Learn practical ways to shift the atmosphere around you by limiting negative influences, filling your life with God’s presence, and cultivating faith through prayer, worship, the Word, and gratitude.
One of the important things God has been speaking to us about is learning how to shift the atmosphere around us.
You are called to flourish in the midst of difficult seasons—not to fall under the weight and gravity of everything happening around you. Whatever is taking place in the world or in your personal circumstances, you can learn to walk in the atmosphere of heaven right where you are.
God is for you. He is on your side, and you do not have to live in fear.
There will be times when you don’t understand what is happening or can’t connect all the dots. God doesn’t always give us every answer. If we knew everything, we wouldn’t need to trust Him. There is a place of dependence where we recognize that He knows what is happening even when we don’t.
We know the One who knows.
And as we lean into Him, we can learn to cultivate an atmosphere in our lives that is filled with His presence, peace and faith.
Stop the Negative Cycle
One of the first keys to experiencing the atmosphere of heaven is recognizing what you are allowing to continually influence you.
During difficult seasons, it can be easy to become consumed with news, social media and constant updates. You may tell yourself that you need to stay informed, but much of what you are consuming may simply be the same information repeated in different ways.
There may be important updates you need to know, particularly things affecting where you live. But constantly consuming negative information can begin to produce heaviness and discouragement if you allow yourself to continually sit underneath it.
Sometimes you simply need to put a limit on it.
Ask yourself honestly:
Am I spending more time consuming news and following what is happening on social media than I am spending in the Word of God, in prayer and building myself up in faith?
The same principle can apply to relationships. We can have well-meaning family members and friends who genuinely love us but continually bring conversations back to fear, problems and everything that could go wrong.
Sometimes healthy boundaries are necessary.
You have to recognize your own limits and determine what you need to cultivate the right atmosphere in your home and family. There are moments when you need to recognize, I’ve had enough of this kind of communication. I don’t need any more of it right now.
Pay attention to what you are sowing into your life.
Fill Your Atmosphere With God’s Presence
It isn’t enough simply to turn off negative influences. We need to intentionally fill our lives with the things of God.
What are you listening to?
Are you hearing His words and His truth?
Is faith being built up inside you?
Are you worshiping the Lord?
Sometimes we simply need to be honest with ourselves and recognize that we need to spend more time worshiping God and becoming conscious of His presence.
Prayer, worship and the Word of God help create an atmosphere where our attention becomes centered on Him rather than everything happening around us.
Find something in Scripture that speaks to where you are. Maybe you need to open the Psalms. Maybe you need wisdom from Proverbs. Wherever you are and whatever you’re facing, there is something in the Word of God for you.
Go to the Word. Worship. Pray. Fill your environment with things that turn your attention toward God.
Pray in the Spirit
Another key to cultivating the atmosphere of heaven is praying in tongues.
If you have received the gift of tongues, use it. It is a gift that helps build you up in your faith. Paul said that he thanked God that he prayed in tongues more than all of them.
If you haven’t received the gift, ask the Holy Spirit. Ask Him for a fresh baptism.
Throughout Acts and the New Testament, we see the Holy Spirit being poured out and believers being filled with the Spirit. This is something God has given us, and we should make use of what He has given.
Praying in the Spirit takes us beyond what we naturally think, understand or know. Instead of everything being filtered through our natural understanding, our spirit is connecting with God.
One practical way John often does this is by putting on instrumental soaking music and praying in the Spirit over it. Music can help create an atmosphere where you worship, sing in the Spirit, pray and spend time in the Word.
The goal isn’t simply to have music playing. It is to intentionally create space to turn your attention toward God.
Remember the Faithfulness of God
Gratitude is another powerful way to shift your perspective.
Recently, while making coffee in the morning and spending time with God, there was an overwhelming sense of needing to thank Him for what He had already done.
Thank You that our family is healthy.
Thank You for what You’ve provided.
Thank You for something as simple as having coffee this morning.
There is always something for which we can give God thanks.
And something happens as we intentionally express gratitude: we begin remembering His goodness and faithfulness.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see reminders being established so God’s people would remember what He had done. Remembering His faithfulness in the past builds faith for what we’re facing now.
You can look back at moments when God brought you through something, when you experienced breakthrough, when a promise was fulfilled or when you encountered His presence in a significant way.
Meditate on those moments.
Remember what God did.
If He has faithfully carried you through everything that came before, you can trust His character and nature in what you’re facing today.
Choose What You Think About
Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.
What we continually meditate on matters.
Instead of allowing your thoughts to be dominated by fear about tomorrow, intentionally bring your mind back to the goodness of God and what He has already done.
Thank Him for breath.
Thank Him for life.
Thank Him for your family.
Thank Him for His provision.
Even if you are walking through financial uncertainty or wondering what will happen next week or next month, you can still recognize what God has provided today.
That doesn’t mean ignoring your responsibilities or refusing to do what wisdom requires. It means refusing to allow tomorrow’s cares to steal today’s gratitude.
Maybe today you can simply say:
God, thank You that I still have a roof over my head. Thank You that I have food to eat. Thank You for what You have given me today.
Gratitude changes your perspective. It reminds you of God’s character, His faithfulness and His love.
Create the Atmosphere You Want to Live In
God has given us practical keys that help us live from a higher place.
Limit the things that continually pull you into fear and discouragement. Establish boundaries when necessary. Spend time in worship. Pray in the Spirit. Fill yourself with the Word of God. Remember what God has already done. Give thanks. Choose what you allow your mind to continually meditate upon.
The atmosphere surrounding you does not have to dictate the atmosphere within you.
God wants you to experience Him personally and tangibly. He wants you to live out of His presence and your encounters with Him. His Spirit isn’t simply above you or around you—His Spirit is within you and can flow through you to shift the atmosphere around you.
So whatever season you are walking through, turn your attention toward Him.
Let His peace guard your heart and mind. Take your thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. Choose the things of the Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to refresh you and let His presence fill the place where you are.
You aren’t called merely to survive difficult seasons.
You can flourish in the midst of them, trusting God and looking toward the breakthrough on the other side.