Free Spirit Top Ten Tip No. 9 - Having an Abundance mindset
Friends,
It is so easy to be gripped by fear, believe me, I know!.
One area that affects most of us at some time is about pro-vision. God has given to each of us a vision or a dream, but what is always lacking at the start is the provision to make that vision a reality.
One of the greatest tests of faith is to keep walking towards your vision and when you can't see the provision and not panicking!
I noticed early on in leadership how easily the fear of failure could grip leaders, and one of the biggest fears was not having enough.
Not having enough money, not having enough spare time not having enough resources, not enough people.
I can picture in my mind how one particular person considered the problem of the lack of a youth worker in their church. They cultivated someone with this in mind and then right at the last minute the person said they didn't want to do it. The church leaders were devastated because they had invested everything (that is - all of their faith) into this one person.
This is not an abundance mindset!
I've lost count of the number of times that I've led mission teams without an abundance mindset.
I've wondered whether the team would have enough money, where the money would come from, where the people would come from. I have watched people, who are good friends, say yes they will come, and then right at the last minute change their minds, it has left me reeling from the fear of failure, but, I want to keep on leading mission teams, and I want to keep on leading breakthrough, and I want to keep on obeying God however impossible the call seems.
So I am learning to cultivate an abundance mindset. I want to not worry about the immediate circumstances, but to believe that my life follows the same God who, when Peter had been fishing all night and caught nothing, sent Jesus to him and said,
"Let's cast off and throw your nets on the other side of the boat".
Such an abundance of fish was caught that the boats began to sink.
This is a big faith issue. It's about learning to believe that.
Whatever God calls you to - there are always more workers, there is always more provision and we should not to allow the enemy to cast a shadow of fear over us.
I have learned, and I am learning, to really believe when Jesus says that "we must seek first the kingdom and everything else will be added to us" that he really means it. He clearly intended for us not to worry. I want to live in what Jesus intended for me. Don't you?
Every time it feels like we can't see with it our natural eyes, an abundance mindset, grown in faith, trusting God's promises enables us to take greater risks with the peace of God guarding our hearts.
Here is the verse I meditate on when I think about developing an abundance mindset. It is in 2 Corinthians Chapter 6 and, as you read this, I pray that you would know that this word is for you, to be lodged in your heart and to produce faith and fruitfulness
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all
things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Love Martin
|
