We have probably all heard it before, “Well, this is the life God has dealt me. I will always be poor. This is the way it has been in my family for generations.” These are all statements of a defeated attitude called poverty thinking. It is a mentality that gives up hope and settles for less than what God wants for our lives.Poverty thinking is the attitude that there is nothing else to gain in our own lives so we must simply, “live with it.” This is a lie.

In his book, Your Best Life Now, Joel Osteen writes,

One of the common slogans among men and women serving long sentences in federal prison is “You’ve got nothin’ comin’.” It’s a sad, hopeless statement, robbing the inmates of what little hope they have left. “You’ve got no income; your kids are embarrassed to say they are related to you; your wife isn’t coming to see you and will probably divorce you before too long; nothing is going to change in your life. Don’t expect anything better. You’re getting what you deserve. You’ve got nothing coming.”

Sadly, many people “on the outside” are living behind self-imposed bars, in prisons of their own making, and have succumbed to the same type of thinking.

There is more to life. You can accomplish more; you can accomplish your dreams. There is hope!

Hopelessness causes people to easily give up. Look on the news and we can read over and over again about individuals who take their own lives because they have simply given up. It is sad to hear that someone’s life can get so discouraged that they would consider suicide.

The good news is that there is hope in Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us that, “the thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) These words tell us that we are called to more than any ordinary life. We are called to a full and abundant life!

If you have a case of poverty thinking or a feeling of hopelessness, take a moment to say a simple prayer asking God for hope. Find a local church in San Marcos where you can be around other encouragers in your walk through life. God has more in store for you!

By D.J. CASTILLEJA
Associate Pastor – Solid Rock Church