I feel like too many cards rely on gaining life, and the main source of life gain is your lands and 1 Sorin, which isn't huge. Either more life gain, or replace those creatures with other ones. And isn't Hardened Scales a must?

You also might want to consider Reap What Is Sown for instant speed counters.

what type of life gain do you think would fit well into this deck?... I have an Ajani Steadfast I can add, but I know that won't solve my problems... Maybe i should add a couple extra Abzan Battle Priest or?

i honestly think the deck would run better with 20-24 lands and cut some of the creatures i found with the abzan counters its easier to just go with 21 abzan affects like battle preist and the flying one then you have lots of life gain

I'm unsure as to what exactly to do because I feel like the 20 abzan effects is quite normal and I want a deck that isn't normally seen and can compete.

I have realized that the deck has a hard time dealing with destroy/control decks, any ideas to fix this?

Here are some thoughts I have.

1.) I'd switch out the Soulmender for Nyx-Fleece Ram you seem to be setting up for the long game the Ram gains you the same amount of life but is a strong defender.

2.) It might be boring to suggest but Courser of Kruphix is great in this deck like any deck containing green, it slows down aggro, smooths your draws, and gains you life all things you are going to want to do.

3.) It forget about Liliana Vess it doesn't help you to your end game and is costly. If you what the discard use Thoughtsieze or if you are on a budget Despise or Brain Maggot .

4.) Have you considered Siege Rhino life drain on a big body.

5.) I'd ditch the Eternal Thirst an aura needs to have an immediate impact on the game or have strong synergy/big effect Thirst does neither it gives lifelink and will puts counters on whenever a creature you control dies but that isn't strong enough to be worth the risk in my opinion.

6.) I don't believe First Response has enough synergy with this deck. You only have 1 way to pay life and you have to tap to do so. I'd look into replacing it with Abzan Ascendancy .

7.) Look into adding Ajani, Mentor of Heroes with Hardened Scales on the field it can add 6 counters to the board and can be a source of card advantage.

@WKM

1) I agree with the transfer of the Nyx-Fleece Ram and Soulmender , the nice thing about Soulmender is that it is a 1 drop, allowing me to begin the game with him, although the one mana isn't a large breaking point.

2)My only problem with the Courser of Kruphix is the shear monetary cost of the card.

3)I have Liliana Vess for her -2 allowing me to search for any card I may be missing.

4) There is a possibility of using him, possibly a sideboard?(Siege Rhino )

5)I like Eternal Thirst as if I cannot get a priest to stick, I can still give life gain to one of the creatures plus the counter is when the opponents creature dies, thus if he blocks I gain something.

6)I actually like the idea of adding Abzan Ascendancy I had begun to disregard the tokens it can give, but it definitely could be more useful.

7)Once again Ajani, Mentor of Heroes is such an expensive card to get that it is hard for me to imagine getting one.

With so many enchantments, you deffinetly want Underworld Coinsmith .

be careful because my standard deck: Anti-removal Heroes is designed to tear decks like this to shreds