality, I am only hurting myself and damaging my integrity. God has shown me time and time again that people will reap what they sow. That includes those who hurt me and that includes me was well. God is the only just judge and the only one who rightfully can judge. I don't want to sow seeds of gossip, anger, resentment, bitterness, and unforgiveness. I want to sow seeds of encouragement, joy, love, and forgiveness. What about you? David asked for God to take control of what he says and help him to not drift towards evil. Gossiping is a sin.... it's drifting towards evil and it does not honor God.

Father God, help me today to honor you with all that I say and do. Forgive me for gossipping about your children. Control my tongue so that I will speak love and mercy into the lives of your children, whom you love very much, no matter how much they have hurt me. Thank you for reminding me that I hurt people too. Help me to live out my faith in you towards all of those around me so that they will only be able to see you in me. Father let all that I do point back to you and not to my sinful self. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.