Many people draw connections between certain biblical teachings and the concept of the Law of Attraction. If you’re a Christian, learning about the Law of Attraction might sometimes make you feel familiar with some of the concepts from your own religion. In fact, many New Thought writers quote from the Bible, such as Thomas Troward, Vernon Howard, Joseph Murphy, and Ernest Holmes. So What does the Bible say about the Law of Attraction?
Interpretations may vary, and not all Christians or biblical scholars agree on the compatibility of the Law of Attraction with Christian teachings. Today, I want to share my thoughts on this complicated topic. Just a small note, this is my personal understanding and perceptions, which may be subjective and limited, so I welcome all opinions.
First, Let’s look at the basics: What is the Law of Attraction?
Before getting into the question of What does the Bible say about the Law of Attraction, let’s revisit the basics.
The Law of Attraction likely originated back in the 1800s and was first popularized by Phineas Quimby, an American philosopher. He is best known for his work in mesmerism, spiritual healing, and the development of mental healing practices. His teachings influenced many figures in the New Thought movement, including Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science (which already suggests a link to Christianity and the Law of Attraction).
In 2006, Rhonda Byrne published the book and movie “The Secret” featuring appearances by many bestselling authors, well-known philosophers, and motivational speakers discussing the Law of Attraction, which made the idea very popular worldwide.
The central idea of the Law of Attraction is that we have control over what happens in our lives. By believing in the good and maintaining a positive mindset, we can manifest anything we desire into our reality.
What Does The Bible Say About The Law Of Attraction?
As I was studying the Bible, I do have to admit that I find many similarity between the Bible and the Law of Attraction.
The emphasis of Faith
The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21, verse 22 (NIV translation), is widely recognized as one of the clearest connections between the Bible and the Law of Attraction.
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Or in Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”
We can see that the Bible did highlight the importance of faith, as faith is the center of the Christian. Because though God cannot be seen physically, Christians are called to have faith in God, believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and accept His sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins.
Like stated in John 3:18: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Specifically, faith mentioned in the Bible teachings largely about the faith in God, meaning God will always fulfill your desires.
In Law of Attraction, faith is also a very central part that determines your success in manifesting your desires. According to the Law of Attraction, you have to believe that you got your desires to be able to make it a reality, but in the Law of Attraction, it’s more about the belief in the universe force.
The connection
In my opinion, the universe force here is just a general metaphor for whatever the religion that you believe in, could be God, the Universe, Jesus, or anything that you feel has the higher power.
So, in general, the Bible somehow reinforces the Law of Attraction in an aspect that our desires and wishes are always supported by a higher power.
The power of prayer
Some people believe that the Bible emphasizes faith in a higher power, while the Law of Attraction focuses on the power of our thoughts and feelings.
But in fact, I think that our thoughts and emotions is just a way for us to communicate with the higher divine.
In religion, when we pray, we use our thoughts and emotions to communicate with God and express our desires. So, while there may be surface differences, deeper examination reveals a similar underlying concept between the teachings of the Bible and the Law of Attraction.
Science has shown that prayer or meditation, when practiced to achieve a state of coherence and focus on positive intentions, can lead to miraculous results. When individuals pray from a coherent state, they often experience a profound sense of connection, peace, and alignment with their beliefs, desires, and spiritual values. This state can be seen as a connection to God or a heightened vibration that aids in manifesting desires into reality.
The power of your subconscious mind
Let’s look at this verse from Matthew 6:6
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. “- Matt. 6:6
This verse from Matthew 6:6 suggests that when you pray, you should do so privately, away from distractions. It emphasizes the idea of personal, intimate communication with God, rather than seeking attention or praise from others. Prayer is an inner work, where you communicate with God and God is within yourself.
Understand this from the Law of Attraction perspective: In order to believe you have already received something, you must convince the subconscious mind that this is true. We can think of our subconscious mind as the inner room. “Closing the door” means shutting out all external distractions and focusing inward.
Then, you pray with your imagination. The inner room represents your subconsciousness, your mind. By closing the door of the senses, you are able to focus solely on your prayer to the Father using your imagination. If done faithfully, the Father will bring it to pass.
Some Bible verses suggest that God works through individuals who choose to be willing participants. We have to go inward in prayer like the Bible says in Romans 14:17. It says the kingdom of God is within.
“The kingdom of God is within” – To me, this signifies that everything you desire resides within yourself. Your mind holds the solutions to the wealth you seek, the love you crave, and all other aspirations. Life is consciousness, awareness, and energy. Our thoughts shape both our spiritual and physical existence, reflecting what we focus on or contemplate .
And these ideas are also the basic core of the Law of Attraction.
The power of visualization and imagination
Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
This clearly suggests that without a clear vision or direction, people become lost or perish.
Another quote is Proverbs 23:7 states: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
This verse emphasizes the power of one’s thoughts and beliefs in shaping their identity and actions. If you truly believe in your heart that you’re not good enough, you’ll keep encountering things in your outer reality that confirm that belief. However, once you recognize the truth and let go of these negative beliefs, you begin to move towards a reality that aligns with your true nature.
So, we can understand the importance of visualization and imagination in life, serving as guiding lights toward our desired goals. Everything starts with your imagination. Without a vision for the future, nothing will happen.
If you cannot envision yourself out of poverty, you will remain impoverished. You must visualize yourself as you wish to be and use your imagination to manifest your desires.
And if you’re familiar with the Law of Attraction, you’d know this is a significant topic. Visualization and imagination are among the favorite methods discussed for manifesting desires. I particularly recall a small segment in the movie “The Secret” where they discuss how we can manifest a parking spot in a crowded area simply by visualizing an empty space waiting for us. As the guy mentioned in the movie, this simple technique never failed to find a convenient parking spot.
The power of Gratitude
I can say that Gratitude is a common theme in both the Bible and the Law of Attraction.
One well-known passage about gratitude from the Bible is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV):
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
And we have in Psalm 107:1 (NIV):
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
In Colossians 3:17 (NIV):
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
In the Bible, found in Philippians 4:6 (NIV):
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
And we can see that gratitude is an important aspect that kept being emphasized throught out different context in the bible.
By maintaining a grateful attitude in your prayer, you help to amplify the power of your prayer.
And the Law of Attraction teaches that when you express gratitude for the blessings and abundance in your life, you attract more positive experiences and things to be grateful for.
Belive you already got it
We have a verse from the New Testament in the Bible, specifically from the book of Mark, chapter 11, verse 24 (Mark 11:24). In this verse, Jesus says,
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
So if we beleive that we have already got what we want, our desires will be granted. This is a very big point when it comes to the Law of Attraction. When you believe you already got what you want, you think and behave like that version of yourself and therefore take resonant actions and attract people, circumstances that will help you get what you want.
Reflecting on the Topic: My Perspective
Until now you can see there are quite many familiarityies between Bible teachings and the Law of Attraction. However, the Bible’s intepretation can be different to each person. I have come across many people believe in the Bible and the law of Attraction’s connection but some just doesn’t feel like it. That’s totally normal. I think we should always act on and live according to what we feel is the most rightful to us.
Howerver, one thing can’t be denied is both the Bible and Law of Attraction offer big value, strongly promotes a positive mindset which is what we really need in today’s life. It also promotes focusing on the blessings we have, feeling gratitude and maintaining positive expectations for the future.
We have those phase from the Bible like
- Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. (Galatians 6:7)
- Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)
- All the days of the needy are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15)
- Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)
- A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one’s strength (Proverbs 17:22)
- Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. (Luke 6:38)
- Show yourselves thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
- Rejoice in hope. (Romans 12:12).
In my view, there exists a subtle yet significant distinction between the teachings found in the Bible and those of the Law of Attraction. While the Law of Attraction seems to emphasize strongly on attaining materialistic goals and personal happiness (it feels somehow quite individualistic to me), the Bible’s teachings encompass a broader perspective that extends beyond individual desires.
Jesus’ teachings stress the importance of not solely pursuing personal satisfaction but also nurturing a relationship with God. As he stated in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This implies a need to prioritize spiritual nourishment alongside material needs.
Additionally, the Bible advocates for love and compassion towards both God and others, promoting the idea of leaving a positive legacy for future generations. I find in the Bible’s teachings about more than just what we want for ourselves; it’s about caring for others and connecting with something bigger than us.
Final words
What Does The Bible Say About The Law Of Attraction? – This is such a hard question that could be challenging to clarify in just one post, especially with my limited understanding. I hope this post somehow helps you gain a few more perspectives on this topic. All of your opinions are welcomed.
In the end, I believe what matters most is to learn about things and find what resonates with you to live by.
