Too often we walk into a circumstance or situation and we can tell that something is off. It is at that point we get to make the determination will we accept it or reject it. My experience is that many people just get comfortable with the feeling that has been revealed to them even when it is negative. This is fine if the atmosphere you are walking in is a good one. The difficulty is when we encounter an atmosphere that is off or even demonic in nature and we accept it.

When it comes to changing atmosphere, it ultimately comes down to you and your belief of who God is within your life. If you believe you are always under circumstances and not above circumstances you will operate from that mentality. (Ephesians 1:20-23) My hope here is to encourage you to change the atmosphere.

Last night I came back from visiting my oldest daughter and her new husband. On the way home I sensed that the atmosphere about me was getting negative. I told my wife but at the same time I did not explain or express what I was feeling. I am sincerely concerned with how many people say things that actually enhance the negative attitude or atmosphere. You can choose to believe that what you say is not important or you can choose to believe that your words can change an atmosphere and they are important.

A simple example of changing and atmosphere is a word of encouragement. Giving a word of encouragement, telling someone how nice they look, or how good a job they did can change their atmosphere and your atmosphere. I used an example this morning in a short article I wrote about potential. A can of paint has the potential to cover walls in a room or the exterior of a home. But until the can of paint is actually open and applied, it is simply a can of paint with the potential. When I was a young child, I often heard teachers say to parents that various students had tremendous potential but they didn’t exercise it. (The difficulty there is that the teacher really didn’t know how to get the potential out of the student.) My job today is to help you get your potential out of the container and into the atmosphere.

When you look at the atmosphere about you as a canvas or a wall to paint and see yourself as the canister of paint that has the potential to cover, beautify or change that room or canvas, you will have begun the process of activating your potential. Changing your potential into an action with tangible results.

Last night when I arrived at home I found myself extremely discouraged. The reasons for my discouragement were many but my ability to overcome that discouragement rested upon me. My wife took the opportunity to pray for me, which immediately helped me begin to change the atmosphere.

This morning while I was taking a shower, I had my eyes closed and what I saw was a snake that had wrapped itself around my leg. This snake’s grasp caused me not to be able to move. Last night a friend of mine had told me that the snake had lifted its ugly head. Just as Smokey the Bear used to tell children “that only you can prevent forest fires,” I am here to tell you “that only you can change your atmosphere.” The enemy has no power over you. You must first settle that in your heart. Once that is settled in your heart and you know from where you operate, you will begin to take control of your atmosphere.

I encourage you not to accept negativity or negative atmospheres. As one who operates in the prophetic grace, I would encourage you to begin to operate in encouragement. The simplest prophetic words you can utter frequently begin with encouragement. Other tactics to change in atmosphere will include your praise and your words of goodness over your opportunity and situation.

Your life is like a can of paint. Do not be a closed can of paint. Allow yourself to open the container by opening your mouth and speaking forth the goodness of God.

Change your mind. Change your words. Change your atmosphere!