“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21
Having just heard the song, ”Count Your many Blessings,” I was doing just that when I received a ding from my phone. The ‘ding’ was a notification that I had just received an email… so I opened it. The effect it had upon me made me wish I had just left it alone. Someone had just ‘opinionated’ me!
Counting blessings is generally done through a rear-view mirror. In looking back over my life I have multitudinous reasons for being blessed beyond my wildest, old dreams for myself. I have a wife that there are not enough adjectives to describe, a family of 4 AMAZING adult children and 11 grandchildren that are beyond ‘WOW’ according to today’s standards. Then there’s the STUFF!
Having been blessed with 2 houses, one is used as a seasonal rental listed on a national rental site. The descriptions, amenities, features, benefits and even pictures are out there for anyone to see so they can make an educated choice to stay there. The descriptions are exhaustive and clear. After getting the ‘ding,’ I guess they are up for ‘opinionated judgment’ as well!
TV service there is limited for a number of reasons. But THAT is no secret because I state it clearly on the listing. “Premium TV is NOT available. Please use your own accounts and passwords or go for a kayak ride!” Pretty simple, right? Or so I thought. Yet the number 1 complaint I get is, “location does not have premium TV service!” But the latest comment REALLY blew me away. One renter stated the house was “Dated!” AFTER he had seen pictures of the place and booked it ANYWAY! It shouldn’t bother me… but it does!
“The difficulty in life… is the choice,” is one of my favorite sayings because it is true! In the information age, I am OVERLOADED with facts, figures, suggestions and OPINIONS! It’s to the point now that if I don’t like even my OWN opinion, I can surf the web to find OODLES of data supporting even my most errant of choices! All, naturally, to make me feel good about myself! BUT GOD!
I don’t believe God has opinions! Being the ultimate authority on every EVERY subject means He has FACTS! Oftentimes, my opinions crash unrepentant upon the solid rock of His facts! When that happens, HE is not to blame for ANY carnage. Today’s verse is CLEAR! Whether the opinion comes from others or is my own, I am NOT excused from KNOWING what GOD has to say about ANY area of my life. He even makes the effort to whisper it in my ear!
What’s YOUR opinion?
