A couple of Sundays ago, my son and I were strolling around Worth Avenue in Palm Beach Island when, once again, I came to the sad realization that Poverty is EXPENSIVE!
We wandered into the Ralph Lauren store, letting our eyes and hands enjoy the superior quality of their products - definitely not mall quality or prices. My son whispered, “Mom, I have never been called BROKE in so many ways.” I chuckled softly to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
After leaving the store, we continued strolling, admiring the bougie storefronts and the genuine smiles on people’s faces, which brought this Bible verse to my mind:
“Money is a defense…” Ecclesiastes 7:12
Indeed, it is!
In a recent email, Pastor Dharius Daniels wrote: “When God exposes you to greatness, He is giving you a preview of what He can do.” Lately, I have been thinking that if God is exposing my son and me to a luxurious lifestyle, it must be a sign of His plans for us. But before He brings us into that reality, He needs us to align our mindset with His vision.
Do You Know Why Most Christians Struggle to Receive God’s Blessings?
Because deep down, we don’t believe that we deserve them.
Too often, we hold such a low opinion of ourselves that we stay away from blessings that we consider unattainable by ordinary men, except we’re not ordinary. We are the Children of the Most High God.
In Numbers 13:33, we read an alarming report the Israelite tribes' leaders Moses sent to survey the land of Canaan gave of themselves:
“We were like grasshoppers in OUR OWN SIGHT, and so we were in their sight.”
Who told those men they were grasshoppers? Not the Canaanites! And most definitely not God! So where did they get that thought? From their own limited and erroneous views of themselves.
Do you know what happened to those men as a result of their refusal to expose their minds to the unfamiliar and explore God's future for them? God let them DIE IN THEIR COMFORT ZONE, except for Joshua and Caleb, who had different mindsets.
Read their words and tell me if you don’t already feel on fire and ready to conquer your own Canaan:
"For they (the Canaanites, including the giants) are our bread- (in other words, we will eat them for breakfast). Their protection has DEPARTED FROM THEM, and the Lord is WITH US. Do NOT FEAR THEM.”
That’s the mindset God expects from every Christian when faced with challenges because He has already rigged the fight in our favor.
And NOOOO, God is not going to make every Christian a millionaire, or business owner, or this or that. Because seriously, can you handle the pressure of being a business owner? Can you be a millionaire and keep your integrity? God will bless you to the measure He knows you can handle, while keeping your soul intact. But at the same time, you don’t want to be the one holding yourself back because you don’t believe you deserve certain blessings.
Do you know some Christian women don’t believe God can bless them with a loving husband? Or some men don’t believe they deserve a respectful, loving wife? That’s the Canaan stronghold holding them captive. So they settle, even though Proverbs 18 v 22 says:
“He who finds a true and faithful wife finds a good thing, and obtains FAVOR and APPROVAL from the Lord” (Amplified Bible)
Brothers, a good wife is part of God’s package for you. Sisters, when a man chooses to court you, he should know God's favor is about to enter his life. So stop selling yourself short.
In conclusion, I want you to know that I used to be a hostage of my limiting beliefs until God renewed my mind and showed me who I could become.
If you are struggling in this area, I need you to address it with urgency because the rest of your life depends on it.
Say this prayer with me:
"Father, show me the areas of my life where I am my own enemy. Show me the mindsets that have been keeping me captive. I refuse to settle in any area of my life, especially since You said in Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Until next time,
Emma
One thing that puzzles me is the lack of real effort people make to change their unwanted situations.
When Christian and I used to eat Ramen noodles and grits like they were the only foods that existed, I used to beg God to change our financial situation. And the way He did it was by introducing me to new knowledge. Every time He did, I devoured it like real food and applied what I learned.
Some of us are unwilling to put in the work, but get upset when nothing changes?🤨
Let me give you Bible—God gave the children of Israel the land of Canaan, but they had to FIGHT for it!
Are you fighting for your Canaan💁🏽♀️
Don’t die…
Is your mindset what’s keeping you captive in your situation today?
But even more, has that mindset become a stronghold so powerful that even the Almighty God’s hand is restricted from moving on your behalf?
Psalm 78:41 says: “They LIMITED the Holy One of Israel.” 🫣
Their mindset didn’t just hold them back. It hindered God Himself from fully expressing His power and releasing His blessings in their lives.
Could the same be happening to you?