Manifestation/law of attraction…….it’s the big thing right now. Basically it says that you can do or have anything just by thinking positively about it and truly believing it will happen. So much so that you feel like you already have it. Sounds simple right? I thought so too. So, I decided to look more into it. I mean, there are plenty of things I want. And if I can get them just by a thought, I’M IN! So, I started my research on YouTube. Why? Well, simple…because YouTube has EVERYTHING! And let me tell you, there was so much stuff! Where to even start?!?! So, I started with the “professionals”…… Joe Dispenza, Wayne Dyer and Abraham Hicks. But there are a TON out there. Joe Dispenza explains the science behind it and how are brains work. Which is REALLY interesting. But, if I’m being completely honest, I didn’t understand a lot of the jargon. And after a while it felt overwhelming because I was trying so hard to “get it”. Wayne Dyer and Abraham Hicks are great at explaining how you need to think. And trust me, eliminating all negative thoughts can take a little time. But it’s definitely worth it just for your own mental well being.

While doing my research I remembered that years ago I read (most of) “The Secret”. When reading it I remember thinking “that’s basically what the Bible says”. The crazy thing is, I believe whole heartedly in the Bible. I believe every single word of it. So, how am I 44 and and I’ve never learned how to apply this principle? I’ll tell you how…..very confused, sad and struggling. That’s how! Well, at least a lot of the time. So, my next step was to take everything I had learned thus far and compare it to what my Bible says. Unfortunately, sometimes applying it with our small minds can be really hard. Society has already taught us that we have countless limitations and obstacles that seem impossible to overcome. We complain about our jobs, our appearance, our singleness, our relationships, our marriages, our finances, our health and countless other things. And to us, that’s just normal and how things are because there are simply certain things we just don’t believe we can do.

So tell me then, why does the our very creator in the Bible say that we will go on to do even greater things in this earth than even Jesus did (John 14:12)? Think about that. Jesus made wine from water, he rose the dead, he healed the sick, he fed the hungry, he commanded the wind to stop (AND IT DID!) and so many other amazing things! Yet the word says that we shall do even greater things than this. THEN WHY AREN’T WE? The Bible says we can ask anything of our God and he will do it for you (Matthew 21:22)  IF you whole heartedly believe. You have to literally believe you’ve already received it (sound familiar?). In other words, you MUST have faith. And the Bible has a lot to say about faith.

“Faith is the reality of what we hope for, it is the evidence of things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1, NLT)

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6, NLT)

I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and so much more. You can even say to this mountain, “may you be lifted and thrown into the sea.” And it will happen. You can pray for anything , and if you have faith, you will receive it. (Matthew 21:21-22, NLT. And I must point out that this verse is in red letters meaning it came directly from the mouth of Jesus!)

“And I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14 NLT, and again in red letters!)

“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” (John 15:7 NLT, again in red letters!)

These are just a few examples of the importance of faith. So, why is faith so hard for us? I think maybe it’s because of our view of ourselves. We are so down on who we are, what we look like and what we do day in and day out. So deep down I don’t think we think we “deserve” it. And quite frankly, we don’t. But, the Bible doesn’t say “for those who deserve it”. It says “for those with faith”. Faith in God and his word, faith in His love for us, faith in who HE SAID he created us to be, faith in what he SAYS when he says we can do “greater things” than even Jesus did.

Ok, so there’s the “faith” or “believing in” part. But what about the “controlling your thoughts” part you say? Well, that’s when we go to Proverbs 23:7. Which clearly says “So as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Boom!!!! That’s a deep one. That’ll definitely get you thinking. Who do you say you are? Do you say you’re stupid, or fat, or ugly, or poor, or unliked, or anything else negative? And then do you wonder why you are those things and you can’t seem to change it? Well, what could it hurt to tell yourself the opposite? Try it and see!

So, in conclusion I do believe in manifestation. BUT I believe that in order for it to work, you must also include God in that. Some of the manifestation stuff I read or listened to made it sound like you needed to think of yourself AS God with all the power. And I just find that to be so wrong. The Bible says that “I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who abides in me and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from me, you can do NOTHING.” (John 15:5). Put that together with John  15:7 (see above scripture) and there it is! If you have REAL faith in God you can ask him for anything and he’ll do it. But you must have faith IN HIM that He will do it because He said He would. And because God CANNOT lie, it has to be truth. Otherwise you’re calling God a liar. And I don’t see him liking that too much. I mean if someone had that little faith in me, I probably wouldn’t do it either, Lol! Just sayin! And in order to have that kind of faith in God, you must know him. Which is why scripture also says “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” Matthew 6:33. Yep, that means you actually have to try to be a good person. You can’t be an narcissistic asshole that goes around screwing other people over but thinking good thoughts and so highly of yourself that you get anything you want. I simply don’t believe that. I do believe you can work really hard and get what you want. And you can screw people over and TAKE what you want. But, that my friend is not manifestation or Bible. That’s just you being a shitty person to get what you want.

This isn’t something that I have mastered quite yet, but it’s definitely given me some knowledge as to what we are capable of if we simply get our minds straight. If we focus on what is good. If we focus on God and His promises. If we do that and we have faith that God will fulfill all of His promises to us, we can have whatever we ask. Because HE SAID WE COULD! And God can do “exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). And based on John 15:7, He WANTS us to ask and He WANTS to do it to bring glory to His Father! How beautiful is that? Now that is something we can rest in!!!!

“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” (John 15:7-8)

Meaning…..if you remain in God (seeking Him and obeying what he says in the Bible, which is to love above all else.) and his words (the Bible and the holy spirit) remains in you THEN you may ask for anything you want and it will be granted. And when you produce much fruit (whatever it is you are asking for and seeking), you are his true disciples (because it shows that you have faith in Him and you are seeking Him.). THIS brings glory to to my Father. (which means you asking God for what you want, in Jesus name, and Him granting it brings Him glory.) Therefore……God WANTS us to ask Him for anything and everything we need. PLAIN AND SIMPLE! And if we do that and fully trust Him, He will do it. So, in a way, I guess you can say you “manifested” it by your belief and trust in God! But make no mistake, GOD is the one that did it and all the glory belongs to Him!