We’ve all heard it. It had to be somewhere in the top 5 overused words of 2022. Manifesting right or wrong
Manifesting. right or wrong?
Essentially what it means is to identify a desire and believe only positively toward that thing, in effect, attracting it to your life so that it comes to fruition.
Sounds good, right? Well, kinda.
Should you think positively? Yes!
Should you want good things for your life? Of course.
It’s not wrong to want things – that’s not a sin.
We get into tricky territory when we decide that just because we want them means we should have them and we can just go ahead and will whatever it is into our lives, completely skipping God’s involvement in our lives and decisions.
We make our plans and then go, “Ok God, do this thing I’ve decided I wanted in the way I’ve decided I needed it. Please and thanks.”
And typically these are things that will make us happy or well off mentally, physically, relationally or financially in our perspective. So what’s wrong with that?
We get into tricky territory when we decide that just because we want them means we should have them and we can just go ahead and will whatever it is into our lives, completely skipping God’s involvement in our lives and decisions. Masting right or wrong?
Here are some truths:
Happiness is not God’s highest desire for us. Holiness is.
Just because it’s what you want doesn’t mean it’s what God wants for you.
Just because it makes you happy doesn’t mean it’s from God.
We don’t know enough to know all that’s best for us.
It’s not that we can’t have the things we want, it’s having them at the expense of God’s lordship over our lives.
When we propose to “manifest” what we want, we make ourselves and our desires our god. And, perhaps even more unfortunate, is when we attribute the things we get to us manifesting them, we are effectively saying, “God had nothing to do with this, I did it myself. I don’t really need him.”
“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong, it’s knowing the difference between right and almost right.” - Charles Spurgeon
Because you know what? Sometimes God says no. Sometimes the thing we just really want so very badly and have decided we deserve and will make us feel successful is a detriment to what God actually wants to do in you and through you in His time.
We forget, sometimes to check your heart against the heart of God, making sure His desires are what you desire. Spend time with Him in prayer and read his Word so He can place in you what your heart should desire – and when your desires align with God’s you can’t lose.
Some questions to ask yourself:
Why do I want this thing? Is it to make me feel better about myself? Is it so others perceive me a certain way? Is it what I’ve been working for and just I can’t imagine not doing it now? Does it line up with God’s will for my life? Do I know what that is? Have I asked a mentor about it? Am I open-handed about it? (meaning whatever God says goes and I’ll still love Him whether it happens now, in 20 years or never?) Have I asked God about it before making plans for it?
“Don’t let the desires of your heart overrule the discernment of the Holy Spirit.” @worthyofgrace
God’s plan to prosper you includes the gifts and desires he’s put in you – the things you dream about and the plans you make. None of those are wrong. You should absolutely dream big and plan for the future.
It also allows room for the setbacks, the down times, bouts of unfulfilled desires, waiting, trials and opportunities for character growth. You cannot manifest your way out of those.
So, sis. In the year of our Lord 2023, make all the plans, dream all the big dreams and dive into your calling like never before – just make sure that you are not leaving out the one who created you to dream in the first place.
What are your thoughts about manifesting? Do you think it’s right as a believer?