Living in Abundance: Leaving Fear Behind
“God created you for good!” Let it sink in for a minute. Repeat the phrase five to ten times, “I am created and designed for good.”
Notice your initial reaction. You may experience a sense of gratitude. You know this is your true, created state. For others, your gut reaction is one of unbelief. You have suffered and these words ring hollow. You’ve experienced trials, difficulties, and incurred great harm on your journey through the world. When you say these words, you question their validity.
Both reactions are natural. Each response reflects your experience of the world. It also reflects your understanding and consciousness of God. Your lack of trust in these words may be warranted. The human world can be harsh and demanding. You face inequities and struggle in daily life. The negative events you have experienced are bound to leave scars on your soul. As a result, your consciousness directs not towards your highest good, but a constant spiritual survivor mode.
Living in Abundance: Encountering Suffering & Scarcity
One of the hardest issues to reconcile when attempting to live in abundance is the ever-present nature of suffering and scarcity. You may see God's provision in your life in simple ways; but you continue to experience a gnawing feeling the floor will drop out underneath you when you least expect it. Even living in an abundance mindset, you will face scarcity and suffering. It is a lie that scarcity and suffering are not part of the world. To reconcile these factors with an abundant life, you must understand you live in two systems.
Living in Abundance: Moving Your Thoughts Towards Prosperity
When moving towards a life of abundance, one of the biggest obstacles you will face is your thoughts. The human brain is constantly scanning for dangers in your environment. This is a protective factor, equipping you for the difficulties of life. Thankfully, most of the risks identified by the brain never happen in real life. However, this constant scanning results in a heightened state of anxiety and a life of fear.
This state of fear, plus the sensationalism of modern media, further intensifies your anxiety. You live in a world that is continually reporting on the propensity of financial depression, economic stagnation, and governmental failures. It seems every media report is about the potential collapse of societal systems.
There is an alternative to this constant state of fear and scarcity. When you look to God as your sustenance and supply; these systems of fear and lack no longer impact you. However, to live in this new state of abundance, you must change your thoughts and how you spiritually see the world.
Living in Abundance: Faith, Wisdom, and Love
Consider Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. Historically, we know very little of Jesus’s childhood, adolescents, and early adulthood. Jesus was the son of a carpenter and likely grew up poor as he lived in the peasant village of Galilee. While he lived in proximity to the culturally vibrant towns of Sepphoris and Tiberius; it is unlikely that he would have even been middle class because of the oppressive structure of the Roman empire. In addition, Jesus was likely a “subject” versus a “citizen” of the Roman empire further detracting from his cultural and economic influence.
Modern culture looks at socioeconomic and educational background as a measurement of potential for success. Economic advantages, educational opportunities, and access to resources often determine an individual’s level of success. However, Jesus had none of these advantages. Despite this, Jesus began a ministry that not only affected ancient Israel, but the entire world. Bearing in mind Jesus’s background, how did he develop the ideas, dreams, and concepts of his ministry? We often read the Bible as if Jesus just woke up one day and God laid out a divine plan for him to follow. Yet, if Jesus is a true representative of the human experience on planet earth; then you have to dismiss this notion.
Living in Abundance: Changing Your Thoughts About Wealth
When considering the word abundance; it is easy to interchange this term with wealth. God promises no one a life of wealth. God does promise to meet your needs and to equip you for service. Jesus was very clear in his teachings that basing your sense of abundance on physical possessions and wealth is a mistake. In Matthew 6:19-21 (WEB) Jesus teaches that placing your trust in earthly possessions actually puts you at great risk, as your earthly possessions are subject to moths, rust, and thieves.