Be a Thermostat
Not long ago I called to order a pizza. I had called this restaurant dozens of times before. When you call, the first thing they always ask for is your telephone number. Since I was so familiar with the routine, when a young lady answered the phone and, I answered very friendly and politely said, "Hello. My phone number is (713)…" and I gave her the rest of my number.
When I did that, you would have thought I had just totally insulted her. She practically screamed in my ear in the rudest voice you can imagine, "Sir! I am not ready for your phone number. And when I get ready, I will ask you for your phone number!" I wanted to say, "Lady, I will give you my phone number whenever I feel like giving you my phone number! I will call you at midnight and give you my phone number if I want to." But down in my spirit, I didn't want to hear it, I could hear that still, small voice coming up inside saying, "Joel, be a thermostat, not a thermometer. You may have walked into a room that's 200 degrees, but you have the controls. You can bring it down." I thought to myself, "Yeah, right. It will take me six years with this lady!"
But I realized she didn't have anything against me. She was just having a bad day. Something was irritating her. So I decided I was going to do everything I could to cheer her up. I started thinking of everything I could possibly compliment her on. And God knows I had to use my imagination! I said, "Ma'am, I just want to thank you for answering that phone so quickly and taking such good care of me. You guys make the best pizzas in the world. Your delivery is always on time. You run such a great organization." On and on I went telling her all these compliments. Do you know by the time I got finished, she was throwing in hot wings and Dr. Pepper and coupons for more pizza? I had won her over. What happened? I became a thermostat instead of a thermometer.
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When you deal with those who are negative, you don't have to let them infect you. You can infect them.
A thermostat changes the environment by bringing the temperature up or down. Through God's self-control and wisdom, you can do the same in situations and in the lives of others around you.
Scripture says you overcome evil with good. In your life, when you deal with those who are negative, critical, rude and short-tempered, you don't have to let them infect you. You can infect them. You don't have to be a part of the majority; you can live in the minority. You can act as a thermostat, one who changes the temperature and the attitudes of those around you.
When you go to work, people may be singing the blues, complaining about the boss, complaining about the economy, talking about how bad somebody is treating them. Don't join in and say, "Oh, you think you have it bad? Let me tell you about my problems! My teenager won't straighten up. I think I'm going to have to have surgery on my back. My insurance has doubled. We didn't qualify for that new home we really wanted."
No, when you talk defeat, you draw in defeat. Don't let them influence you and draw out the worst. You can make the choice and act as a thermostat. Yes, you may have those problems going on, but you have the spirit of the living God on the inside. Your attitude should be, "Yes, I may have some problems. Yes, it may be difficult, but I know this too shall pass." Or, "Yes, it's true I may have to have surgery, but I know God is going to bring me out better off than I was before." And "No, we didn't qualify for that new home, but I'm not discouraged. I know God has something better in store."
That's a thermostat. You didn't let them pull you down. You pulled them up. You're not talked into getting defeated, dragging through life with no enthusiasm, letting every negative voice influence you. No, you can choose to live life as a thermostat. When you walk into a room, you change the atmosphere!
