- If I can find my destiny
to my own thinking, I limit what God can do in my life. I can't out think God. I don't receive God's best for my life by thinking about the blessing, but by seeking the one through
whom all good things come. (bright upbeat music) Hello, beloved, and
welcome to Beloved Women with me Christina Patterson, where we encourage, equip and empower women in
the love of Jesus Christ and the truth of God's word. If you are new here, be sure to subscribe so
that you never miss a video, and for those of you
returning, welcome back. If you're like me, you've seen plenty of online ads promising to teach you how to get anything you want. The promise sounds unbelievable and appealing at the same time. How can someone teach me how to not only get something I want, but anything I want? Most of these promises are founded in the
teaching of manifesting. This new age term refers to one's ability to use their thoughts and beliefs to attract the positive outcomes in their lives that they want. The idea is that whatever you focus on, you can manifest or bring
into your physical reality. As I shared in my last
video on types of thoughts the Bible warns against, the scriptures have a lot
to say about our thoughts. Manifesting raises the question of, how Should Christians
be using our thoughts? Should we be using our thoughts for the sole purpose to
attract what we want? Well, 2nd Corinthians chapter
10 verse five tells us, "We destroy arguments
and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought
captive to obey Christ." The Bible doesn't tell
us to use our thoughts to get whatever we want, but to make our thoughts
obedient to Christ. God wants us to use our
minds to glorify Him. Jesus tells us that we are to, "Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength." We are called to love
God with all our minds. Everything that God has entrusted to us, even our thoughts and imaginations were given to us so that we could use
our mind for His glory. Now, you may be wondering, how does manifesting stop me from loving God the way He's called me to? Well, God has called us
to show our love to Him by our faith and trust in Him. When I manifest to
attract whatever I want, I can easily take God out of the equation. I don't need God when
I can use my thoughts to control my destiny. And that is where we cross a
dangerous line in our faith because the truth is, we can't do anything without God. Now, most Christians
know that we need God. That's why we're Christians
in the first place. But with any type of secular philosophy, there is the temptation
to try to merge the two. So we'll move from I'm not
going to manifest what I want, I'm gonna manifest what God wants for me. Still, another problem
arises with that thought. Am I then using my
thoughts to manipulate God to give me what I want or what I think He wants for me? Because in that scenario, the power is still given to our thoughts. Our thoughts are still idols that we serve to get what we want, or what we think God wants for us. As Christians, we must always remember, our thoughts are not our source, God is. Christians don't need to manifest, we need to pray. So let me explain the difference. Manifesting is using my thoughts to attract my desired outcome. Prayer is accessing the power of God to see his will manifest in my life. Manifesting requires trust in myself. Can I think positively enough to produce a positive outcome in my life? Prayer requires trust in God and surrender to His will? Do I trust that God loves me and has my best interest in mind so I can surrender my
life and will to Him? The main problem that we have here is we don't trust God. We think our ways are better than His ways and so the idea of manifesting
becomes very attractive, because I can control my thoughts, but I cannot control God. And when you don't truly
know God, that's scary. Why would I allow this God that I don't trust to lead my life. So then of course, it becomes easier to lead and control my life
myself with my thinking. Here's the thing, our thoughts are powerful enough to impact the course of our lives, which is why Philippians
4:8 gives a lengthy list of the things believers
should be thinking about. Still, we must not miss the truth, that our thoughts, as
powerful as they are, will never supersede the will of God. And praise God for that, because Lord knows that my thoughts did not get me where I am today, God did. My thoughts are not
more powerful than God. Isaiah 55:9 puts it this way, "For as the heavens are
higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." If I can find my destiny
to my own thinking, I limit what God can do in my life. I can't out-think God. I don't receive God's best for my life by thinking about the blessing, but by seeking the one through
whom all good things come. I'm not saying that God doesn't want
you to have that house, or car or spouse, but He certainly does not
want you to idolize them. We are not called to
seek out the blessing, we are called to seek first the kingdom and it is then that the Bible tells us that those things that
God knows we need and more will be added to us. I think of King David,
who was very wealthy. Yet, over and over again in the Psalms, he talks about meditating on God's truth, thinking on God's word, and seeking God alone. Listen to what he wrote in
Psalm 73, verses 25 and 26. He says, "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there was nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh, and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." David wasn't focused on his palace although he had one. He wasn't focused on his riches although he had plenty. He wasn't even focused on his power. He was focused on God because he knew there
was nothing in this world greater than his God. When we focus our thinking to only receive the things of this world, we limit ourselves from
receiving the best from our God, who the Bible tells us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. We don't have the capacity to even begin to think or imagine what God has for us. Let's not limit ourselves to manifesting what we want and keep our focus on God alone. He is faithful to give us
everything we need, and more. Now, I would love to
hear from you beloved, have you ever heard of manifesting or is this your first
time hearing about it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Want more beloved encouragement? Join us at belovedwomen.org and receive my free video
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encouragement today. As always, thank you so much for watching, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed and be loved. (bright upbeat music)
