Life Without Lack

1. God's All-Sufficiency is the Foundation of a Life Without Lack

The world is a perfectly good and safe place to be.

God's Nature. The book emphasizes that a life without lack is rooted in the nature of God as a self-sufficient, eternal being, the source of all creation and unlimited in resources and love. This understanding of God's nature is crucial for experiencing his provision.

• God is not a distant, impersonal force but a personal being with whom we can have a relationship.
• His power is unlimited, and he is the source of all energy and life.
• He is not stingy or worried about running out of resources; he is overflowing with goodness.

The Shepherd Analogy. The Twenty-Third Psalm portrays God as a shepherd who provides for all the needs of his sheep. This analogy highlights God's care, protection, and provision for those who trust in him.

• The shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures and still waters, symbolizing God's provision of rest and refreshment.
• He protects them from danger, symbolizing God's protection from evil.
• He guides them in the paths of righteousness, symbolizing God's guidance in life.

Experiencing Sufficiency. The experience of a life without lack is not based on our own efforts or resources but on the presence of God in our lives. This presence is most clearly and fully present to us in Jesus Christ.

• It is a life of contentment, free from anxiety and fear.
• It is a life of abundance, where our needs are met and our cups overflow.
• It is a life of eternal security, where we dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

2. The Mind's Focus Determines the Course of Life

The most important thing about your mind is what it is fixed upon.

The Power of the Mind. The book stresses that the mind is the most important aspect of our lives, and what we choose to focus our minds on has a profound impact on our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

• Our minds are the primary way we make contact with reality, including God.
• The focus of our thoughts determines the trajectory of our lives.
• We have the power to choose what we allow our minds to dwell upon.

The Battle for the Mind. The world is filled with competing ideas and belief systems that seek to control our minds. Satan works through these systems to keep us focused on ourselves and away from God.

• Self-obsession is a major obstacle to experiencing a life without lack.
• We must replace the idea systems of the world with the teachings of Jesus.
• The gospel of Jesus is about more than forgiveness of sins; it is about the kingdom of God and his immediate availability.

Transforming the Mind. To experience a life without lack, we must actively turn our minds to God and fill them with his Word. This is not a passive process but an active choice that requires effort and discipline.

• Memorizing Scripture is essential for keeping God and his truth constantly before our minds.
• We must think about God in ways that match his true character.
• The transformation of the self takes place as we fix our minds upon God as he truly is.

3. Humanity's Purpose: To Reflect God's Goodness and Rule with Love

People are valuable even if they’re doing nothing; we do not have to earn our value.

Created in God's Image. The book emphasizes that human beings are created in God's image, which means we are unique and have a special value. This image includes the power to act, create, and love.

• We are not merely physical beings but also spiritual beings with minds and wills.
• Our value is inherent and does not depend on our accomplishments or worthiness.
• We are made to have a special relationship with God and to do our work in that relationship.

Dominion and Responsibility. God has given humanity dominion over the earth, which means we are responsible for caring for it and using its resources wisely. This is not a license to exploit but a call to stewardship.

• We are to rule the earth for good, reflecting God's goodness and love.
• Our work is a fundamental structure of love in the kingdom of God.
• Work is the expending of energy to produce good in various forms and ways.

The Importance of Relationships. The greatest challenge to creating good and living as God has appointed us to live lies primarily within our most intimate personal relationships.

• We are created for love, and God desires to create a community of loving persons with himself at the center.
• The rupture of trust between man and woman is a primary source of human suffering.
• The grace of God, as it came in Jesus Christ, is sufficient to heal the relationship between men and women.

4. Evil's Source: Satan's Deception and Humanity's Choice

The single most important thing to remember about God is his total unlikeness in his being from anything that we can see.

The Reality of Satan. The book acknowledges the reality of Satan as a spiritual being who is the primary source of evil in the world. He works through deception and temptation to thwart God's purposes.

• Satan is the "prince of the power of the air" and the "prince of this world."
• He seeks to control humanity through ideas, beliefs, and systems of wickedness.
• His primary goal is to keep us from knowing and trusting God.

Satan's Three Weapons. Satan uses three primary weapons to tempt us: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These are the same temptations that were used to deceive Eve in the garden.

• The lust of the flesh refers to our desires for physical pleasure and gratification.
• The lust of the eyes refers to our desire for things that appear attractive or desirable.
• The pride of life refers to our desire for power, recognition, and self-exaltation.

Human Responsibility. While Satan is a powerful force, we are not mere puppets. We have the power to choose between good and evil, and we are responsible for the choices we make.

• Our minds and hearts are the battleground where Satan seeks to control us.
• We must choose to turn our minds to God and resist the temptations of the world.
• The gospel of Jesus is the only way to break free from Satan's grasp.

5. Trust in God: The Key to Unlocking Divine Provision

If you will place yourself in his hands, in trust, will ensure that nothing can ever happen to you that will make you say, “I’m afraid” or “I don’t have enough.”

Faith as Trust. The book emphasizes that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a deep trust in God's goodness and power. It is a reliance on him in the face of all fears and uncertainties.

• Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
• It is the means by which the mind contacts reality, including the spiritual realm.
• It is a gift from God that we must actively seek and receive.

The Transformation of Faith. The book uses the example of Job to illustrate how faith can be transformed from a faith of propriety to a faith of desperation and finally to a faith of sufficiency.

• The faith of propriety is based on the belief that if we do good things, God will bless us.
• The faith of desperation is a clinging to God in the midst of suffering and loss.
• The faith of sufficiency is a deep confidence in God's all-sufficient provision, regardless of circumstances.

The Importance of the Word. The word of God is a source of power and nourishment for our souls. It is through the word that we come to know God and his will for our lives.

• We must fill our minds with the word of God and allow it to shape our thoughts and actions.
• We must be willing to listen to God's voice and obey his commands.
• Fasting is a way to feast on God and be nourished by his word.

6. Death to Self: The Path to True Life and Freedom

The single most important thing to remember about God is his total unlikeness in his being from anything that we can see.

Not Self-Destruction. The book clarifies that death to self is not about self-hatred or self-destruction but about surrendering our will to God and living for his purposes.

• It is not about getting rid of ourselves but about becoming our true selves in Christ.
• It is about releasing our desires, our glory, and our power to dominate others.
• It is about recognizing that our lives are not our own but belong to God.

The Nature of the Flesh. The book defines "the flesh" as our natural human desires and impulses when they are not under the control of the Holy Spirit.

• The flesh is not inherently evil but is easily corrupted by sin.
• It is characterized by self-seeking, pride, and a desire for control.
• It is the source of much of the evil and suffering in the world.

Crucified with Christ. To experience true life and freedom, we must be crucified with Christ, which means we must die to our old selves and be raised to new life in him.

• This is not a one-time event but a daily process of surrender and transformation.
• It is a process of letting go of our own plans and desires and embracing God's will for our lives.
• It is a path to true freedom, joy, and peace.

7. Agape Love: The Completion of Faith and the Source of Abundance

Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved.

Love as a Disposition. The book emphasizes that agape love is not merely an emotion or an action but a disposition of the whole self toward what is good and right.

• It is a love that is rooted in God's nature and flows from his all-sufficient being.
• It is a love that seeks the well-being of others, even our enemies.
• It is a love that is patient, kind, humble, and forgiving.

Love and Service. Agape love is expressed through service to others. It is not about seeking our own benefit but about meeting the needs of those around us.

• We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, which means caring for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
• We are to love our enemies, which means seeking their good even when they have wronged us.
• We are to be servants to all, following the example of Jesus, who washed his disciples' feet.

The Power of Love. Agape love has the power to transform lives and to bring about healing and reconciliation. It is the ultimate expression of God's grace and the source of true abundance.

• It is a love that never fails, never gives up, and never loses hope.
• It is a love that covers a multitude of sins and brings about forgiveness.
• It is a love that is the fulfillment of the law and the essence of the Christian life.

8. Living Each Day with Jesus: A Practical Guide to Abundant Life

The world is a perfectly good and safe place to be.

The Importance of Presence. The book emphasizes that the key to a life without lack is the presence of God in our lives. We must learn to live each day in conscious awareness of his presence.

• God wants to be with us, and he has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
• We must make the decision to invite him into every aspect of our lives.
• We must learn to see the world through his eyes and to respond to situations as he would.

Practical Steps for Living with Jesus. The book provides practical steps for living each day with Jesus, including:

• Beginning the day with praise, petition, and planning.
• Scheduling times throughout the day to turn our minds to God.
• Blessing everything we do and everyone we meet.
• Reflecting on the day and seeking God's guidance.

The Transformation of the Ordinary. When we live each day with Jesus, our ordinary lives become extraordinary. We find strength, joy, and confidence in his presence.

• We are empowered to do the things that please him and to avoid the things that displease him.
• We are filled with love for others and a desire to serve them.
• We experience the abundant life that Jesus promised to all who follow him.

Last updated: January 26, 2025