Gossip tends to spread like wildfire. People cling to it and then dish it as they go. Most of the time, it is without regard to the others involved. Sometimes it is disguised as prayer requests. But it is always hurtful and unnecessary.
What if we were this addicted to praise and thanksgiving? What might it look like for us to be excited to hear how good God has been to someone? How might we live differently if we sought the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living? It might change our outlook on pretty much everything. Gossip is good for nothing but praise and thanksgiving to God is life giving.
We choose what we speak. We choose what we let come out of our mouths. We choose what we let into our hearts and we choose what we listen to and to whom we listen. These are our choices. Our choices make a difference. In today’s focus scripture, the Psalmist is encouraging the redeemed to speak about it. Giving thanks to God and recognizing his steadfast love is worth sharing. Understanding how God has brought us so far despite ourselves is praise invoking. When we begin to sense how God is redeeming us, remaking us, and renewing us, how can we not give praise?
We choose what we speak. We choose what we spread. We choose what we listen to and what is shared. Since we choose, may we choose praise. May we choose thanksgiving. May we choose love. There really is no good reason for gossip. There are infinite reasons for thanks. Let the redeemed say so…
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 107:1-2
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
those he redeemed from trouble
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 