Ever met someone who refuses to try pineapple on pizza? Or a friend who insists their way is the way? (Meanwhile, their way has them in the same situation year after year.) We like what we know, and sometimes, we think what we know is all there is. But being open-minded, especially as a child of God, isn’t just about trying new foods or listening to a different perspective. It’s about making room for growth, wisdom, and, most importantly, God’s guidance.
I used to have a list of "non-negotiables" in life—things I was absolutely convinced were set in stone. Then God, in His loving way, reminded me that my plans were cute, but His were better (Jeremiah 29:11). Being open-minded doesn’t mean abandoning our values; it means being willing to let God shape and refine them. Sometimes, we hold onto things so tightly, thinking they define us, when really, they’re just limits we’ve placed on ourselves.
Think about it—how many times have we ignored opportunities because they didn’t fit into our pre-planned version of life? That job offer that didn’t look exactly like what we wanted. That friendship we shut down because they weren’t “our kind of person.” The church we avoided because it wasn’t the one we grew up in. And let’s not even talk about relationships—how many of us have said, "God, give me a spouse!" but immediately shut down every potential date because they didn’t check all 100 of our boxes?
Peter was dead set against preaching to the Gentiles until God showed him a vision in Acts 10. Paul thought he was serving God by persecuting Christians—until Jesus Himself stopped him (Acts 9). Sometimes, what we hold onto so tightly isn’t truth, it’s comfort. And God, being God, has a way of showing us that His plans are bigger than our assumptions.
I remember a time when I thought I had my whole life mapped out. I knew exactly where I’d live, who I’d marry, and how things would unfold. Spoiler alert: God had other plans. And guess what? They were better. But I had to let go of the tight grip I had on my vision before I could step into what He had for me.
Now, being open-minded doesn’t mean accepting every idea that comes our way. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard our hearts. We filter what we take in through God’s Word. So, yes, be willing to learn, listen, and grow—but don’t throw discernment out the window. There’s a balance between being open to new ideas and standing firm in biblical truth.
For example, we live in a time where social media makes it easy to be influenced by every trend, opinion, and self-proclaimed “expert.” If we’re not careful, we start forming our beliefs based on popular opinion rather than scripture. Just because something is widely accepted doesn’t mean it aligns with God’s truth. That’s why we need to be open but also spiritually grounded.
Being open-minded also means understanding that people are on different journeys. It’s easy to dismiss someone because they don’t think like us, but Jesus didn’t do that. He met people where they were, showed them love, and let truth transform them.
I used to be quick to judge people’s decisions—until I realized that I don’t know their full story. Maybe that friend who always cancels plans is dealing with anxiety. Maybe that co-worker who’s short-tempered is battling personal struggles. Maybe that person I thought was "too worldly" is actually seeking God in their own way. When we approach people with grace instead of judgment, we make space for real conversations and meaningful connections.
So, maybe today, we can pause before jumping to conclusions. Maybe we can choose conversation over criticism. Maybe—just maybe—we can finally try pineapple on pizza. (Or at least stop fighting about it.)
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