When I was eight years old, I went to a department store with my father where he was buying a suit. The man waiting on us found out that my dad was a minister. He said in a very demeaning, condescending way, "Well, you know. If you can't afford it, we can give you a minister's discount."
Well, my father had been raised in extreme poverty. He came out of the Great Depression. They didn't have enough food to eat growing up. Daddy had to put cardboard in his shoes as a little boy because they had holes in them. When this man said sarcastically, "We can give you this discount," it rubbed my father the wrong way. I could see it in his eyes. Daddy thought to himself, "I am not a beggar. I don't need a handout. I'm a child of the Most High God!" It wasn't out of arrogance but out of a confidence of who he was and Who he represented. He looked that salesman in the eyes and said, "No, sir. I don't need a minister's discount. Do you know who my Father is?" That man stepped back like Daddy came from some kind of influential, well-to-do family. He didn't know Daddy wasn't talking about his earthly father; he was talking about his heavenly Father. He was saying in effect, "This is a new day. I've stepped out of poverty and lack. The God I serve doesn't need a discount. He is well able to take care of me. He is El Shaddai; the God who is more than enough!"
Today, know that God doesn't want you to be dependent on a handout, a discount, or left-over bread. He doesn't want you to live like that's your only option. That's not who you are. Have a bigger vision. God has abundance in front of you. He is the God of more than enough! You may not be there just yet, but what I'm asking you to do is not settle where you are.
It says in Deuteronomy that God gives us the power to get wealth to establish His purpose in the earth. Provision is for a purpose. There are seeds in you right now that can bring an abundance of gifts, talents, skills, ideas, creativity and favor. God didn't leave anybody out. You've got to get up every morning and remind yourself, "God supplies all my needs." Get a vision of yourself strong, healthy and accomplishing your dreams. Keep the right image in front of you. You are blessed. You are prosperous. You are well able. And yes, you may be in a position right now where you need some kind of assistance, but keep pressing forward. Before long, instead of taking a handout, you'll be giving a handout. Instead of borrowing you'll be the lender! Don't settle where you are, don't settle for lack, press forward first in your thoughts and allow God to pour out His blessing on every area of your life.
"For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to