Is manifesting a Christian principle or a new age philosophy?

“Manifesting” is a term that’s been twisted into the principle of the law of attraction or a name-it-and-claim it falseology. Both are deceptions. Manifesting actually carries biblical precedence.

There’s a practice within the new age community that with enough positive vibes you’ll accomplish a certain thing.

There’s also this deception that “manifesting” is praying a prayer that creates YOUR desired outcome. Like if you loft up enough prayers for blessings from the Lord to reign down, He will honor your request, similar to that of a genie in a bottle. Honestly, both types of manifesting are unbiblical for many reasons. We won’t go into the logistics of that today, as we’d rather focus on what type of manifesting IS biblical.

So here’s a quick Bible study on the topic so the next time your crystal-loving bestie comes at you “manifesting your miracle”… you can just point them to the Miracle we have in Christ.

Biblical manifesting is not:

• throwing up lofty prayers of dreams, desires, and wants and watching them come true

• creating vision boards that if you look at them long they become reality

• repeating the same phraseology in hopes it will shift the destiny

The Biblical word “manifest” within the original Hebrew language is defined in 2 ways.

Both ways are in reference to God manifesting His glory and holiness. The Greek has 5 definitions for the word “manifest”, and 3 are shared below. The verses we’re highlighting are all from the Apostle Paul who was urging the Corinthian church, which I believe we as Christ-followers can apply to our walk with God present day.

Here are 3 Things Christians can be manifesting:

1. Christ-followers get to manifest the life of Jesus in their mortal flesh. Defines it as “reveal to make clear.” See 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 - “For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

2. Christ-followers get to display manifestations of the Spirit for the common good of the church. This is talking about supernatural gifts that point people to Jesus. Defines it as “reveal; to make known”; see 1 Corinthians 12:7–11, 1 Corinthians 14:12)

3. Christ-followers get to work and that work will manifest a foundation that will be tested. Defines manifest as “visible; evident; known”; see 1 Corinthians 3:1–23

1 Corinthians 3:18 shares, “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness,’ 20 and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’ 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”

To summarize:

Fools follow the principles of the world, wisdom follows the will of God. The things manifest in the lives of Christ-followers should be focused on Christ Himself, the gifts of the Spirit, and a foundation of work that manifest godly fruit.