Recently, I saw a post by a Christian woman saying,
“I visualize what I want in my life, the fulfillment of my desires, and it simply manifests to reality! Hallelujah! God asks us to do it in the Bible, so guys, do it! Envision your dreams coming to reality.”
I paused for a moment to understand what this woman meant and dissect the post. Neither did the first half of her statement had anything to do with God in it nor did the addition of ‘Hallelujah’ make it godly! I was surprised and taken aback by this whole idea that the source of our abundance or blessings is not God but our minds; our visualizations and dreams.
Visualization and other occult practices have been used covertly to tap into powers beyond our comprehension throughout history. These methods are now more openly practiced as part of the New Age paradigm.
Unfortunately, devout Christians who are blind to these practices’ roots and dangers have adopted them unknowingly. To protect our souls, we must be vigilant and carefully evaluate all the teachings we come across.
The idea that all is finished may be found in one Bible verse:
As Jesus said in Mark 11:24 (NIV), “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
This passage is included in Jesus’ discourse on the efficacy of prayer and faith. It stresses the need of having firm faith in God’s capacity to hear and answer prayers. Believers are to approach God in prayer with the confidence that their petitions have been granted even before they experience the outward evidence of the response. The importance of confidence in God’s provision is emphasized in this text.
This verse, like all others in the Bible, must be interpreted in light of the Bible’s larger teachings on prayer and God’s will. Having faith that everything is final does not imply we should manipulate or demand things from God. Trusting God’s will, promises, timing, and plans involves lining up our hearts with His.
As Christians, we must be able to separate the truth from the alluring pull of superficially excellent results in a society full with tempting promises and appealing trends. We need to build our lives on the rock of Jesus Christ and His Word.
The false belief that positive mental imagery may bring about the changes we seek should not shake our trust. Let us, instead, take our eyes off of ourselves and onto Christ, praying that the Holy Spirit will cause us to take on Christ’s likeness.
Don’t forget how completely reliant we are on God. Without Him, we possess no inherent goodness, and we lack the power to manifest our desires through visualization or spoken words. The authority to create rests solely in the hands of God. However, we can approach the Lord in prayer, placing our trust in Him, knowing that He hears us. Let us surrender our will to His, acknowledging His omnipotence and omniscience.
When dealing with sins or any other difficulties, triumph is possible through the redeeming work of Christ on the cross. However, it necessitates self-discipline, sacrifice, and at times, seeking accountability from our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. God has bestowed upon us the gift of the Christian community to support and guide us in our journey.
1 John 4:9 says –“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
Do not easily trust every spirit, but diligently examine whether they align with the truth of God’s Word. Many false prophets have emerged, spreading their deceitful teachings.
We must be vigilant and test every spirit against the timeless truths revealed to us in Scripture.
The health and wealth gospel may seem appealing, but it is based on a flawed premise and should be avoided. Nothing in life is certain, not even health and prosperity. However, we have the comfort of knowing that God is always with us, that He causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His plan, and that we will spend eternity in close fellowship with Him. Although it may be difficult, we must also come to terms with the fact that we will face trials, hardship, and persecution in this life.
We can face any obstacle head-on because of Christ. We can do all that God has asked us to do because His Spirit lives inside us. He gives unfathomable comfort and strength to us in our time of need.
May our lives be firmly rooted in Christ, guided by the wisdom of His Word, and shielded from the allure of empty promises. Through His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we will navigate the challenges of this world with unwavering faith and resolute hearts. And not with mind-constructed visualization technique.
| Consider this This week let us learn to TEST everything: T– Thoroughly understand whatever is being spoken to us or introduced, and check whether it glorifies God or our own ability and strength. Ask all the “What and How” questions in order to get deep clarity. E– Endorse only things that align with the Word of God. Before advocating a particular technique or practice, make sure it is Biblical. Our actions can influence the faith of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, so we must be wary of what we do and talk about. S– Submit our ideas, desires and plans to God. In Proverbs, it is said, “submit all your ways to the Lord and He will direct your path.” So, it is important to ask God if something that we do is not pleasing in His sight. T– Think before we leap. Just because someone else did it does not mean we do it. Others may have got results but that still does not point to it being right or biblical. |