Satan has a way of discouraging us by using unscrupulous and evil people to spread lies and false rumors about us. This often occurs when we are most effective in our discipleship. We must not let the criticisms of wicked people derail our efforts to please the eternal and almighty God! In times like these, we can use the prayers of effective saints who have lived before us. We can cry out to God and pray:   "O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues."   When we do, we know we are not alone in our struggles as we use these words from ages past to pray to our God for deliverance and vindication.

Please, dear God, silence the gossips, slanderers, and liars empowered by Satan to wound and maim me. Not only defeat what is evil but please empower all that is good in my life to your glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.