am always ready to comment
negatively on someone or
something. Even if it's just
on a television show, I'm
sure it's not pleasant for
my husband to hear my
negative thoughts. I need
the Holy Spirit to help me l
earn some of these Bible
verses so the next time I
think of something that is
not edifying, I will keep
my mouth shut! I
remember a saying I saw
somewhere online that
said something like, 'Dear
God, today please keep
one hand on my shoulder
and the other hand over
my mouth!' Here is an
appropriate Bible verse
from King David that I
pray will help me think
before I speak so my
words are positive and
helpful to others. The
last verse in this post is
especially valuable to
memorize and live by!
(Bold in Scripture
(Bold in Scripture
verses is for emphasis.)
Psalm 119:11
Thy word [the Bible] have
Psalm 119:11
Thy word [the Bible] have
I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against thee.
Matthew 12:36 Jesus said:
But I say unto you, That
every idle word that men
shall speak, they shall
give account thereof in
the day of judgment.
What follows are just a few
What follows are just a few
of the many verses in the
Bible that show us why
the LORD does not want
us to be gossips, or even
someone whose words
are negative, worthless,
or unkind instead of
edifying (uplifting).
Some of the reasons
God commands us to
use edifying words is
because gossip and
negative talk has
consequences. Those
2) separate friends,
3) ruin our Christian witness,
4) tear down people instead
of building them up, and
5) as James said in James
1:26 below that if we do not
control our words, then we
are just fooling ourselves
because our religion is
vain (having no value or
importance).
James 1:26
If any man among you
seem to be religious,
and bridleth [controls] not
his tongue, but deceiveth
his own heart, this
man's religion is vain.
Leviticus 19:16
Thou shalt not go up and
Leviticus 19:16
Thou shalt not go up and
down as a talebearer
among thy people: neither
shalt thou stand against
the blood of thy neighbour:
I am the LORD.
Proverbs
16:28 A froward [disobedient]
Proverbs
16:28 A froward [disobedient]
man soweth strife [opposition
in anger; etc.]: and a
whisperer separateth
chief friends.
Proverbs 18:8
The words of a talebearer
Proverbs 18:8
The words of a talebearer
are as wounds, and they
go down into the innermost
parts of the belly.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt
communication proceed
out of your mouth, but
that which is good to
the use of edifying, that it
may minister grace unto
the hearers.