Cinde Lucas Overflow Ministries

Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. There is an ugly smearing that most people, including Christians, participate in. Talking about someone and slandering someone has got to be one of the worst things that we do to one another. If we only knew the spiritual and physical damage that gossip and slander produces, then perhaps we’d do a better job of keeping our mouth shut! Lest you think that I am the perfect human who has learned to bridle my tongue, I confess that I have fallen prey to this devilish temptation. But thank God that His Spirit is faithful to convict me. Little by little, I’m getting better at recognizing that it isn’t my job to judge or ridicule others.

Yes I know that Bible says that we will know them by their fruits, but it also says that Christians are supposed to restore our fellowmen when they fall (Galatians 6:1). So how do we stop the cycle of gossip, backbiting and slander? Even if you can manage to stop saying things about others, there is no guarantee that people won’t talk about you! And when that happens, chances are that we in turn do the very thing that the enemy counts on; we start defending ourselves and/or we point out the faults of the one we know is speaking falsely about us.

When someone says something ugly about me, everything in me wants to defend myself. But that is actually not the way Jesus said that we are to behave. When He was ridiculed, mocked, and slandered He didn’t open His mouth. He never defended Himself against their accusations. He just kept on doing what He was sent to do and believing in the One who sent Him. He never got sidetracked or drawn into their antics. He was focused, compassionate, and devoted to finishing the work of God so much so that he refused to let their slander slow Him down.

When someone is talking about you, you need to remember that while you may be the subject at this time, chances are you aren’t the first and you certainly won’t be the last! My Sunday school teacher said that when someone is talking about you, they’re giving someone else a break. So rejoice that because of your suffering, someone else’s life is little better today! Second, be willing to forgive and pray for your accuser. Yeah I know you’d rather talk about them and tell how bad THEY are, but Jesus said to pray for those who persecute you and bless them. And yes I know it’s hard, but the Holy Spirit is eager to help you with this if you’ll be willing to ask Him to help you! Lastly, understand that people who thrive on hurting others are probably deeply wounded themselves. So rather than see yourself as the victim, realize they are the ones in a pit. If you will refuse to allow yourself to be affected by their words and drawn into their den of despair, you will avoid falling into the pit with them.

The world is full of people that don’t have a clue about the love and power of Jesus Christ. They live selfish, self centered lives consumed with themselves. They busy themselves with finding faults in others so that they won’t see the faults within themselves. At times, you may find yourself on the radar screen of their attacks. When this happens, raise your shield faith to quench their darts and speak words of blessings into their lives. No weapon formed against you will prosper because God is on your side to deflect the attacks of the enemy in your life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Help me today to know that the words that others speak about me are not who You say that I am. Forgive me for gossiping and slandering others; forgive me for making judgments about others, and forgive me for not trusting you to defend me when others say things about me. Father I choose to forgive those who spoken lies, gossip and slander about me. Bless them Lord with Your love, joy and peace so that they can be delivered from the pit of destruction and receive LIFE from You. In Jesus Name, Amen!

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