Checking the Gages: What’s your temperature? by Danielle Stone

Checking the Gages: What’s your temperature?

As the day went on I began to rehearse all of the tasks and things that lie ahead of me. Immediately, I began to feel overwhelmed and just plain frustrated because there was just way too much to do, not enough resources or enough time in the day to accomplish each task. I’m almost positive we’ve all been there at some point in our life.

Well as usual God in His infinite wisdom gently reminded me to check my temperature gage. Now to some that may not make sense but for me I knew exactly what it meant. While going through a really tough time God spoke to me that I was to be like a thermostat, setting and controlling the temperature for my environment.

Now, when you think about the function of a thermostat it has the ability to immediately change an atmosphere by controlling the flow of air or temperature. Now that’s influence! Whether a room is extremely warm or frigidly cold it does not allow those elements to alter or detour its purpose. Instead it responds immediately when prompted by making the necessary adjustments. Keep in mind it has no choice or say concerning where it’s placed or what type of environment it is placed in, but it does what it was created to do….take control and regulate the atmosphere.

God reminded me that as His child I possessed that very same ability. We were created to change atmospheres, to be salt and light to the world all the while bringing glory to His name. At first I didn’t understand so I asked God to show me how to do this. He so gently said “You can choose how you respond to whatever circumstance you find yourself faced with”. So I was led to read the following scripture along with many others.

James 1:2-4 (Amplified)

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations….Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith brings out endurance, steadfastness, and patience.

But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be people perfectly and fully developed without defects, lacking in nothing.

If you are anything like me I wasn’t too happy with that scripture and didn’t understand the relevance. All along what God was showing me is there is a method to the madness so to speak.

The way we respond like that thermostat is by guarding our thoughts, watching our words, and choosing to respond appropriately rather than just reacting. The word of God says that our words can either breathe life or breathe death (Proverbs 18:20-21). It does not mean we ignore or deny what we are facing is real but it simply means we choose not to react based solely on our emotions or external components. So why help the enemy by agreeing with him, rehearsing the problem, or allowing those things to consume our very lives?

When we find ourselves faced with trials and weighted down with the cares of life, just think of the thermostat. Refuse to allow your surroundings or external factors to dictate your future. We may not always be able to control our circumstances but we can take control of our response.

Check your temperature gage and make the choice to change your atmosphere starting now!