A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. Proverbs 16:28 The Bible states in James 3:2 (NLT) , “Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.” We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will nudge us each time we are ready to backbite or gossip that He would convict us. Because the after effects of gossip and backbiting are devastating. They separate close friends, divide families, ruin prayer groups and destroy churches. Before we speak anything, let’s ask ourselves, “Is this useful?” “Is this necessary?“ If not, let us never utter a word and let’s never participate in them. May we ask the Lord to set a guard over our lips help us speak only words that build and not words that break.