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The War on Gossip

Over the past week, how many times have we spoke evil of another? I have been guilty this week of "idle speech" or empty gossip and this is a despicable trait. Like a swarm of locust, gossip can swoop into a deserted heart and destroy all the "green" and beauty leaving it barren.

Be angry, and do sin but speak the the truth. Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath. (Ephesians 4:25-26) This chapter goes on to say that no "rotten talk" should come out of your mouth except what is good about someone and building them up.

What gets in our way?? jealousy, envy, insecurity, and impatience.... we forget our assignment... to walk worthy... I am often taken wrong... the confidence i seem to advertise is many times "cover girled" with insecurity... It leaves a bad taste... bad impression... and when you live your life around what people think of you... this can become a damaging concoction...

Also, when we gossip, we may be masking our own fear... fear of rejection... fear of imperfection... fear of our true self being revealed... when we focus on the flaws of another... our fear of confrontation is temporarily suspended by the "rotten talk" of another...

Bitterness grows heavy in the hearts of those who fight sadness... Who cannot settle in quiet... who must rush... and rush... we avoid battles set off by truth... because we hide in the lie that we can please everyone by telling them what they want to hear... empty flattery... to win a fake contest where we are the adoring hero... who cannot make mistakes...

behind closed doors we launch missles at others... a blindside is coming... we secretly wage war on the ones we pretend to love... a missile launched is seen clearly by the enemy... the secrets are revealed... and we are exposed as an imposter... we cry seemless tears because we cannot believe our truth is unveiled... but in hindsight we realize that our own insecurity... instability... and fear of "losing" cost us our freedom...

Guard our tongues... our hearts... and futile thoughts... find and destroy the "weapons of mass destruction" (our gossiping tongue)...and make peace, not war...

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