4 June - You Aren't Poor Anymore

When we are raised without an understanding of our significance and worth, it causes us to have a whole set of thinking and behaviours that are quite different from a person who is nobility or understands their uniqueness and value. Even if we come to know Jesus and become part of His family, we can struggle with a pauper mindset and subsequent behaviors because we haven't moved from a pauper to realising we are a child of the King.

This poverty mindset will cause us to do and say things that we have always done that are no longer consistent with who God says we are. We can struggle with doing what we have always done, and a pauper belief system will especially emerge when we are under pressure or struggling in an area of our life.

Rather than having a life that overflows with every good thing and is limitless in what God can do in and through us; in our relationships, finances, health, and increase, we feel trapped in a mindset of lack, not enough, and everyone else's blessing cost me mine, and there is not enough to go around.

The great news is that Jesus set us free from being a pauper; He became poor so that we could be rich in every way and bore the shame and struggle to survive that comes with lack in our life. He offers us a new identity, opportunities, and provision, taking us from a pauper to a royal. (2 Cor 8:9)

Today I encourage you to renew your heart and mind with the truth that you are a child of God who has a good, good Father and that any area that has been affected by a poverty mindset will be removed.

Some keys to help do this are to:

1. Discover who God says you are: You are a son or daughter of the King, a new creation in Him, and God has an amazing and good plan for your life. (see Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Cor 5:17; Jeremiah 29:11)

2. See and imagine yourself as God does and talk about yourself that way. Your life will become more consistent with what God says about your life. "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7) Your life will move in the direction of what you continually focus on, so choose carefully what you mediate, look at, and listen to. Watch over your heart and mind and filter out and vet anything or anyone that leads you into bad habits, negative thinking, or seeing yourself as less than who God says you are. (Proverbs 4:23; Colossians 3:2)

3. Ask forgiveness; if you are still troubled by failures or past sins, deal with them head-on. Bring these things into the light and get the closure you need with Jesus to move forward in your life.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) Ask Jesus if there are any actions you need to take to clean up any messes, such as asking forgiveness or taking responsibility for a wrong. Do your part to bring closure and close the door on the past.

4. Make a list of what Jesus says about you and memorize and reflect on these things every day. This exercise will develop new pathways in your brain and renew your thinking to positivity and faith. Peace will replace worry and fear as you set your mind on Jesus and His Word. (Colossians 3:2 Romans 12:2)

5. Act out God's thoughts towards you. We can limit our life and actions by our limited fearful thinking, whereas when we act upon what Jesus says about us, our lives are transformed. When we act upon the things Jesus says about us, we forge the truth into our hearts and accelerate transformation in how we think, talk, behave, and dream. Act on God's thoughts about you, not yours.

Transformation and restoration take time so give your time to process. You may have had a pauper mentality for a long time in certain areas of your life. I encourage you to invite Jesus into your world to work and bring a deep transformation as you take time to wash your life, your heart, mind, and soul with His words. Then act upon His Word daily. He is for you and not against you, and all of heaven is cheering you on. (Romans 8:31; Ephesians 5:26)

"Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God's will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. (Romans 12:2 TPT)

"A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!" (John 10:10 TPT)

Prayer; Lord thank you that I have a new identity and life in you. Would you please help me to see myself and you see me and that my life will align more and more with who you say I am. In Jesus name Amen.