While talking with a friend this weekend, she mentioned that the use of the word “manifesting” or the idea of manifesting was becoming very commonplace. There are podcasts dedicated to it, books encouraging it, and many people practicing it.

What is manifesting? Today, it’s a combination of meanings. It’s wishing for something to happen, praying for it to happen to some higher power, or being determined enough for something to happen that you believe it will. Many Christians even believe that manifestation is real or adhere to practicing.

The problem with manifestation, though, is its use as a surrogate, or replacement, of God. As Christians, we have access to a much more reliable and trustworthy source than determination. 

The reason manifestation shouldn’t be trusted and should be unused by Christians is because of what it has us do. It has us lean on and trust things that aren’t meant to have our blind faith or undivided devotion. 

Why Manifestation Isn’t Valid

Our emotions don’t determine what we actually want for good. We’ve all wanted certain things very badly; wanted that person, that job, that scholarship. But we didn’t get it. And it ended up being so much better that we didn’t get what we wanted because something better, the right thing, came along later. Our emotions can’t even be trusted to tell us what we REALLY want meaning what will fill us up and satisfy us not just right now, but spiritually. 

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

Another problem with manifestation is the fact that it takes a part of our trust and faith away from the only one who deserves it. He says to trust in Him with ALL of our heart. Not to split that trust and faith with the idea that the world or wishing can provide us our desires. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

What is Valid

We know that God is all knowing. He knows everything, including what we want. He’s not blind to what opportunities are ahead of us and which ways we want our lives to go. He also knows our hearts, souls, and futures. Which means he knows what is best for us. We can trust that He will give us EXACTLY what we need, and we can thank Him for giving us what we will ultimately want.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

 Psalm 139 chronicles how He truly knows everything about us.

Not only does God know our heart’s desires, but He is the only thing that can and will provide that for us. He is powerful and able. The world, our wishing, our desires, aren’t.

“He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” Psalm 147:4-5

What Do We Do

Pray and trust. Pray to and trust in the creator of the universe because He created YOU. He created your mind, heart, and body. He knows you fully. He knows what you need. He is good. He loves you. He has good things in store for you. He knows these things and wants these things and loves you more than you do yourself.

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

The spread of manifestation as something to grab onto, something with merit, is scary. It holds power. Power to twist the truth into making our lives about us. To put us and our wants at the center. To make us think we can do it and make it on our own. I encourage you to turn away from what the world is currently saying and to turn towards what God has already said and is continuing to say: 

“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10