First, let me remind each of us that we are not God. It is foolish for us to even try to place ourselves in the position and power of God. The concept of manifesting is closely tied to the law of attraction, which suggests that if you have strong enough belief in something, it will eventually become a reality. This teaching primarily focuses on the individual, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and personal desires.
There are multiple ways in which manifestation goes against biblical teachings. As I previously stated the root of this teaching turns you into the position of being your own god. You are basically taking your life into your hands instead of trusting in the only true and living God. What this magic trick does is that you are turning inward to yourself for your own outcome. One of my favorite scriptures is found in the Book of Wisdom. Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Manifestation removes the need for both you and me to rely on the Lord, shifting our trust solely onto ourselves. Furthermore, pride and selfishness are really at the root of manifestation. Our desires are driven by the need to obtain what we desire at the precise moment we desire it. James 4:6 reminds us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Neglecting God’s timing is another aspect that makes manifestation incompatible with Scripture. What if it is not God’s timing for you to start that business this year? Consider the possibility that God’s intention is for you to wait before resigning from your current job? There is a reason why patience is a Fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22). When you and I think about God’s timing, specifically in Ecclesiastes as well as in Timothy, it speaks about the appointed, proper timing of God. Psalm 18:30 reminds us, “As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
Furthermore, manifestation is deemed as unbiblical due to its association with our self-centered desires. What lies within the depths of your heart? If I am honest, I thought I would be married by now with my 2.5 children living in a house with a white picket fence. But think about this, what if the Lord granting me the desires of my heart would lead me astray from Him? Could it divert or sidetrack me from my divine purpose? What if my desires were to become an idol? I want us to really think and examine our motives when it comes to our desires. Only Jesus has the power to satisfy the emptiness within our hearts. Psalm 37:4 is a familiar scripture that says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” However, we fail to read the scriptures before and after verse 4. So, when we look at Psalm 37 verses 1 through 5, verses 1 and 2 says, “Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.” Ok that sounds good. But what does verse 3 say? “Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.” This is another conditional promise. Remember we have talked about this before—if I do this, then God will do that. Now verse 4 says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” So, if I am not trusting in the Lord and doing good like verse 3 says, I can forget about verse 4. But here it is in verse 5. It says, “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.” So, we can forget about the Lord giving us the desires of our hearts if we are not adhering to the fullness of Scripture.
Alright, so what should I do? I have given you God’s Word and this what is what the Spirit is saying….
- Repent
- Search the Scripture
- Pray
- Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your mind
- Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your desires
In closing, it is important for us to refrain from desiring anything in our lives that goes against God’s will. We can have faith in God’s plan, knowing that if there is something He intends for us to have, it will come to fruition…. no magic, no manifestation, no witchcraft is needed. God, His Word, and His desires for us are sufficient.