The destruction of the poor is their poverty. (Prov. 10:15)
Poverty is a curse. Poverty takes place on different levels of our lives, but it never reflects the nature and abundance of God. In the world we see mental poverty, emotional poverty, physical poverty, spiritual poverty, relational poverty and financial poverty. Sin has created poverty and the fingers of poverty seek to attach themselves to all of us.
Poverty is a mindset. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he (Prov. 23:7). It is the manifestation of one’s expectancy. It is a thief that steals vision, hope and joy. Poverty causes us to evaluate our lack of resources, whether mental, emotional, physical or financial, and establish our boundaries for life. A poverty mindset will often think small, play the victim card and expect others to pay the way.
The spirit of poverty robs us of God’s vision, steals His Word, and crushes faith. Those with a poverty spirit and mindset can hear the same Word that others hear, but the words that birth faith in some are swallowed in the black hole of unbelief and surrender. The poverty mentality is easily conformed to the world. For those with a poverty mindset, politics and science have the last word. The economy is an unwavering dictator that establishes just how far you can go in life.
Those with a spirit of poverty may be born again, but they worship at the altar of limitations, self doubt and lack. The vision of God’s abundance never takes root. The revelation of a limitless future full of promise and grace seems far away. The mind trapped in poverty won’t even think beyond the current circumstances. Some even become comfortable with a small God, in a small world full of small expectations.
To be free from the spirit of poverty, the poor must want to be free. He must be willing to lift up his eyes and consider the boundless supply of God’s grace. He must value his own identity in Christ and decide to step into a new dimension of life. He needs to be sick and tired of being sick and tired!
Meditate on the following passages until you ‘get it.’ Let His Word change how you think in your heart. Break the chains of poverty in your life!
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isa 55:9-12)
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Eph. 3:20)
God is against everything that creates poverty: sin, slothfulness, fear, sickness and injustice. Let this mind also be in you. Receive God's vision and desire for your life and pursue it. Prosperity begins within.