Good Gossip?!

Women have been known throughout time for gossiping. A pejorative term and clearly frowned upon in the Bible, we are not encouraged to engage in mindless, negative, deceitful, and unedifying talk. However, we women often do have the gift of conversation and ease of communication...a good way of being interested in others, curious about how people are feeling, a desire to reach out. Not all feminine chit-chat is gossip; not all girl-talk is useless. Earnest sharing and listening are the foundations of good communication which leads to empathy and comfort.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1 3-7

The way we talk is certainly a litmus test of what is going on inside us. It is what the world sees. The nature of our talk can help turn the ship of our minds to the positive – taking every thought captive is required to have a handle on our tongues!

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

For further study look at these Scriptures and ask God to use your tongue to be a witness to others and for a tool of comfort and encouragement. I know I have to ask forgiveness for when I mess up and I am so glad God is gracious to me. May we seek His words in every situation.

1. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:6
2. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:26
3. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5
4. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4
5. but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8
6. "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 2 Samuel 23:2
7. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil. 2:11
8. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 1 Peter 3:10
9. Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon. Song of Solomon 4:11
10. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, Acts 2:26