To Keep Me From Gossiping
Gracious Father,
Guard me from gossip on all fronts – from initiating it, from listening to it, and from passing it along to others. Should gossip ever reach our ears, let it die there. You call us not to tear down, discredit, or slander the reputation of others, but to speak well of them and defend them. When we justify discussing the negative words and actions of others because they’re true, what we don’t often realize – and need to confess – is that our hearts in those cases aren’t. Forgive me for speaking ill of others – even when it is the truth – when the motivations of my heart are malicious or unloving. Move me instead to use my words to build up and edify others, to praise and speak well of them, to guard and protect their reputation whenever I can, for a good name is a great treasure!
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.