The Abundance Mindset

The Abundance Mindset

By Steve Backlund

“I have come to give you life, and life more abundantly” (John 10:10).

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not lack” (Psalm 23:1)

I remember when THIS hit me. I cannot do the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 if I am in lack (the state of being without or not having enough of something). Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples of nations.” This “going” requires an overflow of resources. As I commit myself to positively impacting the world for Jesus, I concluded it is not the will of God for me to live a life marked by limitations and deficiencies. 

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15). We can confidently ask for abundance as an important part of knowing Jesus and making Him known. 

Here is a verse that has strengthened this confidence for me. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). 2 Corinthians 9 is a chapter about finances, but abundance is much more than finances. Let me illustrate by sharing a declaration I say almost daily: “I have an abundance for every good work. I have an abundance of health, energy, finances, favor, wisdom, power, love, protection, time for every good work.” Why don’t you say that out loud right now. I realize there are other important areas of abundance to believe for, but these nine have been especially important to me. 

There is no condemnation if we are lacking in any of these, but I want to build your faith to believe and contend for abundance in your life and in the lives of others. It’s already yours right now, just as the Promised Land was already owned by the Children of Israel before they fought to possess it in the Old Testament. 

1. Health - Jesus not only died for our sins, but also for our sicknesses (Isaiah 53:5). Physical health is vital for maximum influence. Declare: I have an abundance of physical health that I consistently impart to others 

2. Energy - I believe much of our tiredness is spiritual, not physical. One of the main reasons for this is our not attaching faith to our commitments, assignments and responsibilities. I write in detail about this in my book, Fully Convinced. Declare: I am an enthusiastic and energetic person. 

3. Finances - Money is like soldiers that we send into battle. As it increases, our influence grows, and we become the “miracle” in the lives of others. Declare: My wisdom, ideas, faith, and kingdom priorities cause an astounding amount of finances to bless my family, others, and advance the kingdom. 

4. Favor - Favor is approval, support, or liking for someone or something.Jesus “grew in favor with God and me” (Luke 2:52). Declare: Like Jesus, my favor is continually growing with God and people.  

5. Wisdom - Wisdom is having core values that lead to blessing and having good judgment in decision-making. Declare: I walk in supernatural wisdom, and I am a great decision maker.

6. Power - “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). Declare: I am consistently empowered by the Holy Spirit to release salvation, deliverance, healing, miracles, and breakthrough. 

7. Love - “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Experiencing God’s love and growing in love for others is vital for our own well-being and having a healthy influence on the people in our lives and on the nations. Declare: The greatest fruit of the Spirit is love, and I abound in God’s love by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

8. Protection - “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you” (Psalm 91:7). The thief wants to steal, kill, and destroy our potential and ability to influence, but God protects us wonderfully. Declare: I live under a supernatural protection. 

9. Time - “Redeeming the time” (Ephesians 5:16). Time is our most precious commodity. As we invest our time into the most important things, we will find we have more available to us. Declare: I always have enough time to do what is important to God and me. 

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). We “set” our beliefs in the same way we set a temperature on a thermostat. The new temperature setting is made in faith and the setting does not instantly manifest in the room, but eventually it will (if we keep it set there). In the same way, in faith, we know our lives will be pulled toward abundance as we set our minds on abundance to fulfill the Great Commission.