Overflowing with Abundance in Christ

Philippians 4:19: And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

When you can see your life from a more abundant perspective, you’ll create more abundance. It starts with a deep and profound sense of your inherent worth in Christ.

Our God is a loving, abundant provider, and in Christ, we have more than enough. There is more than enough to go around; this abundance heart-set and mindset sees more opportunities, generates more creativity, and more leads to possibilities beyond our imagination for us to impact and do His will in the world.  Abundance naturally overflows John 7:38, NASB: “‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”  And that deep and profound sense of our inherent worth because of Him will bubble up and overflow and create even more abundance for others around us to enjoy!

Sometimes abundance can be confused with material possessions. Randy Alcorn stated in his book, Giving is the Good Life, that the abundant life isn’t measured in gold or material goods. It’s rooted in the precious fact that our Creator and Redeemer himself indwells us, imparting His delight-giving presence to us. He says the very reason he came is to give us “life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10, ESV) or “life to the full, till it overflows” (AMP).

You can find abundant life in the everyday things, the mundane routines of life, and even in the very small things.

Sometimes we hear a word or a sermon in a crisis moment in our lives that help us to pivot more toward an eternal kingdom perspective.  One such time in my Christian journey happened when I was visiting Brooklyn Tabernacle in Brooklyn, New York, years ago.  I was searching for my purpose and the next “big” thing in my life.  The Pastor, Jim Cymbala’s sermon was on the widow in 2 Kings Chapter 4.  The story takes place during the life of the prophet Elisha.  It is about a widow who was afraid of losing her two sons to slavery because she owed money to a creditor.

She cried out to the prophet Elisha for help. First, she focused on the lack,  when asked what you have.  She said, “Your servant has nothing at all,” and then she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” The prophet instructed her to gather empty jars and not to ask for a few.  Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons.  Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put to one side.” When there were no more jars, the oil stopped pouring.  From the small oil she had, there became an ABUNDANCE that she used to pay the debt, and she and her sons lived off the rest.

I realized, I only needed to ask God for help, give Him what I have, listen, and be obedient.  And most of all, I learned to pour into whatever vessel was in front of me. There will be an abundance of what I need to do what God has called me to, and I am only to focus on the person, project, or task that is in front of me at that moment.

Start living a more abundant life today! It is right here in front of you; it is in Jesus Christ alone!  Know Him, serve Him, love Him, and be obedient – deep dive into his word.

1. Focus on what you already have in Christ

An attitude of gratitude changes your perspective and your appreciation for the good things in your life. The lessons you have learned along the way will help you cultivate an abundance mentality!  The word appreciation means to increase in value. So when you focus on gratitude, your positivity will increase, so will the good things in life. WHY?

• You will start to notice them the more you focus on them.
• You will have less time to focus on lack, creating more time to function in His abundance.

2. Know deeply and believe fully that in Christ and because of Christ, you have inherent worth.

• Shifting your thoughts to believe that you are inherently worthy will help you develop an abundance mindset. Know that you are worthy by merely being a child of God and created in His image. You will begin to see others’ worth because they too are created in His image.

3. There is more than enough in Christ!

The two founders of DaySpring, Don Leetch and Dean Kerns, would go to the Association for Christian Retailers to connect with customers, take orders, and build relationships with future customers and business partners.  They would always introduce themselves to other vendors and competitors and pray for abundant blessings over their businesses.  They had a beautiful and unique relationship with their competitors. Their philosophy was when it came to growing the kingdom of Heaven; there is room in the river for everyone, jump in!

The Takeaway

When you can see your life and career from a more abundant place, you’ll create more abundance. It starts with a deep and profound sense of our own inherent worth.

To strengthen your abundance mindset, grab your journal, and consider the following questions:

1. Where in my life do I allow scarcity-minded thoughts?
2. How can I shift those thoughts to an abundance mindset?
3. Where does my abundance come from?
4. In what areas of my life have I already received great abundance?
5. Is this something you have struggled with, especially when someone receives a promotion, rewards, or recognition, and you doubt their worthiness?
6. What does the story in your head sound like when you think about others’ success?
7. What are your thoughts/feelings about being overwhelmed? Describe your feelings about the lack of time, resources, or even power in your life.

There are so many Scriptures about the abundance of God’s economy and believers’ role as stewards of God’s unlimited resources:

Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

1. Where do you negate the promises of God and the evidence of His provision in your life by focusing on your perceived lack?
2. What are some practical daily steps you can take to shift your focus from lack to abundant provision?

Genesis 25:29-34 Esau Sells His Birthright

1. Can you think of ways you willfully give away your birthright as a child of God and settle for so much less than He has for you? Where are you trading your birthright for a bowl of soup?
2. John 1:12 says you have been given the right to become God’s child, and Ephesians 1:4-5 claims that God chose you in love for adoption to Himself. What are the blessings you have as a child of God?

Genesis 22:14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

1. How has God proven himself faithful to you as your provider?
2. If God Himself will provide the offering to meet the requirements of His Righteousness, why would He hold out on you now?
3. What are you searching for in the thing you seek? Are there things about appearance, status, title, material wealth that you find appealing?
4. What do you find true about God’s promises that satisfy the desires of your heart?

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times; you may abound in every good work.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Start living a more abundant life today! It is right here in front of you; it is in Jesus Christ alone!  Know Him, serve Him, love Him, and obey – deep dive into his word!