Poverty and Victimhood

DeAnna Willman

So Abraham called the name of that place “Yahweh Yireh (The LORD will provide); as it is said to this day, “on the mount of YHWH it shall be provided”. Gen 22:14

Several years ago, a friend of mine was sincerely being sympathetic toward me when she told me “I’m sorry you can’t eat dairy.” It was in that moment that I had a revelation that has stuck with me ever since. I did not say this to her, but I realized that it is not that I can’t eat most dairy. I simply choose not to eat most dairy. A long time ago I had realized that eating most dairy left me feeling bloated, swollen, in pain and generally yucky. After experimenting with all kinds of dairy foods, I came to know which few did not result in such a feeling, and which ones did. So, I eliminated those from my diet. I chose not to eat those foods so that I would not experience the consequence that came from doing so. I have free will concerning what I will and will not eat. My choice was never taken away from me.

We tell our kids, “Don’t touch the stove. Don’t pull the cat’s tail. Don’t eat the playdough. Do look both ways before crossing the street. Do pick up your room. Do be nice and kind to your siblings.” Etc… Now, we as parents are not taking away the child’s free will to choose. When we say “Don’t” we are asking the child to trust us enough to choose not to do whatever it is we are addressing. They still have the free will to choose to touch the hot stove, eat the playdough, and pull the cat’s tail. If they choose to do so, there will be some not so pleasant consequences. When we tell them “Do”, we are asking them to trust us and love us enough to choose to do what we have instructed. They must choose to look both ways before crossing the street, to pick up their rooms, and to be kind to their siblings. Either choice will bring a consequence- some pleasant, some not. (Quantum Physics of the Brain)

It is the same with God. No where does He instruct us that we “can’t” do something. He tells us, “Don’t/Do”. He asks us to trust Him enough to choose not to do what He has said will harm us or displease Him. He asks us to love Him enough to choose to do the things He says will benefit us and/or please Him. And He does not change, so therefore neither His instructions to us nor their end results (consequences) will change. And He will never force us to do anything. It will always be up to our choosing.

So, what would the enemy have us believe? What is his lie to us? “Did God really say that you can’t eat of the tree?” Eve replied, “We can’t even touch the tree.” But what did Adam and Eve prove with their disobedience? They proved Satan’s words to be false. They always had the choice. YHWH had simply asked them to trust Him enough to choose not to eat of that tree. He knew and explained the consequences that would come with the choice to eat from it. His instruction was “Trust me and my love for you. Trust that I want to protect you from what will harm you and choose to refrain from eating of that tree.” All His instructions (some call it law) leave us with the choice to make on our own. None of them take away our free will. Only with free will can obedience be an act of love and trust.

Two lying spirits who would convince us of the lie that we do not have a choice are the spirits of poverty and victimhood. Poverty immediately brings to mind one’s financial status, and that is definitely part of the curse this spirit brings. You probably know one or two people who seem to struggle no matter how much or how hard they work. No matter how many jobs they have, or how many times they work to invest in something that will benefit them down the road, they are still struggling to make ends meet. They may not even be living “outside their means”. Yet, they struggle to make enough money to pay the bills, rarely have a savings or the funds for anything they would like to do. They struggle to have anything to invest in others and the kingdom. In fact, most of these people fail to truly tithe because they believe that they will not be able to pay their bills if they are obedient to tithe. (Deut 8:18; Ps 112:3; Pro 3:9; 8:18; 12:27; 13:11; 13:22; Luke 16:11; Matt 6:25-34)

However, poverty goes much further with its lies and effects. Too many have chosen to walk in agreement with the lying spirit of poverty concerning their health. “It’s too expensive to eat healthy, to eat organic, to take good supplements. It’s too much trouble to grow my own food. It’s too much effort and I am too tired after work to exercise. I don’t like to exercise. I don’t like vegetables.” The effort to change is more than the person is willing to expend, even for a better result in his/her life. (1 Cor 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 2 Cor 6:16; )

Poverty will also manifest in one’s attire. 30 years ago, no one would have thought to go shopping or into public in their pajamas. It wasn’t until the 70’s that society began telling women (and they started believing) it is okay-even normal- to dress immodestly showing parts of your body that only your husband should see. Others dress in clothes that are obviously worn and in need of being replaced with no thought of doing so. “I can’t afford to purchase something newer. This is the real me. Everyone else looks like this. This is comfortable to me.” There are others who dress “dark”. Some who dress to fit into a group that is truly on the fringe of society. There is lack of respect for self and others in the way the person with this spirit will dress. (Job 40:7; Luke 17:8; Lev 13:45; Deut 22:5; 1 Peter 3:3)

The environment in which one chooses to live and how one chooses to treat what one has will also reveal the spirit of poverty. Hoarders immediately come to mind, but it can even be simply the lack of care for one’s environment, sloppiness, lack of order, things that haven’t worked or that have been in need of repair for a long time, lack of basic cleanliness. Again, it is too much effort to change, to address what needs to be addressed for a better result in one’s life. (Luke 16:11)

Poverty even influences one’s thinking. Both poverty and victimhood will tell you “You can’t.” “I can’t get ahead. I can’t make ends meet. I will never have the freedom to do ____. It’s too expensive. I can’t afford. This is the best it gets.”

Victimhood will even go further in telling the lie that not only is it out of your control, but it is the fault of other people, and you are owed something from someone. Someone is oppressing you and you are a victim in health, finances, station in life, work, school, everything. Words such as “my disease won’t let me…. My co-workers always have it out for me… The govt (or anyone else) should be helping me… The govt, boss, co-workers, teachers, etc… is holding me back…” Victimhood will use disease, environment, organizations, other people, and so much more as excuses for their situation and reason not to better themselves. Laziness will often manifest within someone who is dealing with the spirit of Poverty and/or Victimhood. (Deut 28:1-14)

Poverty says its not worth the effort to change, victimhood says you can’t and should not have to change, others should change things for you. Both say, “I can’t.” Both lie when they tell you that you do not have choice. Truth is you ALWAYS have a choice. And there is ALWAYS a consequence to every choice you make- whether you act in truth or act in the lie. But that choice will come out of what you CHOOSE to believe.

You will notice I placed some scriptures in parenthesis after several paragraphs. These are just a starting place for you in learning the truth if you have been walking in agreement with these two lying spirits. As you come against these two spirits, ask the Father to give you more understanding and have His spirit teach you of these things and remind you what Yeshua taught. (John 14:26) This week there is some parasite cleansing that needs to occur within many of us in the Body of Messiah. May we be open to any conviction from YHWH and be willing to change as we allow Him to guide us in this work of healing. Praise to our Father for His love that He would desire to cleanse us of ALL filth and dross! HalleluYah!

Until next time…

Take away the dross from the silver and the silversmith has material for a vessel

Proverb 25:4