What’s in Your Atmosphere?
You have a space that belongs only to you. It's your thoughts, your attitude, your emotions. It's who you spend time with, what you watch and listen to. That's your atmosphere. That's what you have control over. Some people live worried, offended, and negative because they let all that in--the bad news, the medical report, the critical coworkers. That sours their life. The problem is they're not ruling their atmosphere. They're not careful about what they allow in. You can't stop everything from coming, but you can stop it from getting down in your spirit. You need to keep your atmosphere full of faith, full of praise, full of hope, full of victory. Anything or anyone that tries to poison that atmosphere, you have to say, "No, thanks. You're not welcome here. I'm going to stay in peace. I'm going to enjoy this day." You don't have control over what people do, but you have control over your thoughts, your attitude, and how you respond.
Proverbs 25:28 says,"A person who doesn't rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls." In Bible days, if the city walls were down, the opposition could come in and take the city. In the same way, if you don't keep the walls up around your spirit, if you don't rule your atmosphere, everything is going to get in. If your child is off course, instead of trusting that God has him in the palms of His hands, worry will get in. If your business slows down, instead of knowing that God is your source, that He's going to provide, the stress will cause you to fear. If someone is talking negatively about you, instead of letting God fight your battles, you let the offense in and try to prove to them that you're okay. You don't need their approval; God has already approved you. Now keep your walls up. Quit allowing all that into your spirit. Your time is too valuable to let everything in. Be selective. If it's not positive, hopeful, and of a good report, don't dwell on it. You can't control the whole world, but you can control your atmosphere.
The Scripture says that God has made you to be a king, that you are to reign in life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). When negative things come, remember that you're the ruler. You have the authority to decide what you allow in. Are you going to dwell on the offense? Are you going to hang around the person who's pulling you down? Are you going to stay focused on the bad break and live in self-pity? It's up to you. You rule over your kingdom.
Proverbs 25:28 says,"A person who doesn't rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls." In Bible days, if the city walls were down, the opposition could come in and take the city. In the same way, if you don't keep the walls up around your spirit, if you don't rule your atmosphere, everything is going to get in. If your child is off course, instead of trusting that God has him in the palms of His hands, worry will get in. If your business slows down, instead of knowing that God is your source, that He's going to provide, the stress will cause you to fear. If someone is talking negatively about you, instead of letting God fight your battles, you let the offense in and try to prove to them that you're okay. You don't need their approval; God has already approved you. Now keep your walls up. Quit allowing all that into your spirit. Your time is too valuable to let everything in. Be selective. If it's not positive, hopeful, and of a good report, don't dwell on it. You can't control the whole world, but you can control your atmosphere.
The Scripture says that God has made you to be a king, that you are to reign in life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). When negative things come, remember that you're the ruler. You have the authority to decide what you allow in. Are you going to dwell on the offense? Are you going to hang around the person who's pulling you down? Are you going to stay focused on the bad break and live in self-pity? It's up to you. You rule over your kingdom.