Slander

I am reading through Lent a series that challenges my heart. Today’s was another topic that seems to accelerate the heart rate and raise the blood pressure. That word is slander. Ephesians 4 reminds us, “let NO unwholesome words proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear it.” That in itself is rather easy to do. Just don’t talk. However, there is a deeper river that goes below the bridge. It’s not just don’t stay it, he is eluding to not even thinking it. We are challenged to dig up and Uproot the attitudes that would produce slander. Now that’s a while different game. The writer of Ephesians says in verse 31 to get rid of bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every kind of malice. I really have no problem not slandering the ones I love. It’s the people or the situations I am hesitant about that I tend to rile up and throw the heat. If I am to get rid of my issues, that will give my heart a chance to speak that which edifies not eatifies. We like to nibble on gossip which leads to slander. We like to take a bite of a snack wrap with those we don’t care for right in between two pieces of bad attitude. For me to change my disposition or attitude,takes a bit of humble pie, refocusing on myself and what I need to improve on rather than who can I talk about? That’s a mouthful to chew on as I Lay my head down for the night….