You Are An Atmosphere Changer

I recall working as a sales associate at a busy airport. It wasn’t a job that offered competitive pay or benefits but I was grateful to be employed. Once a customer came in. She was pretty excited as she had recently graduated from flight attendant school. She complimented my personality and on her way out she turned around and said,

“Acacia, you are an atmosphere changer. When you walk into a room the atmosphere changes!”

What immediately came to mind was when Jesus said:

“You are the light of the world–like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).

As the saying goes, “If your absence doesn’t affect someone’s life, then your presence
has no meaning in it.”

Sometimes it feels as if our presence doesn’t make a difference as the more serious we are about our walk with Christ the less popular we are and the least we’re liked. I often think of the patriarch Jeremiah who made a bold stand for righteousness when so many who were religious and knew the truth of God’s word compromised. They believed Jeremiah took life too seriously and God would continue to show grace and mercy regardless of their habitual sins.

Jeremiah became so discouraged that he said he wished he had never been born and he questioned God as to why was he so hated when all he tried to do was to live a righteous life before Him.

The Lord said,

‘Jeremiah, I’ll take care of you. If you’ll stop speaking idle words you’ll be my spokesperson. You are not to allow the people to influence you, you are to influence them. These same people who hate you will come to you during turmoil and distress and will seek your prayers and counsel’ (Jeremiah 15:10-11, Jeremiah 15:19-21, Jeremiah 42).

What a word of counsel and encouragement from the Lord! No matter the oppression and opposition you may be experiencing in your work place, around family and even at your home church-continue to walk in righteousness before God and He’ll take care of you. If you will continue to stand and walk humbly before God He’ll vindicate you and even make your enemies at peace with you.

“When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them” (Proverbs 16:7).