The spirit of poverty is more than just lacking money; it’s a mindset, a reflection of an understanding, one that distorts your perspective, whispers lies about your worth, your future, and God’s desire to bless you. This spiritual stronghold convinces you that you’re destined to struggle, that abundance belongs to other people, and that God somehow wants you to remain poor to keep you humble. It creates a ceiling over your expectations and chains around your faith.
Maybe you’ve grown up hearing phrases like “money is the root of all evil” or “God wants us to be poor” so often that you’ve accepted financial limitation as spiritual virtue. Perhaps generational patterns of poverty have created such deep grooves in your thinking that prosperity feels foreign or even wrong. But these are lies that need to be demolished by the truth of God’s Word.
Throughout Scripture, we see God’s heart to prosper His people, not just spiritually but in every area of life. From Abraham’s wealth to Solomon’s riches, from Job’s restoration to the early church’s abundance, the Bible reveals a God who delights in blessing His children. These verses aren’t just promises to claim; they’re weapons to destroy the lies that keep you bound to lack and limitation.
Bible Verses That Can Break the Spirit of Poverty
1. Deuteronomy 8:18 – God Gives You Power to Get Wealth
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
New International Version (NIV)
2. 3 John 1:2 – Prosper in All Things
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3. Psalm 35:27 – The Lord Delights in the Prosperity
Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
New King James Version (NKJV)
4. Isaiah 48:17 – I Am the Lord Your God Who Teaches You to Profit
This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
New Living Translation (NLT)
5. Proverbs 10:22 – The Blessing of the Lord Makes Rich
The Lord’s blessing enriches, and he adds no painful effort to it.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6. Genesis 26:12-13 – Isaac Reaped a Hundredfold
Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7. Psalm 112:3 – Wealth and Riches Shall Be in His House
Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
King James Version (KJV)
8. 2 Corinthians 8:9 – Though He Was Rich, Yet He Became Poor
For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
9. Deuteronomy 28:11 – The Lord Will Grant You Abundant Prosperity
God will lavish you with good things: children from your womb, offspring from your animals, and crops from your land, the land that God promised your ancestors that he would give you.
The Message (MSG)
10. Proverbs 13:22 – A Good Man Leaves an Inheritance
A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
11. Job 42:10 – The Lord Gave Job Twice as Much
The Lord restored what Job had lost after he prayed for his friends, and the Lord doubled all that had belonged to Job.
New English Translation (NET)
12. Ecclesiastes 5:19 – God Enables Him to Enjoy Wealth
Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13. 1 Chronicles 29:12 – Riches and Honor Come From You
You are the source of wealth and honor; you are the ruler of all things. You have the power and strength to make anyone great and strong.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
14. Proverbs 8:21 – Causing Those Who Love Me to Inherit Wealth
I grant wealth to those who love me, filling their treasuries.
Good News Translation (GNT)
15. Genesis 24:35 – The Lord Has Blessed My Master Abundantly
The Lord has greatly blessed my master Abraham, and he has become a rich man. The Lord has given him many sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.
New Century Version (NCV)
16. 1 Kings 3:13 – Riches and Honor I Have Given You
I’m also giving you what you didn’t ask for: both riches and honor, so that no other king will be comparable to you for as long as you live.
International Standard Version (ISV)
17. Psalm 68:19 – Daily He Bears Our Burdens
Blessed be the Lord! Day by day He bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Selah
Tree of Life Version (TLV)
18. Haggai 2:8 – The Silver Is Mine and the Gold Is Mine
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares Yahweh of hosts.
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
19. Deuteronomy 28:12 – You Will Lend to Many Nations
Yahweh will open to you his good treasure in the sky, to give the rain of your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You will lend to many nations, and you will not borrow.
World English Bible (WEB)
20. 2 Chronicles 1:12 – Wisdom and Knowledge Are Granted
wisdom and knowledge are granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like.
American Standard Version (ASV)
21. Genesis 13:2 – Abram Was Very Rich
Now Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
22. Psalm 1:3 – Whatever He Does Prospers
Such people are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
New American Bible (NAB)
23. 1 Timothy 6:17 – God Richly Provides Us with Everything
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.
Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB)
24. Jeremiah 29:11 – Plans to Prosper You
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.
English Revised Version (ERV)
25. Malachi 3:11 – I Will Rebuke the Devourer
And I have pushed for you against the consumer, And he doth not destroy to you the fruit of the ground, Nor miscarry to you doth the vine in the field, Said Jehovah of Hosts.
Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
26. Psalms 23:5 – My Cup Runs Over
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Darby Translation (DARBY)
27. Luke 6:38 – Give and It Will Be Given to You
Give, and gifts will be given to you; full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it will be measured back to you.
Weymouth New Testament (WNT)
28. Genesis 39:2 – The Lord Was with Joseph, and He Prospered
And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a luckie felowe, and continued in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
29. 2 Chronicles 26:5 – As Long as He Sought the Lord, God Made Him Prosper
And he sought God in the dayes of Zechariah, which had vnderstanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.
Geneva Bible (GNV)
30. Joshua 1:8 – Then You Will Make Your Way Prosperous
This booke of the lawe shall not departe out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therin day and night, that thou mayest obserue to do according to all that is written therin: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt haue good successe.
Bishop’s Bible
31. 1 Chronicles 22:13 – Then You Will Have Good Success
Then shalt thou prospere, yf thou takest hede to fulfyl the ordinaunces and lawes, which the Lorde charged Moses with all concernynge Israel. Be stronge and of good corage, drede not, nor be faynte harted.
Tyndale Bible
32. Psalm 84:11 – No Good Thing Will He Withhold
For the Lord God is our Light and Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk along his paths.
The Living Bible (TLB)
33. Romans 8:32 – How Will He Not Also Give Us All Things
For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
34. 2 Corinthians 9:11 – You Will Be Enriched in Every Way
You will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
The Voice Bible (VOICE)
35. Matthew 6:33 – All These Things Will Be Given to You
But put God’s kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all of those things will also be given to you.
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Breaking the Spirit of Poverty
The spirit of poverty operates through deception, convincing believers that financial lack is somehow more spiritual than biblical prosperity. Scripture reveals that poverty is not God’s will for His children, but often the result of spiritual strongholds that limit our thinking and expectations. Throughout the Bible, we see God consistently blessing His faithful servants with material prosperity as well as spiritual riches, demonstrating that He desires comprehensive blessing for those who walk with Him.
Breaking the spirit of poverty requires more than just claiming promises; it demands a complete renewal of the mind regarding money, prosperity, and God’s intentions for His people. The Bible shows that wealth is a tool for advancing God’s kingdom and blessing others, not an end in itself. When believers understand that God gives them power to get wealth to establish His covenant, it transforms their relationship with money from fear to stewardship.
What’s crucial to understand is that biblical prosperity isn’t about greed or materialism, but about having enough to meet your needs, bless your family, and be generous toward others. The spirit of poverty seeks to keep believers so focused on lack that they cannot see the opportunities and resources God has provided. When this stronghold is broken, believers begin to operate with the mindset of abundance rather than scarcity, positioning themselves to receive and steward God’s blessings effectively.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come to You recognizing that I have allowed the spirit of poverty to influence my thinking and limit my expectations. I confess that I’ve sometimes believed lies about money and prosperity that don’t align with Your Word. Forgive me for accepting lack as normal when You desire to bless me abundantly.
I renounce every lie that says poverty is more spiritual than prosperity. I break the agreement with thoughts that tell me I’m destined to struggle financially or that abundance isn’t for me. Right now, I reject the spirit of poverty and every limitation it has placed on my mind and expectations.
I declare that You are my Provider and that You take pleasure in the prosperity of Your servants. You have given me power to get wealth so that You may establish Your covenant. Help me to see opportunities where I once saw only obstacles. Open my eyes to the resources and favor You’ve already placed around me.
Renew my mind with Your truth about prosperity and stewardship. Help me to be faithful with what You’ve given me and wise in how I handle every blessing. Make me a conduit of Your blessing to others, using the resources You provide to advance Your kingdom and meet the needs around me.
Thank You for breaking every chain of poverty from my life and my family line.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.