Atmosphere

Atmosphere ~ simply the air (climate) of a particular area

      A greenhouse is effective when the atmosphere is right for the plants to grow. Vegetation that grows in Florida does not typically grow in Alaska. It would be out of place for a palm tree to be found in Alaska. The atmosphere isn’t right for palm trees there. When we lived in Colorado we were glad to know there were fewer bugs there because they couldn’t tolerate the climate. 

    While that is our physical climate, have you ever considered your spiritual climate? Is your climate conductive to the Christian lifestyle? Many times we just amble along thinking as long as we are faithful to attend church everything else will just fall into place.When that doesn’t happen we wonder what happened. We could take a tall healthy palm tree and plant it in Alaska. It would be a futile effort because the cold would quickly kill that healthy palm tree. 

What grows best in your climate? I want the spiritual climate in my home to be such that “bugs” can’t tolerate it!

Many years ago when the LORD first began to lead and guide my life I didn’t realize He was gently changing the climate around me. It was evident right away that there were huge benefits. For me, one of the first things to change was my reading materials~ magazines and books. It was hard to lay aside something I loved like those historical novels but I can say that in well over 20 years I have never lacked reading material. Usually, I have several books waiting to be read!

As I read more wholesome books my mind was no longer being filled with negative thoughts with distorted views of reality. Other things also began to change~ my taste in what I watched and the music I listened to. My personal climate was changing!

Instead of preaching to my family about appropriate TV programs or music I prayed over TV’s and stereos. I prayed over the atmosphere in my home and invited angels to surround our home. Praise music filled the air for most of the day. Things began to change in my home’s atmosphere and line up with a peaceful relaxing climate. 

Today, many people comment about the climate of my home but make no mistake, it did not just happen. Purposely, my husband and I have made decisions to do what is conductive to a peaceful place to live and others can feel it.  

Our homes are our domain. We may not have any say on many things government officials do but we can control what comes into and what stays in our own homes. We determine the atmosphere of our homes. What are some things you wish were different in your home? What can you do to make that happen? 

Do you hate the bickering and strife? Do those things often happen on the things you watch, read or listen to? Is there discontentment? Anger? Lust? Etc…………

This is not a cure all but to grow in our Christian life we have to have a climate conductive to that type growth. Think about it~ how can we grow in love when what we are feeding our minds is strife and get all I can for me? Sometimes it is like we expect to just pray it in without first preparing the atmosphere for it to grow and flourish! There are still things I want to see different in my life and home~ I want CHRIST’s glory to dwell there!

My prayer is O LORD let my life and home be a greenhouse for Your glory~ a place where Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness and self-control flourish!