Overcoming - Count it all Joy
EPIC CONQUERORS PODCAST:
OVERCOMING POVERTY MENTALITY - EPISODE 8
Count it all Joy
A mentality of poverty consists of very short term goals and instant gratification.
Review from the 2 previous blogs:
We can fall into the traps of depending on others to provide for us or relying on others to feel secure.
Self-sabatoge continues without restraints. The idea that everyone owes us because of our current situation breeds entitlement; which isolates and then consumes a person with bitterness.
God designed us to know we are loved and wanted by Him and by our natural and spiritual family.
Since the garden of Eden, sin has access to humanity. It has sown weeds among the tares and has spread like leaven in a lump of dough until the whole loaf is infused and puffed up.
Can we escape this dilemma?
Yes, God has provided a way for us to live a healthy life in spirit, soul and body.
Let's look closer at this final part of this 3 part series.
Count it all joy.
I was one of 4 children growing up. My dad was an insurance salesman. In those days that job was feast or famine. My parents budgeted wisely. When dad had some good months they paid their tithe, put money aside and budgeted the rest to last so that we would have food, clothes and the basics of life in the lean times.
Dad loved Taco Tuesdays at Del Taco when they had 10 tacos for $1.00. We had many of those meals as he would spend $3 and bring home 30 tacos to fill the hollow legs of his 3 growing, active sons. Other times we had "corn on the cob" suppers (20 for $1) or "ice cream" suppers.
We didn't know then that those were lean times. Dad would entertain us at supper until we were all rolling on the floor laughing...our goal was to get him laughing so hard that he would make crazy snorting noises and we would laugh all the more. Those meals were known in our house as "laughing suppers." We went to bed happy and filled with love.
James admonishes us to count it all joy when we fall into difficult times. This means to have a party attitude in the tough places. (James 1:2)
How can we do that? Because we know we have provided for ourselves in case we hit a bump in the road. Paul wrote he had learned how to be content, to be ok, in the lean times as well as in times of plenty. (Philippians 4:11)
Learned means something that requires practice.
Instant gratification and entitlement are enemies to a healthy balanced mentality. We are to work, to provide for ourselves, to lay aside savings, to support the work of God (His storehouse ie: church, missions, ministries) and to pay our bills in a timely manner.
The Bible is clear about our responsibility to do so.
We've been trained through the world's message that everyone owes us.
A sense of entitlement breeds in that environment.
BREAK the CYCLE of Poverty Mentality:
- Personal Responsibility for one's self and family. ( First blog in series) 2. Personal Preparation for the long game. (Second blog in series)
- Personal Investment into the lives of others.
Let's tackle the third one:
Personal Investment into the lives of others.
- Believe - Change your belief about living for your own gratification.
- Repent - of any thinking and/or actions to that fuel that belief.
- Corresponding Action - take steps to invest in others.
Action Challenge:
- Maturity increases as we disciple/mentor/invest in others, so ask the Lord to put someone on your heart that you could befriend or be a blessing to. Spend some time thinking about how to do so without expecting anything in return. Rinse. Repeat.
Dr. Judy Bauer
