STRETCHING OURSELVES TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX

STRETCHING OURSELVES TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX

Research in Quantum Mechanics has shown that an electron or a photon of light existing in a wave form changes into a particle form when observed. The remarkable double slit experiment studied the nature of subatomic phenomena. A photon of light was to pass through two slits. When it was not observed, it acted like a wave. But when it was observed, it acted like a particle.

 

This is very much like how the Holy Spirit communicates with us. Wisdom from the Holy Spirit is all around us in wave-like quality, ethereal, and we just don’t quite grab it. But when we observe these peripheral thoughts, they become like the particles: clear, substantial, and real enough to affect the way we think and act.

 

To bring that Holy Spirit knowledge or wisdom into our reality, we have to look outside the 9 dots of our own finite minds. I’ve often found revelations from the Holy Spirit literally floating at the edges of my peripheral vision.

 

I can be going along in my own thoughts and all wound up in work or people’s problems or any number of other things, but I just know that there’s something else I’m supposed to see.

 

The Lord wants us to look outside of the box. Originally the phrase “thinking outside the box” comes from the popular “nine dots” puzzle. I’ll show you. Here are the 9 dots:

.         .         .

.         .         .

.         .         .

 

The goal of the puzzle is to link all 9 dots using four straight lines or fewer, without lifting the pen and without going over the same line more than once. (One solution is at the bottom of this article. The key is to go beyond the boundaries to link all dots in 4 straight lines.)

 

Thinking only within our limited frame of mind reminds me of a funny story about a guy I worked with. Brian needed to get new glasses. I asked him about his new glasses, and he told me the ones he had before were super fancy, all the bells and whistles, all the special features, and everything. When he went to the store excited to get his new glasses, he put them on, and he hated them. He found that the frames were way too small, and he didn’t like seeing only through that little space. So, he had to send them back. As spiritual people, we want to see the big picture and from the Lord’s point of view.

 

Isaiah 54:2 says: “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.” I think we can take that metaphorically, as well as

1 Chronicles 4:10, which says: “Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!”

 

I think one of the biggest Holy Spirit blockers is that our minds are too full of other stuff, and we get preoccupied with it all. We need to find a way to ease our minds, slow down the frenzy so that we can even begin to look to the side for the things of the Spirit.

 

Everyone will find their own way to do this. Some people speak in tongues to calm their minds. Some take a hot bath. Others do deep-breathing exercises or other forms of exercise. I’m sure you can think of at least one thing you can do that works to help calm your frenzied mind. And if not, pray for the Lord to show you some alternatives to try. “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).

 

Some friends have said their best time for hearing from the Holy Spirit is in the morning, somewhere between sleeping and being awake. I tend to agree. But Holy Spirit’s message sometimes just hangs there at the edge for days or even weeks until I’m calm enough to realize it’s there, and then I turn to observe. The results are always great.

 

The Holy Spirit took a world that “was without form [worthless, confused] and void [empty, ruin]” (Gen. 1:2), renewed it, and made it beautiful. If He could renew a whole world, He can renew you and me.

 

There are so many other wonderful things the Holy Spirit does for us. Only a few are listed here:

1.      Helping us in weakness (Rom 8:26)

2.      Gives us joy (Luke 10:21NIV)

3.      Strengthens and encourages us (Acts 9:31NIV)

4.      Comforts us (John 14:16)

5.      Loves us (Rom. 15:13)

6.      Reveals truth to us (John 16:3NIV)

7.      Teaches us and reminds us of things we once knew (John 14:26)

8.      Searches the deep things of God and reveals them to us (1 Cor. 2:10)

 

It’s so worth it to look outside a small frame of mind and outside the 9 dots of carnal thinking. Let’s look rather to the truths He puts in our peripheral vision and “stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords” (Is. 54:2).

 

Love, Carolyn

 

Here’s one solution to the 9 dot puzzle:

 

You can find my e-books and paperbacks on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wings+carolyn+molica&crid=EZNJZZUP3KHG&linkCode=ll2&linkId=db88efb13727dcb484eb29f5b1683284&sprefix=wings+carolyn+molica%2Caps%2C353&tag=jmbcsds-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl