When Manifestation Goes Mainstream

Manifestation is going mainstream. Here it is in the window of Waterstones, along with the air fryer and slow cooker recipe books. And there’s the irony that while we’re in a cost of living crisis more and more people are seeking the help of the ‘universe’ to achieve a six figure income or meet the man of their dreams.

Proponents would say that we are manifesting all the time that this is just a way of consciously honing our skills to get what we want.

And while there’s some truth that our subconscious mind effects our reality there’s also a whole lot of lies.

What fascinates/horrified me about this growing trend in manifestation is that many people who weren’t previously into the law of attraction and may have been quite dismissive of it, are starting to believe in this idea of the universe as some kind of giant vending machine, and that their thoughts are the currency to win the prize.

The Bible tells a different story. In the Bible Satan is the god of this world. For 40 days the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

‘Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

There’s no ‘universe’ offering Jesus whatever he wants. It’s the devil. And the currency the vending machine takes. It’s not thoughts, its souls.

Just look at the music industry. I recently watched a clip in which images of singers were shown at the beginning of their fame and later on. The sweet innocent pop stars morphed into completely different people, wearing devil style costumes under red flashing lights, writhing around on a cross, crying black tears. It’s all so blatant.

There’s a big difference between that and thinking happy thoughts about what we want. But. It’s also, not that different. As soon as we chase after something that is outside of God’s will for our lives there is only one source it can come from.

The thing about the law of attraction, is that focusing on our own thoughts is a honey trap. We might think, when I’m earning six figures I’ll be able to donate so much money to the poor, or I’ll be able help out my friend’s in need. But ultimately it’s a self-focused practise.

What God had shown me recently is that if I can’t give to the poor I should be thinking of spending my money more carefully. I should be questioning whether I really should be buying organic food when people don’t have any food at all, I should be giving away the winter clothes I haven’t worn all season. I should be giving, even if it’s just a small amount of money.

In the Bible a poor widow donates two small coins to the temple while the rich people put in large amounts of money. Jesus said to his disciples, ‘’Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

People say the Bible is about control and it has certainly been used (abused) for those ends in the past. But let’s look at the present and where we are heading. It’s the book on manifestation that is in the shop window.

God doesn’t always give us what we ‘want’. He’s like a loving parent that doesn’t feed his kids endless sweets or let them stay up till midnight on a school night. Because he knows better than us what we need. It’s a truly humbling experience to begin a relationship with God and start listening to what he recommends. He always provides and can support us through this cost of living crisis much better than a philosophy that says you can have the life of your wildest dreams, while other people struggle to find the money for a meal.

‘For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’ - Matthew 16:26