Manifesting has taken off and become a very popular buzz-word these days. The ability to control our destiny and achieve our goals through visualizing what we want is an appealing notion - but is it Christ-like? Should Christians manifest their dreams, or is there a better option? Learn why Christians should not be manifesting today on The Peculiar Treasure.
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I've always been a pretty positive person. Sure, I've had my ebbs and flows when depression would get in the way of positivity, but for the most part, I've always been an encourager who looks on the bright side of things.
I also believe that people are more capable of great things than they know, and if they are willing to put in the work, there's a great deal that they can accomplish. Go team, right?
But when it comes to manifesting, I am constantly seeing blog posts about how people "reached their business goals through manifesting", or that they "envisioned what they wanted and then they got it".
I do understand that visualizing what you want in helpful in knowing what to go after in the first place. I get that, and that's not the problem. The problem lies in when we think that we are powerful in and of ourselves and that our thoughts and visualization alone can bring about an outcome.
Friends, I believe in being positive. I believe in setting goals. I believe in setting your intention to chase after the God-aligned passions in your heart, and I believe that hard work pays off. But I'm here to tell you today that visualizing, though it may be helpful for realizing what your goals are, does not bring about any sort of outcome on it's own. Manifesting your dreams will not bring them into existence any more than me saying "I want a million dollars" will magically make it appear in my bank account.
Manifesting isn't scriptural. It isn't something that Christians should be getting on board with. The proof is in the Bible, and I'd love to show you.
God Controls the Outcome
The Bible tells us countless times that God is the one in control. Yes, our actions matter. Our thoughts matter. Our intentions matter. But at the end of the day, God is the one who allows things to happen. No, this doesn't mean He approves of everything that happens, but it does mean that He allowed it to happen for one reason or another.But when I look at people who believe in manifesting, I find an entirely different tune. I find hearts that believe that they are in control, not God. I see people, created in the image of God, living as if they are the one's with the power to bring forth anything they want. I see people who love the idea of living independently from God, because it means that they are the powerful ones.
This quote from Wayne Dyer pretty much sums up manifesting in a nutshell:
"There is a level of awareness available to you that you are probably unfamiliar with. It extends upwards and transcends the ordinary level of consciousness that you’re most accustomed to. At this higher plane of existence, which you can access at will, the fulfillment of wishes is not only probable — it’s guaranteed."Guaranteed! Friends, if you've read your Bible, this should disturb you. Because here's what God says:
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." -Proverbs 19:21
"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will..." -Ephesians 1:11
"But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26
These verses do not mean that we have no responsibility, and they do not mean that we shouldn't work towards our dreams. We do have a calling to live life well, to the fullest, and with intention.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men..." - Colossians 3:23
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
-Proverbs 16:3
"Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense." -Proverbs 12:11
God gives us the ability to do great things. But the idea of manifesting is something that is apart from God. It says "look what I did" instead of "look what God gave me the strength to do" - and that distinction matters.
We don't create circumstances out of nothing. Anything that comes to pass has been allowed by God, and any good thing given to us is a gift from God (James 1:17) - this includes our accomplishments and goals we've achieved.
I believe that God has placed dreams and goals on our hearts for a reason. I believe that when we have an unquenchable passion for something, so long as it's within the bounds of Biblical truth, then that passion is most likely God-given.
God gives us strength to accomplish great things, and He calls us to great things. But you know what God doesn't call us to? What He doesn't call us to is independence apart from Him. He doesn't call us to "create our own destiny" and He doesn't call us to think that we are the one's creating great things.
God is All Powerful, Not Me
God is the only all-powerful being. It is in Him that we live and breath and have our being (Acts 17:28). It is God who created the foundations of the world (Job 38:4), and when we are given the desires of our hearts that align with scripture, it is God who has given them to us (Psalm 37:4).None of these things sound like manifesting, because manifesting is consumed with my abilities, my oh-so-powerful mind, and my independence. But as Christians, we are called to humbly depend on our maker, our redeemer, and our only hope. We are called to submit all things to Him, work diligently at the tasks before us, walking in His power and His strength, and trusting Him for the outcome. Manifesting is all about me. Scripture is all about God.
If you are a person who believes in manifesting, my aim is not to hurt you or attack you. I love you regardless of your views on this. But my aim with this blog is always to point people to the truths of God - to His Word and what He has spoken to us. I believe that we are better off humbly giving all of our dreams and desires to God. I believe that asking Him to help us reach our dreams if they are in alignment with His will is far more profitable than trying to visualize and manifest them ourselves. I believe that when He has placed a desire in our hearts, and we are willing to put in the hard and faithful work required of us, He will give us our desires, but I believe that it is because of His goodness, His power, and His plan that He allows this to happen. I believe that when this happens, it is meant to bring glory to God, not to myself.
Thanks for reading. I love each of you and care deeply about the dreams in your heart. Submit them to God and ask Him to guide you, help you, and give you strength to carry out the work your goals require. Ask Him for wisdom and truth to always light the way. He is faithful, and He cares about you and what's on your heart.
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