Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is …Â Opinion.
We all have opinions and we have them about everything. We all think our opinion is the one which matters and is correct.
Giving one’s opinion can become heated, or delicate, depending on the topic. Not everyone has the same opinion. It’s been said if you ask ten people their opinion on a subject, you probably will come up with ten different thoughts.
So I wondered … how is “opinion” actually defined?
“Opinion – a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty” (from dictionary.com).
It’s an eye opening definition as it reveals the judgment is formed insufficiently and is not positively correct. There is wiggle room for doubt.
As opinions abound in our society, and on the news, I have been trying to filter everything through Scripture, asking, “What does God say about this?”
My One Word for 2023 has been “guide”. As we seek Him and ask Him to teach us, He guides us.
The words to what has to be my favorite song comes to mind:
“And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am I did not make it, no it is making me It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man.”
(from “I Believe” by Rich Mullins)
“Each morning David meditated on the Word of God and God guided him.”
(Psalm 143:8, NASB)
God will provide guidance through His Word which is truth.
It is not an opinion,
it is truth for all time and for all people.
“For this is God our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.”
(Psalm 48:14, , NIV)
**Adding the song after my five minutes 🙂
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Today I may be joining …
I abound in certainty,
banishing doubt’s night,
and give opinions urgently
for we all know I’m right,
so there’s no reason to dispute
anything that I might say
(unless, of course, you’re really cute;
then you can have your way!).
And yet, there are those lesser souls
yet thinking selves my equal;
rather like the Tolkien trolls
who did not get a sequel
for they forget to count upon
being petrified at break of dawn.
Love this, Joanne. I get so frustrated with people who live and die by their own opinions as if they were fact. Great definition. Caring more about what God says than man, or even my own thoughts, keeps us grounded in fact, not fiction!
I was quite surprised when I read the dictionary definition … grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty. That was eye opening. May we be mindful to weigh the opinion and be certain of truth. In other words, may we keep praying for discernment.
I really like that song by Rich Mullins. Thank you for sharing that Psalm of David. I have been learning more about the Psalms recently, so this was a good one to go look at.
I’ve never considered that definition of “opinion” and it does put it in a little different light. I guess I think that there’s a broad spectrum of bases for opinions, from almost nothing, to a preponderance of facts and data. In any case, we’re almost always wiser for being considerate in listening to other opinions and stating our own, and hopefully when we disagree, we can do so with respect. Visiting from FMF#5
Yes, Kym, good point. May we always listen to the opinions of others, and state our own, with respect.
oh, i like how you put this together…. immersing oneself in God’s word lets our opinions be better informed of God. FMF14
Annette, I like the way you phrased it … may my opinions be better informed of and by God.
Such encouraging words, Joanne, to lean into His Words of Truth for guidance on every opinion we hear. Thanks for sharing the song, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.
I have loved that song for years and have a copy of the words kept in my Bible.
Joanne, thank you for adding the definition of opinion. I usually look up our one word, but I didn’t this time. What a revelation!
I appreciate you sharing your words and the thoughts from Rich Mullins. Grounding myself this morning in what is right and true.
Wise words, Joanne, and an interesting definition of opinion that gave me food for thought.
Thanks for sharing.
Joanne, I love that you defined opinion. I too am one for looking up “what does the Bible say about…” I’m encouraged by how you put this together.
FMF #2
Wow! That definition is eye opening. Thank you for sharing it!
In this day and time when everyone seems determined to shout out their opinion as truth, your message is like a breath of fresh air. And you wrote in five minutes! Amazing. Thank you, Joanne.
I do appreciate that amongst all our opinions and gray areas, there does still exist a Truth that doesn’t change. This is a beautiful understanding of your word Guide!
I really needed this today! Thank you very much!