From the day that you were born, whether you know it or not, you have been building a box, and in this box is a collection of all your experiences. These experiences have guided your thinking, and as a result, your behavior. For some, the experiences of life have been great. For others, however, hardship and difficulty have been with them their entire lives. While one’s box is full of positive experiences, the other’s box is full of negative experiences.
The Box full of positive experiences Serves as a source of encouragement. The Box full of negative experiences serves as a source of discouragement. Both boxes serve as the foundation for how one thinks, laying the foundation for what one believes is possible. Positive experiences build a heart full of hope, while negative ones can trap you in doubt, but you can change your thinking to break free.
The Key Question for Breaking Free
I don’t remember what the conversation was about, but I do remember my wife asking the question, “But if it were possible, what would it look like?”. That one question forced me to see beyond my experience and opened my heart to unbelievable possibilities.
This question reveals possibilities that were always there, but have been kept out of sight due to either arrogance or ignorance. The arrogant one believes that he has all the answers, but his own pride prevents him from seeing what is there right before him. To the ignorant, if it cannot be seen, it does not exist.
If you want to be able to see what lies in plain sight, you need to think outside the box of your experiences. Start by imagining what success would look like if nothing held you back, letting that vision guide your heart to take the first step.
God Thinks Outside of Your Box
As a believer, the Lord lives in your heart, but he thinks way outside of the box that you think within. Our objective should be to think as He does, beyond the natural limitations that we have set for ourselves. God sees possibilities where you see walls, so let your heart align with His thinking to see the way forward.
With God, all things are possible. So why not use that as the starting point? Why not begin every thought outside of the box that you have been thinking within all these years? Ask yourself often what could happen if you trusted God’s possibilities, letting that question open your heart to new ways of thinking.
That is where God thinks. There are no walls or limitations to what is possible beyond the walls and perceived limitations that you have created in your mind.
This is not a “new-age” concept. It’s taking the verse, “With God, all things are possible” to heart (see Matthew 19:26). There is freedom outside the walls of your thinking.
Why is it important to think where God thinks? Because when your thoughts venture to where his thinking resides, believing Him for what appears to be impossible becomes possible in your mind. This is why you should regularly start asking yourself, “If it were possible, what would it look like?” This question shifts your thinking from limitation to the impossible, making room for God to transform the way you approach life.
In just asking the question, you pave the 18-inch highway from your mind to your heart and belief takes root. Don’t allow your negative experiences to determine your thinking. Instead, let your thinking influence your circumstances, and remember, with God, all things are possible.
Rudy’s Story
In 1993, a movie by the name of “Rudy” was released, and to this day, stands as a classic. It tells of a true story of a boy who grew up in Joliet, Illinois where he dreamed of playing college football at the University of Notre Dame.
It was as though life was doing its best to prevent him from accomplishing his dream. His own family didn’t believe in him and expressed disappointment that he was wasting time chasing this ridiculous dream. Rudy had Dyslexia, was a poor student, and even lost his fiancée to one of his brothers.
Because Notre Dame would not admit him as a student, he decided to apply to Holy Cross College, a poor junior college, in the hope of boosting his GPA to qualify for a transfer. After two years and three rejections, Rudy was finally accepted into Notre Dame during his final semester of transfer eligibility. Rudy’s story shows how one question can change how you approach life, challenging you to pursue the impossible.
Closing Thoughts
Thinking outside your box opens your heart to God’s possibilities, letting you see what was always there. Start asking, “If it were possible, what would it look like?” today, and let that question shape your the way you think moving forward. If you allow that question to guide your thinking, you’ll find freedom in trusting God to make what seems impossible possible.