Shifting Atmospheres Chapter 6

Chapter 6 – Spiritual Atmospheres

The author’s definition of Spiritual Atmospheres:  Invisible (spiritual) tones or moods hovering over an individual, community, city, or region.

In this chapter we are taught how moods or attitudes (the atmosphere) can be spread between individuals and provide a feedback loop which can grow more powerful, eventually developing into strongholds.  Just as we can be emotionally pulled along while watching a movie, so too can we be affected by the spiritual atmospheres around us.  We can choose to participate “tune in” or reject “tune out” to these broadcasts, whether good or evil.  I have often wondered why it seems that evil can be more pervasive and easily spread than good…  It doesn’t take much to make one’s mood sour but seems to be much harder for it to change to the positive.  Why would this be?  First off, I think many of us are ignorant of the whole dynamics of spiritual atmospheres, how easily we can be affected, what to look for, and how to combat it.  Second, this statement from the book: “The devil works hard to implement his agendas…” shows that we are starting on the defensive without even realizing it.  I don’t doubt that God and his truths are stronger, but it seems God often waits for us to engage in this battle.  If we are ignorant of the spiritual battle we are in, that makes us an easy mark and we can end up partnering with and spreading the ungodly influences around us.

I like how the author also gives us some practical examples of things we can do to shift the atmospheres around us for God’s kingdom.  Prayer gatherings, infusing our communities with godly oversight, teachings, and community outreach.  Not just boycotting the evil, but supporting the good things.

A key chapter quote:  “As we learn to identify the atmospheres and broadcasts pervading our area, we grow in understanding how to defend or adopt them as truth.”

This chapter opened my eyes to several things, the main one being that atmospheres are broadcasts.  The first step is to quit listening to broadcasts that are sending forth lies; but then the next step is to actually seek God's broadcast of truth and join him, amplifying his frequencies.  I recently learned that frequencies that are the same seek each other out and join together, actually agitating the substances they match so much they begin to dance (because every substance has a frequency).  That's how you can break concrete with sound (if you blast the frequency that the concrete is resonating at).  So through obedience to Yahweh (God) we can join in his frequencies and shatter the darkness!

This chapter showed me how simple it actually is to resist negative broadcasts and transmit positive broadcasts instead.  I like the quote: atmospheres are "cyclical partnerings between broadcasts from the spirit realm and man's participation with them."  So atmospheres are like electrical circuits and I am the switch; I can choose to stay off and then the current can't circle back to itself so there's no power.  I invite sinful broadcasting by sin, and heavenly broadcasting by love.

I feel empowered: I don't have to submit to negative vibes!  I can declare love and truth--the Word of God--and quit bothering about what other people are listening to. Because God is more powerful than any negative broadcast; if someone is partnering with (completing) a negative message I can partner with (complete) a living, positive message.  I am excited to learn more about how to know what to counteract a sinful atmosphere with.