Family incomes have peaked. U.S. median family incomes, adjusted for inflation, peaked 16 years ago.

Jobs have been moving from the higher paying manufacturing sector to the lower paying service sector. The number of employees in goods providing industries has sharply decreased over the last 15 years, while the number of workers in the service industries has been steadily increasing.

The participation rate has peaked. The percentage of the working age population, who are either working or looking for jobs, peaked 16 years ago and is near 40 year lows.  Relatedly, the number of people on food stamps is more than 250 percent larger over the same time period. The number of 25-year-olds living at home with their parents has nearly doubled from the 25 percent seen in 1999.

Money velocity has peaked. The average number of times one dollar is used to purchase goods and services per year peaked 18 years ago. In other words, there are fewer transactions per dollar. Since the money supply times velocity equals the output of the economy (Gross Domestic Product or GDP), the decline in velocity has significant implications for the economy.

As kingdom citizens, we have been equipped to overcome regardless of circumstances. Median family incomes may have peaked, but we are not designed to be average. We are sons and daughters of the King. We are here on a divine mission. We have churches to build and missionaries to send. The poor need a helping hand and kingdom citizens are here to help them. As we seed into His kingdom, the Lord has promised to multiply our resources.

"Now He who supplies seed to the sower and supplies bread for your food will also multiply your seed sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Cor. 9:10, MEV).

As kingdom citizens, we should not settle for earlier peaks in our churches, ministries and outreaches. It is easy to talk about what happened years ago, without pressing in to see even greater things today and tomorrow. Our flesh wants to become comfortable in our successes and has little desire to make the additional effort or take the added risks to accomplish more. The devil wants us to become discouraged, jaded, or distracted with the cares of this world. We need to renew our minds with the Word, seek the Lord in fasting and prayer, and move in a new determination to fulfill our divine mission in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.

Paul compared our experiences to running a race. Runners are focused on the goal. They are determined and disciplined. They look forward and not backward. Runners always strive for improvement and would never settle for last year's peak times. Even if a runner won the previous race, they will want to win this race with the fastest time ever.

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1, MEV).

In the race we are currently running, we have not reached our peak. Our finances have not seen their maximum. Our churches have not reached their zenith. The power of the Word and the Holy Spirit have not crested. Miracles have not climaxed. Christian influence has not peaked. Never settle for less than all God has called us to do. We are not helpless. We are sons and daughters of the King in the kingdom of God.

Dr. James R. Russell is professor of economics and chair of the Undergraduate College of Business at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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