#31dbc! Another beautiful fall day! Today is a tough subject and I am preaching to ME! You all are welcome to listen in…
This isn’t just about gossip, although gossip is a huge problem.
This isn’t just about talking behind our brother or sister’s back, but that is wrong too. We all are guilty.
I’m not just touching on the subject of “Oh, let me tell you about ‘Jim and Judy’ so you can ‘pray’ for them…”, when the time spent telling the “prayer request” could have been spent actually praying. Ouch.
But I have been convicted over the time I have spent talking about needs or faults, and that time gets carried away and turns into counseling sessions where we think we can solve the other person’s problems…and they aren’t even there to benefit from our newly discovered knowledge!
The Lord reminded me of several things on the subject: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV. Meaning it could very easily be ME that needs the help the next time! It could be ME that my “friends” are talking about next week! Take heed! Be careful who you are talking about this week…or as the saying goes that we see so much of lately…
“Don’t judge others because they sin differently than you…”
And this gem:
“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:5,6 NKJV.
Your gentleness. That seems Christ-like.
WWJD?
He would show mercy. He wouldn’t run and tell others. He would go straight to the one with the NEED. The one who had the problem. He would offer a helping hand!
Show them your gentleness. What can we DO for them? We can pray, make our requests known to God. Show them kindness, love and extend mercy. And if appropriate and necessary, go a step further. Do they need assistance? Do they need physical substance? If the need is obvious, fill it! If you aren’t sure, listen and let God tell you what to do!
The more I pray for the needs, quirks, and even sins, of my family, friends, co-workers and brothers and sisters in Christ, the less time I will have to pry and gossip.
I think HE will be more pleased with ME.
Be blessed.
Great advice! Gossip leads to all sorts of trouble…it’s better to simply go to the Lord in prayer!!
Blessings, Joan
Wise advice, Nan. When someone would share a need with me for prayer, I always would ask if they minded if I shared it with ______ (I would tell them who) so they could also pray. If they said yes, I would only share the need, no commentary 🙂 If they said no, I never repeated what was shared with me. There are needs going with me to my grave 🙂 Such wisdom in this post. Thank you for sharing! Blessings!
Wise advice! It does seem to be a *trap* that we women can fall into – the enemy will use anything! May we better spend our time in prayer, as you said.
GOD BLESS!