Opinion

“When you understand every opinion is a vision loaded with personal history, you will start to understand that all judgment is a confession”. Nikola Tesla

What a wonderful quote and life changing quote if you take the time to let the words sink in to you.

Pray and let God speak to you and your heart about how you treat people that believe and act differently than you do.

Let’s look at the first part of this quote.

People’s Opinions are not formed in a vacuum. Opinions are formed or shaped by our experiences, values passed on by parents, upbringing, traumas, tragedies and the culture we were brought up in. Some opinions have been passed down from generation to generation. Some opinions are deeply held, and some are just personal preferences.  Every opinion reflects how that person sees the world and over time that lens has been polished, scratched and shaped by that person’s unique path that they have walked in.

No two people have the exact same opinion. No two people experience life through the same lens. No two people see God the same way.

Opinions can only be changed by the internal working of the Holy Spirit.  You cannot change another person’s opinion or perspective about anything.  You can be a friend that introduces the Holy Spirit to another person.

Arguing or pointing out what you believe is another’s errors in opinion will never change anyone. You feel it is an error because of your unique shaping of that opinion. Understand that person does not feel it is an error.  When you attack or pass judgement upon someone else’s opinion, they will take it as an attack upon themselves. Arguing online or in person has never led anyone to God. It has never led that person to pick up their bible and let the words enter their mind.

You have greatly misunderstood your job in life.  You were never called to change people’s hearts.  You were not called to point out that their opinion is wrong according to you. You were never called to change people’s minds.  You were called to show God’s love. You Show God’s love by sharing how God changed you. How He walked with you through the shadow of death. How He has been your friend and how He has loved you.  You introduce the Holy Spirit and let Him start the transformation.

How do you feel when someone questions your opinion about anything?  Are you willing to listen or do you just become more hardened in your belief? Does it bring about a feeling of Love towards that person?

The greatest form of discretion is knowing when to keep your mouth shut. Silence may show far more of God’s love than anything you can say. 

The way that God changes a person’s opinion is dependent upon the amount of time that person spends is a close communion with God.  God is not going to argue with you. God is not going to force His opinion on you. God is not going to over shout you while you are talking. God is not going to write a condemning post on social media.

I am 70 years old and God has spent the whole 70 years trying to transform me and my opinions and He is not done yet. He loves me too much to leave me where I am.  He has eternity to accomplish His work inside me.

I must be willing to be transformed, and I show this willingness by the amount of time I spend digging deep in God’s word and on my knees in prayer and listening.

One change in my life that I have started doing is in every situation or conversation with anyone I say a quick prayer and ask God the following Question. “Father, how do you see this situation”?   I want to see it through God’s eyes and not my own eyes or opinion. I want to represent God in the situation I am experiencing at that moment.

God can see the heart, and He knows what the other person is going through. God is working on that person’s heart. 

You do not need to interrupt that work by your opinion.

Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

Prayers and Love for all.

Larry