Text: Psalm 41:5-9
Memory verse:
“The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.”
‭‭Prov‬ ‭18‬:‭8‬; 26:22 NKJV

Most of us, don’t really know that we are gossiping when we are deep into conversation with our friends. Most people, in actual sense, don’t also want to gossip. We just find ourselves doing it, like an addiction. This is because gossip can be just fun, providing some sort of guilty pleasure. Prov‬erbs ‭18‬:‭8‬; 26:22 describe the attraction of gossip as “tasty trifles“ (NKJV), “choice morsels”(NIV), “delicious morsels” (ESV), “dainty morsels” (ASV), a tasty treat that promises delight to those who indulge in it. I love the way these other translations picture it.
“Gossip is so tasty—how we love to swallow it!” GNT‬ ‭‬‬
“There’s nothing so delicious as the taste of gossip! It melts in your mouth.” CEV
‭‭Gossip seems to compliment “pepper soup” and “liquor” at club houses. It serves as a tool of relaxation in idle lives. Apostle Paul warned against idleness especially among the younger widows who are more prone. Idleness triggers busybodies. They gossip around and meddle in other people’s affairs.
“And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.” (‭‭I Tim‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬). We often respond to the boredom which idleness causes by engaging in and entertaining ourselves with fun activities. We get fun from the failure and shameful stories of others. We snack on the disgraceful stories of other families. We seem to get fulfillment in being the first broadcasting agent of news that are not glorifying about our brethren. We derive a sense of pride that we know something that is hidden from others and want to be respected for that. Sometimes, we even hide under the pretext of calling for prayer to spread it further to unsuspecting hearers. Yet, we never ever prayed about what we tell others to pray about! What hypocrisy! And when we even try to pray, it’s casual, without fervency and without sincere love. We do it just to bribe our consciences! What deception! We assassinate the character of people who don’t even know they are in danger.
Friends, rather than destroying relationships, sowing strifes, damaging the reputations of others and creating wounds in the hearts of people, choose to be a builder and a mender of broken walls today.

Prayer points
1. Father, I repent of the sins of gossip and slander and I ask that You please, forgive me and purge my heart in Jesus name.
2. I break away from every conscious and unconscious addiction of gossiping and slandering from now in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. My tastebuds can no longer tolerate gossip because it’s bitter and unpleasant to me.
2. I don’t meddle in other people’s affairs nor do I delight in spreading the shameful news about others.