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What Amazon Taught Me: Increase the space

Viktor Frankl, a Jewish neurologist and Auschwitz survivor, once wrote:

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

That idea isn’t new, it’s clearly biblical.

James 1:19–20 says:
“Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

When we slow down, we create space.
And in that space, we have a choice: respond in the Spirit, or react in the flesh.

That moment, is infinitesimally small but powerful.

Too often, when we react quickly, we’re not actually responding to the present moment. We’re responding out of past wounds, fear, or expectation. And when our responses are rooted in old pain, we end up reproducing it.

But when we pause, something shifts.  We increase the “space” where real freedom lies.

 That space becomes:

• an opportunity for wisdom
• a moment to hear the Holy Spirit
• a place where we choose life instead of death 

Our prayer should be simple:
“Lord, help me to increase the space between what happens to me and how I respond.”

 Pro 21:23  Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.  

 Because in that space, we gain authority.  This is the crux of spiritual warfare and a skill that we need hone.

 Therefore:
We choose intentionally.
We disrupt the enemy’s plans instead of feeding them.

 So how do we actually practice this?

 The Holy Spirit gave me a simple picture through something as ordinary as Amazon.

The Amazon Model

Emotions are like cash and we only have so much to spend.

 When something grabs your attention on Amazon it calls to you, tempts you, says “buy me now”! What do you do?

 Resist! You don’t have to respond immediately.

 You can click “Save for later.”

 That’s the model.

 When something triggers you with anger, frustration,  or  offense, don’t react right away.
Put it in the “save for later” cart.

 Wait.  Give it time. Come back with the wisdom from above, and you’ll realize your first response can simply be deleted. Holy Spirit may direct to another option that is more valuable.  

 Save your emotional cash for what actually matters.