BARBARA WENTROBLE: DEVELOPING A MINDSET FOR WEALTH

“My adult children have told me that I cannot continue to give away forty percent of my income each year,” my friend tearfully told me. My heart went out to her since I understood her heart for giving to others.

“What would it be like for you to have much more money to give to others than you now give and still have more left over for your own personal use?” I asked. She had never considered that! My friend’s mind had convinced her that she would always have very limited income. Her mindset was that she should be grateful that she had any small amount to share with others. I reminded her that she had a very big heart and a passion to help other people.

“Let’s see what we can do to put you on a path to prosperity so you can help more people and not feel guilty about giving away money,” I encouraged.

So many people are in the same mind trap as my friend. They have a dream to be used by the Lord for helping others but have trouble believing it will ever be possible for them to live out their dream. As believers, we need to develop a mindset for wealth. What is wealth? Is it only money? How much money to I need to be considered wealthy?

The Bible is full of scriptures and examples of righteous people who obtained wealth. The Lord gives you the power to get wealth (Deut. 8:18, I Chr. 29:12.) I love the following definition of wealth. It is the abundance of money, love, health, fulfillment and joy. Wealth is not just about money. Wealth includes energy, time and relationships with people you love. Wealth also gives you a feeling that you are helping others and making a positive contribution to the world. As believers, we all want to be able to do that!

Although wealth is God’s promise for His children, many Christians have difficulty believing the Lord to bring them into wealth. Their minds have been programmed by circumstances or voices from the past. Parents instilled thoughts about wealth and poverty into them while they were children. Years later, they are still living out of the fears and mindsets that were put into them so long ago. Failures in their own personal finances or relationships also affect the minds of scores of people. When a person goes through loss, it is difficult to believe that it will not happen the next time they are in a similar situation. Feelings about self also affect the mindset of a person toward wealth. A low self-esteem or insecurity can keep a person from taking actions that will result in obtaining wealth.

To continue in refusing to take positive actions toward building wealth while at the same time desiring wealth can be described as insanity. I once heard a definition of insanity that I really like. It goes something like this. Insanity means to keep doing the same thing you have always done while expecting different results.

Our words when we are talking can reveal our mindset about wealth. We say things in a casual manner yet these words reveal our innermost feelings. For as he thinks within himself, so he is (Prov 23:7). Our actions or lack of action also reveals our mindset concerning wealth. Opportunities arise, and we fail to do anything with those opportunities. Others take action and prosper while we live with regret that we did not avail ourselves of the opportunity. This can happen many times and become a pattern in our lives.

Numerous hindrances can prevent a person from taking positive action when an opportunity arises. One hindrance is fear. Fears come in all sizes and shapes. Fear of losing the investment, fear of failing, fear of making a mistake, fear of getting out of God’s will, and many other fears manifest to keep a person locked into an old way of living.

Another hindrance is the association a person has with negative people. Some people only see problems, difficulties and have “bad feelings.” Their favorite remark is “What if?” That interprets into “What if this is not right? What if I fail? What if I make a mistake?” I always respond to these questions with my own “What if.” “What if this works? What if I succeed? What if this is the opportunity for me to break an old cycle and be able to live the dream on the inside of me?”

A third hindrance to taking positive actions when an opportunity arises is a lack of knowledge. Often a person feels they need to know everything on a topic before they take a step. We DO need knowledge. The question is this, how much knowledge is enough? Some knowledge is obtained as we walk in our decisions. There are lessons that can only be learned as we step out in faith and move forward.

Many steps can help us move toward developing a mindset for wealth. I will only list a few. These steps have helped me stay focused on the promise of the Lord for wealth. I do not want to miss any of the blessings He has for me. I believe you feel the same way, or you would not be reading this article. So – how do we begin in our development of a new mindset?

• First of all, be honest in your own self evaluation. Be willing to admit it if you have a poverty mindset. Ask the Lord to search your heart and see if you have masked a mindset that is hindering you from receiving all that the Lord has planned for your life. The Holy Spirit searches the hearts of mankind and can reveal areas that we have not seen.

• Next, take authority over voices from the past and cancel their hold on your life. Let these ancient voices know that you will only listen to the voice of the Lord. Forgive people from your past that have instilled negative thoughts into your mind concerning wealth. Some of these people may have been religious leaders or other significant people in your life. They operated out of the only revelation they had. You have more revelation today and therefore are not bound by their lack of understanding. Release any failures you may have experienced in the past. You are smarter now and have learned from those experiences. Let them be turned into a School of the Spirit that has trained you for success!

• Now, ask the Holy Spirit to keep a guard over your mouth. Ask Him to alert you when you are about to speak in a negative way. We may forget, but the Holy Spirit never forgets and will be faithful to alert us before the words tumble from our mouths.

• Be willing to run into your fear and not run from fear. Only by running into the fear will you be able to master it. God has not given us a sprit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7). He has given His people great boldness and a sound mind that is able to think the thoughts of God and not the thoughts of fear.  

• Build relationships with people who are creating wealth. The wrong relationships can keep you from success. It is vital to connect with those who have a vision for wealth and success. These relationships keep you encouraged, accountable and moving toward your destiny. Wrong connections will keep you from your destiny. You have the right to choose your relationships.  

• Study the scriptures. Become a Berean believer like Paul (Acts 17:10-13) and check out the scriptures concerning wealth. What does the Bible say about wealth? Read books that will keep you motivated and help you make right decisions. None of us know it all. We can learn from those who have gone farther in creating wealth than we have.

Now, let’s pray a prayer of faith. Put your hand on your heart and pray the following words as if you mean them. 

Father, I am asking You to help me develop a new mindset concerning wealth. Help me to be honest in my own heart concerning my attitude about wealth. I repent of believing the opinions of others and not the voice of the Lord. I forgive them and forgive myself for doubting that You can bless me with wealth. I am asking the Holy Spirit to alert me when I am tempted to speak negative words about money and wealth. Give me the courage to run into my fear and conquer this fear in the power of your Spirit. I am asking You for divine connections with those who have a mindset for wealth. Open my eyes to see these relationships that You are sending into my life. Open my eyes, also, to see what your Word says about wealth. Give me new eyes of revelation when I am reading your Word.

Thank you, Lord, for hearing this prayer and helping me develop a new mindset for wealth. I believe that by obtaining wealth, I will be able to help others do what they have not been able to do. I now understand that wealth is not about me and my selfishness. Wealth is so that I can give more and help more people. Thank You for setting me free from an old mindset that limits my ability to represent You to others.

In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!