Walking in Abundance | Life Designer University -- Are you living an abundant life? Abundance goes beyond your bank account. Abundance is about choosing a more mentality — receiving the excess and overflow of everything that has already been won fo…

What is abundance?

This has been a hot and controversial topic in the faith-based community. And while it is a biblical topic, I believe that many misunderstand what abundance really is, mainly because a lot of people have a prosperity approach toward the gospel.

Many people who promote the prosperity gospel insist that we have a birthright as believers to health, abundance (aka wealth), and success as in these are automatic guarantees that we are obliged to receive because we have faith in Jesus. However, we can look to the lives of Jesus and the greats of faith in the Bible to see how unbiblical, manipulative, and skewed approach this approach is.

Yes, the Lord does call us to live an abundant life. It says in the Word that the thief’s purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus' purpose is to give us abundant life. (See John 10:10) Some translations even say a rich and satisfying life, but abundance and rich living don’t necessarily translate into dollars.

The reality is abundance is less about money and more about authority, walking in the authority that comes from being a daughter of the King and an heir of His Kingdom. According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek translation of abundance, perissos, can actually be interpreted as “more, greater, excessive, overflow, or even advantage.”

Let’s look at Scripture to see the different applications of abundance in the bible.

Abundance regarding our work— “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.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Abundance regarding our spiritual growth — “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is in work within us. (Ephesians 3:20)

Abundance regarding our giving — “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” (Luke 6:38)

Abundance regarding our peace — “But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.” (Psalm 37:11)

Abundance regarding our hope — "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)

From the Scripture, we can see that God’s abundance is not just bound to our bank accounts. Because we’re His daughters He’s called us to more and He didn’t just call us to more, He’s given us an advantage — His Son. As His daughter, He has given you abundance and authority, but it’s up to you to take hold of it and walk in it. Here’s how you can start walking in abundance and authority.

Cultivate Contentment

Because abundance is ours through Christ, we already have more than enough. That means we can choose to be content even if we have little. We can look to Paul as an example in Philippians 4:11-13, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Did you realize that Paul was talking about contentment here? Abundance is about choosing a more mentality instead of a lack mentality. It all boils down to a choice: You can choose to complain, or you can choose to be content with the portion God has given you by drawing from His strength, not your circumstances.

Choose to See the Good.

The reality is that life can be challenging. You will encounter difficulties, and dips, twists, and turns in the road of life but you can find joy in the journey. It’s all about shifting your perspective to see the good. Instead of complaining and pointing out the flaws, look around and see the beauty around you. What is going well? What good things are happening in your life? Don’t just limit your thinking to your situation and circumstances. Look into other areas of your life as well and write out the things you have to be grateful for. Your perspective will change when you choose to see and focus on the good.

Give thanks in all things.

Gratitude and abundance are more than just giving thanks when things are going well. True spiritual maturity and growth are displayed when you can still pray and give thanks even when things aren’t going your way. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 urges us to, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” God’s will for us is to glorify Him and be thankful even when things aren’t going our way. We walk in abundance while thanking, praising, and glorifying Him for what He has done while we wait for what is to come.

Taking a posture of humility

The sooner we realize that this life is not about us (our wants, selfish ambitions, and desires), we will be able to put ourselves in a better position to be effectively used by God. We can’t be so focused on our own happiness, needs, and desires that we fail to see the big picture. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:3-4, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Jesus had.”

Do you have the attitude of Christ? He was equally God but chose to humble himself to obey Him, dying a death He didn’t deserve. Now that is humility. So instead of complaining and griping about your circumstances, choose a posture of humility by lowering yourself so Christ can be elevated within you. He will abundantly promote you at the right time. (See 1 Peter 5:6)

Steward what you’ve been given.

Did you know that the key to abundance and promotion in the Bible is stewardship? We see Jesus illustrate this principle in Matthew 25:14-30 where He shares the parable of the talents. The master goes away on a trip and assigns a different quantity of bags of silver to three different servants. The servants who were given the most and invested that money were rewarded while the servant who was given the least did nothing with what he was given. And the result? It was taken away from him. That’s because to God, success isn't about quantity but proportion. The Lord knows who and what He is working with, therefore He gives according to what you can handle. But if you don’t use what you’ve been given, how can you expect to be blessed with the more that He has for you? Jesus forewarns us in Matthew 25:29 that “those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” Walk in abundance by stewarding what He has given you.

Are you walking in abundance? If we just relegate abundance to our finances, we are really underestimating and missing the power and promises of God. You are called to live an abundant life. Be content with what you already have. Choose to see the good by being thankful in all things, taking on a posture of humility, and stewarding what God has given and called you to in this season. This, my friends, is abundant living.