Are You Manifesting or Praying?

[00:00:01] Hello and welcome to another episode of Worldwide Wonderful Women. I am your host, Paula Harris, and this podcast is for women who are all about learning how to live in God’s divine power. It is produced on behalf of Transformed Worldwide Ministries. Thank you so much for being here.

[00:00:39] Hello and blessed Fourth of July celebrations to you and to your family.

[00:00:45] This is Episode Number 374 and it’s entitled, “Are You Manifesting or Praying?”

[00:00:55] Manifesting and praying are not the same. In today’s climate, we need to have clarity on what each one means, especially if we are to protect our families from this error.

[00:01:08] I wasn’t aware that manifesting was so dominant in our culture. It dates back to the 19th century, but recently I read that manifesting is a culture that has been on the rise in recent years, with Google searches of manifesting striking 600% since the beginning of the pandemic.

[00:01:34] So online searches relating to manifesting spiked during the lockdown period of COVID-19 and remain strong today.

[00:01:46] On Instagram, the hashtags #manifest and #manifestation now total more than 15 million posts. And on TikTok, they surpass 9 billion.

[00:02:02] Social media, especially TikTok and Instagram, is notorious for popularizing the concept of liking a post to manifest your wealth, your love, or power. Now you might say, “Paula, I don’t do social media and I’m not worried about any of that.” But you know what? Your younger family members are, and it’s important for you to have wisdom and understanding regarding prayer and its difference from manifesting.

[00:02:36] Now, manifesting is totally different from prayer, and we as believers need to know the difference so that we, our children, and others are not deceived by Satan. I did some research and wanted to understand the difference myself. Now I want to share with you what I found.

[00:03:01] So first of all, what is manifestation?

[00:03:05] A short definition of manifestation is that our thoughts can literally create our reality.

[00:03:17] Manifestation is that our thoughts can literally create our reality.

[00:03:25] In more depth, people practicing manifestation try to will things into existence by focusing their attention on what they desire.

[00:03:38] Sometimes it takes the form of repeatedly writing down a word or phrase that describes their desire, maybe in a journal.

[00:03:48] Sometimes it involves candles or crystals to harness some positive energy.

[00:03:55] Sometimes it involves saying what they desire out loud as if it’s already happened, like “I got a job” or “I’m going to get that promotion” or “I am in a loving relationship.”

[00:04:15] At its core, manifesting represents the idea of mind over matter—that our thoughts can actually affect the external world. This is also known as the Law of Attraction, where our thoughts determine what we attract, whether good or bad.

[00:04:40] Manifesting has come to mean that focusing on a goal or desire and believing you can achieve it will make it happen.

[00:04:53] It teaches that positive thoughts and visualization can influence reality and attract success, health, and happiness.

[00:05:07] It’s all about harnessing the power of your mind to create your destiny.

[00:05:13] Through visualization, affirmations, and similar techniques, people try to turn thoughts into reality—whether it’s a future mate, finances, a new job, or a bigger house.

[00:05:35] But please understand that manifesting can cause harm.

[00:05:41] If someone embraces manifesting and it doesn’t help them succeed, it can damage their self-esteem and produce fear, guilt, shame, or depression.

[00:06:11] Some proponents even claim that if something bad happens to you, it’s your own thoughts that caused it—implying your misfortune proves you’re flawed.

[00:06:30] In finances, they suggest people aren’t rich simply because they don’t want it badly enough.

[00:06:42] If you just focus on manifesting wealth, they say, you’ll become a magnet to attract it.

[00:06:57] And if it doesn’t work? It’s your fault—you didn’t think hard enough. This leads people to blame themselves and feel defeated.

[00:07:16] In the parable of the rich farmer in Luke 12:13-21, Jesus presents a man who had nothing but positive thoughts, visualizations, and affirmations for himself.

[00:07:33] The man said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones… Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.”

[00:07:59] He visualized many future years of success.

[00:08:05] But Jesus said, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.”

[00:08:27] This shows how the idea that our thoughts can literally create reality is false.

[00:08:43] Don’t confuse manifesting with positive affirmations.

[00:08:52] Manifesting is believing that just belief alone will make a goal happen.

[00:09:10] Affirmations are positive statements like “I am enough,” used to boost confidence and self-esteem.

[00:09:24] These can help people take actual steps forward—not just believe something into existence.

[00:09:49] Affirmations build optimism and confidence for action. Manifestation focuses only on belief.

[00:10:13] Believing you can just think something into existence without action is foolish.

[00:10:26] And more importantly, don’t confuse manifesting with prayer.

[00:10:43] Prayer is humbling ourselves before God and seeking His will and blessing.

[00:10:58] Manifestation emphasizes the individual’s will to create their own reality.

[00:11:12] Prayer requires us to surrender our desires to God, trusting He knows best.

[00:11:43] Manifestation sets up the individual as a creator. Prayer gives control to God.

[00:12:11] What audacity for created beings to think they can surpass God’s sovereignty and wisdom.

[00:12:44] Satan often copies what God does—offering counterfeits to deceive many.

[00:12:58] Proverbs 19:21 (NLT) says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

[00:13:22] Both manifesting and prayer take faith—but in very different sources.

[00:13:36] Manifesting is faith in one’s own imagination. Prayer is faith in God alone.

[00:13:55] Manifesting centers on personal power. Prayer centers on God’s power.

[00:14:39] John 15:7 says, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

[00:15:15] The danger of manifestation lies in promoting self-reliance over dependence on God. That’s pride—and God resists the proud.

[00:16:00] Have a blessed Independence Day, which celebrates America’s freedom from British rule.

[00:16:11] I pray you also declare freedom from Satan’s rule through Jesus Christ.

[00:16:31] Lord willing, join me next month—and smile, Jesus loves you!

[00:16:42] Thank you for listening. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter at twmforjesus.org. Please share this with others!