Last week I was listening to a teaching at a Leadership conference. I was hearing the man speak about what he felt his job was as the leader of his ministry. He said he was responsible for two things; the way things were done in his ministry and protecting the atmosphere of his ministry.
I thought this was very simple yet quite profound. This is the same for me; I decide how we are going to do things in the ministry, after seeking the Lord, of course. Beyond that, I am like a mother bear protecting her cub when it comes to the atmosphere of this ministry.
However, I don’t only protect the atmosphere of the ministry; I protect the atmosphere that surrounds me and the atmosphere that is in my home.
As I have shared this truth, over and over again, the atmosphere is vital – God works in specific atmosphere and there are some atmospheres He can’t work in. Such as, the Bible says Jesus could do no work because of their unbelief. God can’t work in an atmosphere of unbelief.
I was visiting a friend a few nights ago, the presence of God showed up in a tangible way and remained on us for several hours. She and I talked about how you have to be careful who and what comes into your house, because some people and some things cause that wonderful presence to leave. People and conversations and television programs and certain music affect the atmosphere….don’t be fooled and think it doesn’t matter – it matters.
There are many things that affect the atmosphere, first of all you must make sure all things are right in your heart and keep them as pleasing to God as possible.
James 3: 16-18 says in the Amplified…For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity). And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].
When you keep jealousy, envy, strife and those types of things out of your life, the presence of God will remain in your life. But if you allow those things in your life and allow them to remain, the Bible says you will also allow confusion and every evil work to come in.
God wants us to dwell in a peaceful, loving, gentle heart place of His presence and peace. To have this continually, you must make sure you keep peace stealers out of our atmosphere.
I don’t know about you but I want an atmosphere where God is pleased to dwell, not to visit occasionally but to dwell, to make His abode, therefore I do my very best to keep an atmosphere that is conducive to His presence. I want His presence, more than I want anything else. I want His presence to dwell in my life, in my home, in my vehicle, in our ministry, I want His presence. For me, just like Moses said ‘if His presence isn’t there, I don’t want to be there either.’ That is my stand and that is why I protect the atmospheres around me.
How is the presence in your home? Is it peace-filled? Is it filled with the presence of God? I hope so. If not, ask God to show you what is hindering His presence from remaining in your life. And when He shows you, remove them. Then you will be able to create a place where His presence and His peace are pleased to dwell.
I know that is what I want, and I am almost certain it is what you want as well…dwelling in His tangible, manifested presence…there is nowhere else I would rather be.
