I began reading a new book the other week and I was only two pages in and I was enthralled by its words. The words on the page had my complete and utter attention. They spoke straight to my heart and soul and began to stir something within me. I have been reading the book for a week and I am only still a few chapters in because I just have to keep re reading those chapters over and over again so that I can fully soak up all of the goodness that they hold.

I bet you are dying to know what the book is right?! The book that has me so captivated is Qualities of a Spiritual Warrior by Graham Cooke. It is an interactive journal and I am finding it to be just what I need to read right now.

One thing Graham Cooke wrote in his book that has got me thinking is this…

The devil is the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). The enemy lives in the atmosphere. He operates to change the climate of faith into unbelief. He seeks to alter the mood of people away from the fruit of the spirit to something more negative and sinister.

This was something that I had been experiencing. The enemy working to change the atmosphere around me to one that is negative and sinister. He was trying to shift my focus and attention away from the things that were lovely and wonderful and was trying to get me to focus on the things that are negative and awful. Unfortunately he was successful.

God is calling us to rise above the toxic atmosphere that the enemy is creating. He wants us to rise above this toxic way of thinking and feeling and work to change it. We must change the atmosphere around us and create a new environment.

The new environment we create should be one that is filled with love, joy, peace and kindness. We need to release as much of God as we can into our atmosphere.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

We can use the fruits of the Spirit to push aside the schemes of the enemy. We can overcome evil with good. We can rise above the negativity and sinister thoughts that he tries to sow.

What is the battle going on around you right now? What negative atmosphere needs to be broken around you, where you live, where you work and the places that you go each and everyday?

Align yourself with Holy Spirit. Listen to His heart and His affection for the people around you. Step into the gap and become His hands and voice to change the atmosphere and create a new environment full of love, joy, peace and kindness.