How the Poverty Spirit Attacks your Self-Worth

how poverty spirit attacks self worth

Did you know that low self-worth is a sign of the poverty spirit? I battled with this myself for years.

It wasn’t until I took time to truly connect with God and listen to His promises about me that I realized I was deeply loved and valued. This realization gave me permission to finally think positively about myself.

In Western Christianity, there’s this strange misconception about humility. Some think that it means constantly debasing yourself or downplaying your achievements.

I used to fall into this trap when I was influenced by the poverty spirit. Whenever someone praised my accomplishments, I’d brush them off and attribute it to luck. I struggled to even accept applause because I felt no value for myself.

But now, I understand that humility involves embracing what God says, even if it makes me feel uncomfortable. Today, when people congratulate me, I make an effort to receive their words because I know God is speaking through them to encourage me.

If you find yourself struggling to receive compliments, it could be a sign of the poverty spirit. If you discern this is the case, spend time alone with God and ask Him, “How do you see me?” Write down what He says and post it on your fridge or bathroom mirror—anywhere you can regularly revisit it.

Once you’ve begun to absorb God’s truths, take the courageous yet humble step of believing His words and incorporating them into your life.

P.S: For an even deeper look at more signs of the poverty spirit, checkout Appendix C of my manual, Prosperous Soul Online: Foundations.

Breaking Old Habits of Poverty Thinking

breaking habits

Did you know that it’s possible to break free from a poverty mindset, but still act out of old habits that were formed during poverty thinking?

Just like recovering from any addiction, relearning how to live in a healthy way takes time. This is the practical, nitty-gritty side of inner healing that many overlook.

What do old poverty habits look like?

Back when Dawna and I were newlyweds, we were in so much debt that we felt anxiety every time we opened our mailbox. We feared another bill would pop out, and threaten our financial stability. Some days, we couldn’t even go near our mailbox because we were so discouraged.

Fast forward 4 decades: Dawna and I have experienced so much breakthrough. Our old habit of fearing the mailbox has vanished because of a new season of abundance.

However, during the COVID lockdowns, we found our businesses crippled and our finances greatly impacted. We backslid into old poverty habits of fear. What happened?

The human tendency to reach for safety

When we face crises, it’s easy to slip back into familiar patterns. Despite being liberated, our need for protection can force us to reach for old modes of thinking. This can play tricks on us and make us wonder, Did I even get healed in the first place?

Turns out you did, but the human need for comfort means that old habits might resurface. When this happens, don’t panic. Work with Holy Spirit to rebuke them and pursue truth.

Getting back on track

If you find yourself struggling with old poverty habits, use these 4 steps to exchange them for a Prosperous Mindset:

1. Pay attention to the words you use about money. Take note of how you communicate with others. Do you make self-deprecating comments or victimize yourself? Do you speak with self-pity? If you notice yourself speaking negatively, acknowledge it, and refuse to partner with it. A useful prayer can look like, “I see you, poverty. I do not partner with you. I send you back in Jesus’ Name. Jesus, what truth do you have for me in exchange?”

2. Take note of when you feel anxious or concerned about money. Recognize these moments when you feel uncomfortable. View them as opportunities for change. Remind yourself that these emotions are remnants of your past. They no longer define you, so as my wife, Dawna, says, “Check your baggage at the door.”

3. Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. Ask Him what you can do differently. Listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and jot down 3 actions you can implement this week. These acts could be big or small. Either way, view them as prophetic ways to ignite your prosperous journey. Don’t worry if they don’t make sense. Just listen to what the Lord says. For instance, Dawna used to go to our mailbox, mail off the few bills we could afford, then declare, “Thank You, Lord, that You gave us the money to cover these bills. We faithfully expect You to provide more to cover our remaining expenses.”

4. Remember, things really are different now. Don’t settle for the poverty spirit. Embrace your newfound freedom as a Prosperous Soul, and recognize its potential impact on future generations. The hard work you do today will bring spiritual and financial breakthrough for your children’s children.  

P.S: if you need help overcoming old poverty habits, consider scheduling a Financial Sozo session with me. Together, we can address any money-lies harassing you and cultivate healthy habits that align with Christ’s vision for your life. Click here to learn more.

How to Discern the Spirit of Poverty

how to discern spirit of poverty

The other day, a client asked if we could do a Financial Sozo. We met and worked through their issues, and discovered a lie that was fueling a sneaky poverty behavior: over-generosity.

Huh? That’s weird. How is over-generosity a sign of poverty?

The spirit of poverty can be tricky. It doesn’t come out and say, “I’m a poverty mindset!” It can manifest in seemingly unrelated ways.

During the Financial Sozo, my client discovered that they were giving away too much money. Holy Spirit revealed that they didn’t believe they were worth investing in. My client lavishly gave away funds, but this dipped into their living needs and harmed their peace.

This is how people can go into debt through generosity. On the surface, giving seems honorable, but if you neglect your own needs to the point of accumulating debt, that’s a sign of the spirit of poverty.

What does the Bible say about Over-generosity?

It’s hard to believe that generosity can be unhealthy. As Christians, we’re convinced that giving is good, and it is! Scripture promotes giving. Here are some verses reaffirming this truth:

magnifying glass

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? – 1 John 3:17

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38 

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. – Luke 12:33

Reading these verses, it’s hard to think: Is it ever wrong to give? The answer is yes. Here’s one instance: giving becomes dangerous when we neglect our own needs—especially those of our family. It violates God’s commands of provision and protection. Consider this verse:

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. – 1 Timothy 5:8 NIV

Worse than an unbeliever? Ouch. It’s evident that God cares deeply about our families. He expects spouses, especially husbands, to provide for their homes. This is why when you’re in debt, or teetering toward it, giving is wrong. 

Get your Finances in Shape, then Give. 

Over-giving stems from a mindset of scarcity, a key sign of the spirit of poverty. When you struggle with this thinking, you give out of a need to prove your worth to God. But this traps you in a cycle of instability, which sacrifices your family’s needs for the sake of others. It’s not right.

Partnership with Holy Spirit

One way to resolve over-generosity is to turn to the Holy Spirit. He’s the One Who can search our hearts and remove a poverty lie’s influence. Use these steps to partner with Him and identify the source of an ungodly behavior:

  1. Ask the Holy Spirit what’s really going on. Say, “Holy Spirit, is there a lie I’m believing?”

  2. If He identifies a lie, renounce partnership with it. Say, “I see you, poverty, and I send you back in Jesus’ Name. I renounce the lie that I’m not worth investing in, and I receive Your truth. Jesus, what truth do You want me to know?”

  3. Once Jesus reveals His truth, discern how you can activate it in your life. In my client’s case, he heard God say, “Your life is valuable. The more strength you receive, the more you can pour into others.” This spoke deeply to his heart, and inspired him to retool his giving, so he could save more money. 

The goal of this process is not just to remove a poverty mindset, but also the lens of orphanhood. The orphan spirit says you are not enough, you are not worthy, and victory is not even worth fighting for because you’ll always be stuck in the same cycle.

That’s a pretty disempowering outlook.

But imagine viewing life through Christ’s spirit of adoption, which says you are loved, protected, and accepted by God. This outlook honors your financial necessities, and gives you permission to steward your wealth, because caring for others also means caring for yourself.

P.S. For an even deeper look at the signs of the spirit of poverty, check out my online training, Prosperous Soul Online: Foundations.

Painting of a dove flying