No Room for Rent
This morning, as I was preparing breakfast, the Lord said to me, "Never give anyone else but Me free rent in your head."
He’s there already so there is no room for rent in my head.
Whenever someone gossips to you about someone else that person is trying to get free real estate in your head.
They are also practicing a form of witchcraft...attempting to control your thoughts, emotions and decisions about the other person.
They do this because they are:
bitter toward the other person, not having forgiven
trying to make themselves look better using the other as something to step on
Ultimately they do it because they do not really trust the Lord to exalt them - they try to do it for themselves by sinning against someone else.
"'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:5b-7)
What should you do about this if you are the person being slandered?
Forgive them and ignore their pathetic attempts to harm you.
God has you in His hand. Keep walking with the Lord. You don’t have to “fight for your reputation” because you belong to the Lord. You don’t actually own a reputation anymore – Jesus does. Trust in the Lord and you’ll be just fine. Seek Him and do what you sense He would have you do.
What should you do about this if you are the one to whom the person gossips?
Speak the truth in love. Forgive them. Resist the temptation to tell the one gossiped about because this is one goal of the gossiper (they hope to control the soul of the one slandered). Ask the Lord to reveal anything you need to know and to protect you from the manipulation of the gossiper.
What should you do if you are one who was suckered into a mindset by a slanderous gossiper?
Repent. Refuse to take up another's offense which is the devil's hope. That only thrills the devil. Seek the Lord. If the Spirit convicts you...confess the sin and receive the Lord's forgiveness.
What should you do if you are the one gossiping and slandering another?
Stop it. You’re hurting yourself and others. Repent. The Word is clear about that. Go ask the person's forgiveness. Forgive the target of your slander and gossip from whatever they did (or whatever you THINK they did) to you.
“….whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
Pastor Mike McInerney
Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.
© October 1, 2017
(for use with permission)