What does it mean to manifest something? What is manifesting?

Answer

Manifesting refers to the practice of bringing something into reality through focused thoughts, beliefs, and visualizations. The fundamental idea is that positive thinking attracts desired outcomes. The concept gained worldwide popularity through the New Thought movement and books like The Secret. However, it is important to understand that the ideas behind manifesting are not in line with biblical teachings.

Manifesting typically involves three key practices: visualization, affirmation, and positive thinking. Visualization is the act of regularly picturing one’s goals and dreams as if they have already been achieved. An affirmation is a positive statement to reinforce belief in achieving those goals. Positive thinking involves maintaining an optimistic mindset to attract positive outcomes. According to proponents of manifesting, positive thoughts and visualizations can influence reality and attract success, health, and happiness. It is about harnessing the power of the mind to shape destiny.

Despite the popularity of manifesting, it is incompatible with biblical Christianity. The Bible teaches that human will is subject to God’s will, not the other way around. While positive thinking can influence emotions and reduce stress, the concept of manifesting, as related to the law of attraction, lacks a biblical foundation and promotes a pantheistic view of God. Those who seek to “manifest” something reduce God to a universal energy force they can manipulate with their thoughts. This concept contradicts the biblical idea of a sovereign and personal God.

God is sovereign over all aspects of life, and our focus should be on seeking His will rather than trying to bend His will to our own. Proverbs 19:21 states, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” This verse highlights the importance of aligning our desires with God’s plans, recognizing that His purpose ultimately prevails.Recognizing that His will is greater than ours.

Additionally, Philippians 4:6–7 states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Here, Paul emphasizes the significance of prayer and reliance on God rather than depending solely on positive thinking to achieve desired outcomes.

Faith and prayer are crucial for believers, while the teachings of manifestation advocate faith in oneself, rendering prayer unnecessary. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Therefore, having faith means trusting in God’s promises and timing, even when the result is not immediately evident.

James 4:13–15 advises, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” The unpredictability of human plans is one reason why we must yield to God’s will.

In the parable of the rich farmer, Jesus portrays a man who harbored nothing but positive thoughts, visualizations, and affirmations for himself. Following a bumper crop, the man declared, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry’” (Luke 12:18-19). Regrettably, all the visualizations in the world could not alter his fate, as Jesus conveys: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will receive what you have prepared for your

self?’” (verse 20).

The main risk of manifestation lies in its encouragement of self-reliance and the belief that we can control our lives independently of God. This mindset promotes pride. Proverbs 16:18 cautions, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Believers are urged to embrace humility and rely on God (Philippians 2:1-11), acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes from Him «Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. », (James 1:17).