This story reminds me of a recent time I had with God which taught me about the power of the atmosphere we are living in. I had just woken up one morning and within a few minutes my mind was full of all that I had to do that day, all the people I had to meet and all of the things that I had been processing the day before. It took me about 10 minutes to realise what I was doing and when I did, I paused and simply said "God, that's a bad way to start a day! Can you help me!” Almost immediately, I had picture form in my mind….
 
I was sitting at a desk and I could see I was looking heavy and troubled by all the things that were weighing on my mind. As I looked up from my desk, I saw a small breeze blowing under the door of the room that I was in. The breeze started circulating around the room and soon rested over me. As this breeze rested on me, my composure changed from feeling heavy and burdened to feeling light and free. The wind continued to fill the room until all the heaviness had left me and I was in a place of peace.

It was an amazing experience and afterwards I physically felt more at rest and more aware of God's presence around me. As I was processing it, I asked God what He was trying to show me. In response, I felt Him say that the wind represented the atmosphere of Heaven, and that's the place He wanted me to live from and experience - an atmosphere where there is no anxiety, no pressure, no rush, no fear, no heaviness – just peace, joy, freedom and perspective. 

I am learning that we have a choice about which atmosphere we want to live under - an atmosphere determined by the circumstances around us or an atmosphere determined by the reality of Heaven and what God has won for us. It is a choice that I often struggle to make, but one I am learning is essential if we are to live as God wants us to live. When we consider that how we think, act and feel is often determined by the perspective we have, it's no wonder God calls us to "...fix our eyes on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2). In doing so, He is helping us live from a place of His peace and perspective and become more aware of Heaven's atmosphere around us.