Thermometer or Thermostat?

In my devotion, I read a question that really impacted me. Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? I mean....what is the difference? A thermometer tells the temperature in the room, a thermostat SETS the temperature in the room. A lot of the people that read my blog are in the business world. I ask myself this often at home and at work.

The writer in my devotion says, "you can create an atmosphere that ushers in the presence and the peace of God; unspeakable peace that those who walk into the room and don't know the love of Christ don't even understand." The business world for me is fun, exciting, always changing and very challenging, but the negative word many people associate with the business world is STRESS! A home full of teenage girls also beats with passion, drama and emotion. In John 15 the Bible says that Christ abides IN us. He says, "I am the vine and my Father is the gardener. Later in the passage, He also says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing." If this is true than we as Christians can bring the fruits of the spirit everywhere we go. Remember the fruits of the Spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfullness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. What if we brought all of these "fruits of the spirit" to every meeting and in every conversation?

Every time I write a devotion I feel so unworthy! Literally, last week I lost my temper after I read an email and immediately responded by venting to a colleague. I brought many feelings into that room but peace and self-control were no where on the list. She did not need that. My whining did not change the situation at all. I am not saying that you shouldn't seek counsel with friends and have a support system around you, but in this situation I certainly was not being a thermostat, I was just blowing hot air and heating up the room.

I have heard people say, "but you can't be a pushover", or "you can't always be kind, and peaceful in the business world." I have also wondered my self how to keep a "good temperature" living with a bunch of teenage girls. However, this can definitely be accomplished. You can be strong leader in your home and at work and still exude the fruits of the spirit. In fact, I think the strength of self-control, kindness and patience exudes more leadership talent than a demanding reactive leader. Unfortunately, in the business world, I have had to have hard conversations with people, vendors, partners, but you can still be truthful, loving and kind. In fact, I think people often confuse being nice for being kind. Being nice is not telling a colleague that they have a major blindspot that is keeping them from advancing. Being kind is having a close enough relationship with that same person that you can lovingly let that person know that you want them to advance and so you help them see their blindspot. This is the whole, broccoli in the teeth scenario. Nice says nothing, kind pulls the person to the side and lets them know because they love them. I never want a nice boss, I want a kind boss that cares enough about me that they help me to grow. That starts with always creating a safe environment, or being a thermostat.

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

We can set up an atmosphere through prayer, praise, worship, and declaring the word of God. When we draw near to God, he draws near to us. Let's shift the atmosphere this week. If someone walks in grumpy....let's change the thermostat! If you walk in a meeting and you can feel the negativity in the room...change the thermostat! If someone is freaking out because they just heard some news that is freaking them out....change the thermostat! Nothing is impossible with God. He's got this! That means, we got this!

Go love others this week and be a thermostat not a thermometer.

Love you guys! Have a great week!

Crystal