Latest / Prayer Before Work / Prayer or Gossip? - Prayer Before Work
Transcript
- Sean Graver: Somebody at work just told you something? They had no business telling you. And they wrapped it in the words, I just think you should pray for her. Hey, this is Sean, and welcome back to Prayer Before Work. Now you know the person that I'm talking about. Every conversation with them comes with a dose of information you just didn't want to know. Like who's getting a divorce and who's struggling with money and and who said what in whose office and And every time it comes with that same little bow tied on top, I just wanted you to know so you could be praying. Now it sounds caring, it all sort of sounds spiritual, but maybe, but somewhere in your gut you know what's actually happening. That's not a prayer request, it's gossip. Now Proverbs eleven thirteen addresses this pretty clearly. It says, Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets. But he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. Now that word trustworthy is the key. Trustworthy people are the ones others can trust a sensitive topic with, knowing it will stay safe. Now, if you're the kind of person that people can share a struggle with and and trust you not to pass it on, well, that's a real gift. But if information keeps flowing toward you, dressed up as a spiritual concern and you keep receiving it, you're not building trust. You're just becoming part of the gossip train. So what do you actually do when a coworker starts down that road with you? So you don't have to be cold about it, but you can gently redirect. I mean something as simple as, I'd rather not know the details, but if you want, let's pray for them right now together. Without me needing to know the whole story. Now that one move can change everything. It turns the moment from gossip into an actual prayer. And more often than not, it also shows the other person, without lecturing them, that you're not going to be an easy audience for this the next time. But it's also worth asking yourself another question Are you ever the one starting that conversation? It's kind of uncomfortable to consider, I know, but it's worth being honest with yourself before you walk into work today. So let's pray about this. God, we don't want to be someone people use as an outlet for gossip, and we don't want to be the source of it either. So Lord, give us the discernment to tell the difference between real concern and information that we're just not meant to know. When someone hands us something that isn't ours to hold, give us the courage to avoid picking it up. And make us someone people can trust, because I keep what's shared with me safe. In Jesus' name, amen. Go make today count.