Day 1: Understanding the Difference Between

Poverty, Riches and Wealth

I wrote the book Poverty, Riches and Wealth: Moving from a Life of Lack into
True Kingdom Abundance as a way of helping believers who are anchored to
the shore of small thinking (in terms of wealth) to hoist anchor and set sail on
the sea of possibility. I was anchored to that poverty-stricken shore myself for
a very long time, and I will tell you more about that and the effects it had on
my life, my family and my business ventures in the pages of the book when it
releases in April. I was wholly convinced that poverty was the pinnacle of
spiritual enlightenment, whereas wealth and riches were treacherous waters
to avoid at all costs. And avoid them I did, sometimes going to great lengths
to do so.

The problem is, avoiding wealth entirely costs you true Kingdom abundance,
which is too high a price to pay for the “comfort” and familiarity of living in
a poverty mindset. God looks at wealth in an entirely different way than most
of us do, and as we will see throughout this study, there is a world of
difference between Kingdom wealth and earthly riches. Kingdom wealth
encompasses so much more than money—although it may (or may not)
include that. When we understand God’s definitions of wealth and contrast
them with the usual definitions of being rich or poor, it opens up a world of
possibilities before us.

WEALTH AND RICHES ARE NOT THE SAME

Most people would say that rich and wealthy are synonymous terms that can
be used interchangeably in a sentence. That may hold true in your average
dictionary, but it won’t hold true in Poverty, Riches and Wealth. The truth is
that rich and wealthy are a study in contrasts, with widely divergent
characteristics when it comes to the Kingdom. Let’s take a look at these
contrasts, which I’ll expand upon more in Chapter 3: “Why All Believers
Should Be Wealthy, Not Rich.”
I have found that one of the easiest ways to explain an otherwise difficult
subject is by contrasting two opposing ideas with one another. It is amazing
how viewing things in contrasting descriptions can clarify and quantify truth.

Now let me demonstrate the difference between people who engage in

“wealth thinking” and people who focus on “poverty thinking” by contrasting
these two perspectives with one another. It will be easy to grasp these rather
complex concepts through these simple illustrations:

1. Poverty lives for today, but wealth leaves a legacy.

2. Poverty finds a problem in every opportunity, while wealth finds an
opportunity in every problem.
3. Poverty feels entitled, while wealth feels empowered.
4. Poverty fears the future, yet wealth makes history.
5. Poverty blames others for its condition, but wealth takes responsibility for
things that are not its fault.
6. Poverty asks, “What are you going to do for me?” Wealth asks, “Who is
worthy of my investment?”
7. Poverty hangs around with other disgruntled sorts who validate its
accusations, but wealth surrounds itself with other powerful influencers.
8. Poverty votes for candidates who will increase its entitlements, while
wealth elects officials who will sacrifice today’s comfort for tomorrow’s
children.

Now let’s contrast the difference between rich mindsets and wealth mindsets.
As I said, rich and wealthy are two very different things:

1. Rich people get their identity from the things they own: their houses, cars,
yachts, money, etc. Wealthy people’s identity comes from who they are,
not what they own.
2. Rich people either spend a lot of time trying not to lose their money, or
spend time wasting it on themselves. Wealthy people’s money is just an
expression of who they are, so they are confident in their well-being.
3. Rich people work for money, while wealthy people’s money works for
them.
4. Rich people think of their assets, but wealthy people dream of their legacy.
5. Rich people give to people. Wealthy people invest in people, with the
expectation of a return on their investment, measured by a predetermined
outcome. Examples are a changed life, a transformed neighborhood, a
business profit, etc.
6. Rich people think their money protects them; they have a sense of being
above the law. Solomon put it like this: “A rich man’s wealth is his strong
city, and like a high wall in his own imagination” (Proverbs 18:11). But
wealthy people are inherently humble, because they are thankful, knowing
that the source of their provision is the Lord.
7. Rich people have a vision for the things they can buy. Wealthy people
have a vision for the legacy they are leaving.
8. Rich people compete for money. Wealthy people are compelled by destiny.
9. Rich people step on others to move up. Wealthy people measure success
by the people they help up.
10. The rich person’s business goal is to make money, whereas a wealthy
person’s profession yields profit as the fruit of serving others well.

These contrasts are not meant to be the last word on poverty, riches and
wealth. They are simple comparisons to help explain how people in each of
these mindsets think. They also help explain why many people are rich, but
far fewer of them are wealthy. Furthermore, because true wealth is first a
condition of the heart that affects the world around you, and is not necessarily
related to how much money you have in the bank, there are many wealthy
people who don’t have a lot of assets.
 ACTIVATION FOR TODAY:

Read back through the lists and identify your areas for growth. Do you see
more of yourself in the poverty, riches, or wealth mentality? You can’t change
the things you won’t confront, so becoming aware of where you land on this
will help you know how to move forward. Write down your five greatest
areas of growth here:

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 Day 2: WHERE DOES POVERTY COME FROM?

A few months ago I took some time with our second-year students at BSSM
to talk through the causes of poverty. We had a whiteboard up on stage and it
was awesome to dialogue with the students about this topic. What we realized
is that systematic poverty, on a city, state or country level, is much bigger
than one person’s ideas. It will take all of us stepping up into our God-given
destinies to solve the problem of poverty on a large scale. I loved the critical
thinking that we got to practice as a group, and want you to process through
some of this in the same way.

WHAT ARE SOME REASONS YOU CAN THINK OF FOR WHY PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS?
WRITE A LIST OF AT LEAST TEN:

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Here are some ideas we came up with as a group:

• Lack of basic needs.

• Powerless/victim mindset.
• Lack of resources.
• Hopeless that things can change.
 • Mental illness.
• Addiction.
• Lack of family or a sense of belonging.
• Legacy of poverty (parents and grandparents were poor too).
• Low self-esteem
• Poor or no education.
• The choice to be off the grid.

You may be wondering why we’re jumping ahead to look at society before
addressing the poverty mindset you may be carrying yourself. That’s a good
thought, and here’s why: poverty can come from a myriad of different places.
You may not be homeless, but hopefully this exercise will demonstrate that
poverty has layers. Some causes are internal, like a mindset or poor belief
system, while others are external, like a lack of resources or no education.

ACTIVATION FOR TODAY:

I’d like you to start thinking about the root causes of your lack of abundance.
Again, you may not be homeless, but if you’re anything like I used to be,
then poverty could be affecting various areas of your life. Write down some
of your ideas on the roots of poverty in your life:

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Besides a self-awareness of your own areas of growth, I hope that you’ll also
consider that as you grow in confidence in your identity, that you’ll be
empowered to create wealth around you. My prayer is that this exercise in the
roots of homelessness will spark ideas for breaking poverty in your own
community. Pray this with me: “Jesus, give me wise solutions for very
difficult problems. Make me like Solomon who saw the issues, and answered
questions that no one even asked. Give me practical wisdom for difficult
problems, and let me do my work in a way that people see my good work,
and they glorify God, who’s in Heaven.” Amen.
 Day 3: THE LAYERS OF POVERTY—WHAT’S YOUR
BREAKDOWN POINT?

Today let’s take a look at the many layers of poverty. I put together this
diagram as a visual to help you understand the ways that poverty develops in
someone’s life. It goes something like this: Think about each layer of the
diagram as a “stuck point”. If you have the inside layer, work your way out.
If you can check the next layer off, then move onto the next outer layer, and
so on.
So think through this with me: the way you think dictates the attitude you
have. If you have a good attitude, but no opportunities, you’ll get stuck. If
you have great opportunities, but haven’t been able to be trained in skills,
then you won’t be able to fulfill the opportunities you’re afforded. The skills
you possess are limited unless you further your education and develop them,
and your knowledge, further. And finally, your level of education can only get
you so far if your culture doesn’t empower you.

So, let’s break it down together.

LAYER 1: THE WAY YOU THINK

Do you see yourself as valuable? Do you believe God can and wants to bless
you? Or, are you on the other side of the coin: do you struggle with a poverty
mentality? Do you have a low self esteem? What (if any) cracks in this layer
are holding you back?

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 LAYER 2: THE ATTITUDE YOU HAVE

Do you approach life as a son or daughter of God? Are you generally hopeful
about your future? What (if any) cracks in this layer are holding you back?

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LAYER 3: THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU’RE AFFORDED

Are there jobs in your community that you qualify for? If there aren’t many
jobs, are there opportunities to start a business? What (if any) cracks in this
layer are holding you back?

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 LAYER 4: THE SKILLS YOU POSSESS

What are some very practical skills you possess that you could put on a
resume? How would you rate your proficiency in them? What about the less
tactile skills like problem solving? What (if any) cracks in this layer are
holding you back?

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LAYER 5: THE EDUCATION YOU HAVE

Do you have your high school diploma? GED? Are you college-educated?
Can you use your degree in a job? Are there certifications in your field that
would be helpful for you to attain? What (if any) cracks in this layer are
holding you back?

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 LAYER 6: THE CULTURAL CONDITION YOU’RE IN

Does the culture you live in empower you or disempower you? For example,
if you’re a woman do you live in a country that often values women in
leadership? Are their systematic problems that need to be solved before you
(and people like you) are empowered? How can you be a catalyst of change?
What (if any) cracks in this layer are holding you back?

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ACTIVATION FOR TODAY:

Identify your breakdown point and write it down. You may look over your
answers and realize that some of your layers are mostly firm, with just a few
cracks. If that’s the case then shore up those places of weakness. If you have
a layer that’s completely broken, then focus on that layer and work your way
out. Knowing your areas of improvement is the first step towards changing
your life!

If you have a stuck point, then I want you to know that your freedom and
breakthrough will soon follow if you give yourself to the process of
understanding God’s heart for you in that area! Just as I moved from a place
of complete and utter poverty thinking to a place of walking in hope and
abundance, so can you!
I bless you with the breakthrough of my testimony today, and I pray that your
heart will be filled with hope, and your spirit be filled with faith, for all the
blessings that God wants to bestow upon you!

Remember, it all starts from the inside belief that you are valuable, which we
will talk more about tomorrow.

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 Day 4: WALKING OUT OF
A POVERTY MINDSET—PART I

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matthew 19:19) It’s
surprising how much of an impact two little letters, AS, can have on a
person’s life. Your neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends are all
being dramatically affected by this two-letter word! In fact, I propose that this
tiny word is in charge of your finances, rules your emotional state, and
dictates how you relate to God. “WHAT,” you may protest!

Okay, let me explain. The word “as” means “the same,” in other words, love
your neighbor the same way, (or to the same level), that you love yourself.
Since love looks like something, your behavior towards your neighbor, your
finances, and even God, is a reflection of how you feel about yourself.

Loving ourselves does not mean we flip from being poverty-stricken and self-
demeaning to being prideful, arrogant and self-serving. It means we flip to
realizing our priceless value in the eyes of God and expressing our value in
true humility, in ways that benefit those around us. That is why I say that
humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is just thinking of yourself less.
When we place the right value on ourselves—the value we have as sons and
daughters of God—it vaccinates us against wealth autoimmune disease and
enables us both to give and to receive all the richness He has for us.

Loving yourself is the key to a prosperous soul, which is the foundation

for becoming wealthy and healthy in every area of your life. So how do
we learn to love ourselves?

Today and tomorrow we will look at 8 simple but profound steps to walking
out of poverty and into a prosperous soul. I expand on each of these steps in
Chapter 2 of Poverty, Riches and Wealth, so you’ll get to read more about
each one soon.
Let’s start with the first four steps:

1) Discover who God says you are.

There are hundreds of scriptures that reveal your amazing identity in Jesus.
The apostle Paul said, “…While we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us.” (See Romans 5:8). The connotation is that you used to be a “sinner,”
someone whose nature it was to sin and to do evil. But when you received
Jesus into your life you became a saint! It’s no longer your nature to sin
because you are a holy person, and a citizen of a holy nation. (See 1 Peter
2:9). You are also a son or daughter of God, and a new creation in Him!

DO YOU KNOW WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE? WHAT IS HE

SPEAKING OVER YOU TODAY?

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2) Envision yourself as God sees you.

I discovered a principle in the Kingdom that simply says, “If I can envision it,
I can have it.” The wisest king in the world articulated it like this, “As a man
thinks in his heart so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7). There is something very
powerful about your imagination. What you imagine has a huge impact on
who you are becoming. You are forming your outer world with your inner
thoughts, so what will you choose to meditate on? Imagine, think about,
envision, talk to yourself, and even sing the truth to yourself!

WHAT PICTURES ARE YOU REPLAYING IN YOUR IMAGINATION?

IS GOD GIVING YOU A NEW PICTURE TODAY?

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3) Recount your past sins and failures that still trouble you and ask Jesus
to forgive you.

Let me be clear, I am not talking about spending your days in regret; I am

merely saying that if you are still plagued by any past failures then deal with
them head on. You can’t conquer what you refuse to confront, and buried
shame is more dominant than unapplied redemption. Closure is so easy in
Jesus that it’s almost embarrassing! The apostle John said it best. “If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (See 1 John 1:9) There it is; short and
sweet; confess your sins and He does the rest.

WHAT ARE YOU CONFESSING TODAY?

ARE YOU LIVING IN REGRET THAT IT’S TIME TO LET GO OF?

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4) Ask Jesus to show you your sins or failures from His perspective.

It is so important, especially when you fail, that you see yourself from God’s
merciful perspective. Envisioning your failure through the eyes of Jesus is
essential to assigning the right roles to the proper characters in your life. That
loud voice shouting “GUILTY! AWAY TO THE GALLOWS WITH THEM!
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!” is not the Lord convicting you; it’s satan
trying to mess with your head. His goal is to get your eyes off of the Lord’s
redemption and on to your own failures. But in the midst of all the shouting
there is always the reassuring voice of your Shepherd. Stay in that quiet place
until you can see your failings transformed into His fantastic future!

ARE YOU HEARING LIES ABOUT YOUR PAST?

WHAT LIES ARE HOLDING YOU BACK FROM TRUE FREEDOM?
AND LASTLY, WHAT IS GOD SPEAKING OVER YOUR PAST TODAY?

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 Day 5: WALKING OUT OF
A POVERTY MINDSET—PART II

Yesterday we started you on the steps out of a poverty mindset. Remember,

the way you think about yourself will dictate how you interact with the world
around you. If you want to walk in true kingdom abundance, you must let go
of an old poverty mindset. Let’s look at the next four steps for walking out of
a poverty mindset:

5) Ask Jesus if there are actions you need to take to clean up your
messes, or to bring closure to your life.

The Bible says that we need to “bear fruit of our repentance.” (See Matthew
3:8, Acts 26:20) Most of the time this simply means asking people that we
have wronged to forgive us, and doing what we can to right our wrongs. It’s
important to note here, that you are responsible to do your part but you can’t
make someone forgive you. Let the Holy Spirit do His part in convincing
other people involved to reciprocate your response.

ARE THERE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU NEED TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS?
WHEN WILL YOU TAKE THIS STEP?

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6) Develop a vetting system for what you allow yourself to listen to and
think about.

Jesus gave us profound insights into how our vetting process affects our lives
when He said, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure, it
will be measured to you; and more will be given to you besides.” (Mark 4:24)
When you choose to entertain certain kinds of thoughts; maybe it’s worry and
fear, you will invite other worriers and fearful people into you world. It’s true
with they say, “Birds of a feather tend to flock together.” On the other hand,
if you “Watch over your heart (mind) with all diligence,” (See Proverbs
4:23), and vet your thoughts through God’s divine filter, then you will attract
like minded people to you.

DO YOU HAVE A VETTING FILTER FOR THE THOUGHTS THAT PASS THROUGH YOUR
MIND? IF NOT, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO SET ONE UP?
IF YOU DO HAVE ONE, IS IT STRONG OR COULD IT USE SOME ATTENTION?

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7) Make a list of the 5 most profound things that Jesus says about you
and memorize them.

The goal of this exercise is to help you develop new, positive ways of
thinking, which will assist you in beginning a powerful and peaceful life.
When you proactively spend time pondering the things Jesus says about you,
you create new neural pathways in your brain. These pathways become
mindsets that tend to dictate how you think and what you visualize most
easily. The apostle Paul gave us great insight into this when he said, “Do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind…” (See Romans 12:2) The truth is you cannot always change your life,
but if you change your thoughts He will transform your life!

LIST YOUR FIVE THINGS HERE:

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8) Ask yourself how someone who has the 5 attributes Jesus said you
have should think, talk, behave, and dream. Then, do accordingly.

Nothing is quite so affirming and confidence building as acting out your God
thoughts instead of your feelings. Your feelings, although important, are great
servants but terrible masters! I am reminded of God’s counsel to Cain when
jealousy was plaguing the guy. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry?
And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your
countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the
door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (See Genesis 4:5-7)

Did you notice how “doing well” (or not doing well), was directly related to
Cain’s attitude? When you act upon the things Jesus says about you, you
forge the truth into your heart and accelerate the transformation process in
your mind.

SO, HOW SHOUL D YOU BE TALKING, BEHAVING AND DREAMING?

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 GIVE YOURSELF TO THE PROCESS

If you have spent your life with a poverty mentality; then thinking and acting
differently may not feel real or authentic at first, but persevere on these 8
steps because 40 days from now you’ll be walking in confidence in a whole
new way!

I want to remind you that you were born to win, and Jesus is in your corner.
Therefore, if God is for you then who can be against you? I encourage you to
journey through the Scriptures and unearth the full revelation of the mystery
of your identity in God, then walk out these steps. He is waiting eagerly for
you to encounter His indescribable, outrageous love for you, so that He might
awaken the new you to your fantastic future!

I pray that this devotional will get you thinking about your mindset towards
abundance, and set a foundation for your process into a wealth mentality,
regardless of your circumstances. I can’t wait for you to read the full book!
And please, let me know what you think!