Vision boards have become increasingly popular in recent years as a tool for manifesting one’s dreams and goals. The basic idea behind vision boards is that by collecting images and words that represent what you want to achieve in your life and displaying them in a visual collage, you can focus your thoughts, energy, and intentions on making those things a reality.
From a Christian perspective, the question arises whether vision boards align with biblical principles or not. There are differing views on this among believers. Here is an in-depth look at what vision boards are, arguments for and against their use by Christians, and guidance from Scripture on how to think about setting goals and visualizing the future in a godly way.
What Are Vision Boards?
A vision board is a visual display board, such as a poster or collage, that serves as a focused collection of images, words, and quotes intended to serve as inspiration, motivation, and a visualization tool. The idea is that by surrounding oneself with images and affirmations of the life, goals, or achievements one aspires to, it provides daily inspiration and focus to keep working toward making them a reality.
To create a vision board, a person typically searches through magazines, catalogues, online images, inspirational quotes, Bible verses, and more to find elements that visually represent their dreams and goals. These are compiled attractively into a collage and displayed in a prominent place in the home or office as a constant reminder. Elements commonly found on vision boards include:
- Photos of dream houses or vacations
- Images of ideal careers or jobs
- Pictures of dream cars or possessions
- Photos of people meant to represent desired relationships
- Affirmations and inspirational quotes
- Bible verses or spiritual images
- Words describing values, goals, habits, or skills to develop
The idea behind surrounding oneself with these visual representations is that the mind absorbs them subconsciously, helping align one’s thoughts, energy, and focus toward making them a reality. Looking at the vision board daily is meant to provide inspiration, motivation, and reminders of what one is working toward.
Where Do Vision Boards Come From?
Vision boards have their roots in the concept of visualization and the idea that seeing, imagining, and focusing on a goal can help bring it to fruition. Athletes, public speakers, and performers have long used visualization of their goals to help improve performance.
More specifically, vision boards draw from the concept of the “treasure map” used in New Thought and New Age belief systems. Treasure maps, similar to vision boards, use images and words to represent the life one wants to create, based on the metaphysical principle of the “law of attraction.” This is the idea that focusing thoughts, intentions, and energy on desires attracts or draws those things into one’s life through unseen forces.
The book The Secret popularized the law of attraction concept, bringing vision boards into mainstream use in recent decades. Companies even sell pre-made vision board kits promising to help people manifest their dreams of health, wealth, love, and more simply by customizing and displaying them.
Main Arguments For Using Vision Boards
For those who advocate using vision boards, especially Christians, the main arguments include:
- Focus – Having a visual representation of goals provides constant focus for the mind and intentions.
- Motivation – Viewing the vision board is motivational and inspiring to work toward those goals daily.
- Visualization – Constant visualization of the end result imprints it more firmly in the mind, reinforcing belief.
- Faith – Focusing on desired results demonstrates faith that God can bring them to pass.
- Reminder – A vision board serves as a helpful reminder of goals and priorities for the future.
- Prayer – The vision board provides imagery to focus prayers over God’s desired provision.
- God’s promises – God’s word says He desires to prosper us and give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
Advocates argue that, used properly, vision boards can be a helpful faith tool to provide direction, inspiration, motivation, and visual reinforcement of goals, hopes, and God’s promises. They say the practice depends on faith in God to bring the desires to fruition according to His will.
Main Objections to Vision Boards
Some Christians take issue with vision boards, however, for reasons including:
- New Age roots – The concept comes from New Age teaching inconsistent with Christianity.
- Presumption – Visualizing desired outcomes may reflect presumption rather than humble submission to God’s will.
- Materialism – Vision boards often focus on material things versus spiritual growth.
- Self-focused – Emphasis can be more on self-will versus what God wants for us.
- Passivity – Just wishing for outcomes rather than working toward them.
- Biblical meditation – Contradicts the Bible’s exhortations about meditation focused on scripture, God’s works, and character.
- No guarantees – Implies false promises of results matching the board’s images.
- Magical thinking – The idea that images alone can make something happen borders on occult practices Christians should avoid.
These concerns stem from teachings in the Bible that contrast with principles behind vision boards. Scripture exhorts humility, seeking God’s will above our own, working hard rather than passively wishing, trusting God rather than rituals or objects, focusing meditation on God’s truth, and being content whether or not outcomes match expectations.
Principles from the Bible on Goals and Visualization
To gain biblical insight on this topic, Christians should ask: What does the Bible say about setting goals, visualization, focusing our thoughts and energy, and trusting God for provision and direction? Below are some key scriptures that provide perspective.
1. Submit goals and dreams to God’s will
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-15)
These verses remind us to find our greatest joy in the Lord rather than circumstantial things. As we do, He will shape the desires of our heart to match His will. We need humility about all our plans, holding them open handedly before God, submitting to His sovereign direction.
2. Don’t worry about provision; trust God
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Rather than focusing anxiously on desires and needs, God calls us to seek Him first. He promises to provide what we need as we live for His kingdom. We can trust Him, even amid uncertainty.
3. Meditate on God’s truth, work, will
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.” (Colossians 3:16-17)
God’s word shows healthy meditation centers on His truth, character, works and will. This renews our thinking to align with Him. Our actions should also reflect His Lordship over all areas of life. This contrasts with visualization focused solely on our own desires.
4. Use the mind and imagination rightly
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Our thoughts and imagination can be incredibly powerful when directed properly according to biblical truth and values. But we need to take care they remain submitted to Christ, avoiding ideas contrary to His Lordship.
5. Discernment about sources and influences
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
We need to be discerning about what influences, ideologies and belief systems we let shape our thinking and life vision. Do they align with God’s word and reflect His character and priorities?
6. Idolatry and the heart’s affections
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” (1 John 2:15)
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
We need to examine our hearts for desires or attachments that have become idolatrous, displacing God from His rightful place in our affections and priorities. Focus should remain on treasuring Christ above all.
Guiding Principles for Biblical Goal Setting and Visualization
In light of these concerns and Scriptures, below are some suggested guardrails for Christians engaging in goal setting and visualization in a godly manner:
- Make sure all life goals align with God’s revealed will in His word.
- Maintain humility and openhandedness, submitting goals to God’s direction.
- Center meditation and imagination on God’s truth, character, works and promises.
- Avoid passivity or presumption; combine prayer and effort.
- Focus mainly on spiritual growth and eternal impact, not just material things.
- Keep God on the throne of your heart, guarding against idolatry.
- Visualize outcomes with openness to accept whatever God provides.
- Make life goals acts of worship, for the glory of God.
Additionally, believers using a vision board or something similar may want to take these precautions:
- Avoid imagery or content from unbiblical sources
- Focus predominantly on spiritual goals over materialistic wishes
- Include scripture affirmations about trusting God and submitting to His will
- Limit images of desired material outcomes
- View it as a tool to enhance prayer and effort, not replace them
Vision boards and other visualization methods are not inherently right or wrong. But they require discernment to ensure they reflect biblical truth and point us toward godliness rather than sinful attachments, selfish ambition or passivity. Most importantly, Christians must remember that God remains sovereign over all goals and plans.
Conclusion
Vision boards can be controversial among Christians. Though potentially useful as an inspirational tool when practiced biblically, they also pose risks of reflecting ungodly influences or values. Christians should carefully evaluate vision boards in light of Scripture. Seeking God’s will, growing spiritually, and treasuring Christ should remain life’s highest aim.