The law of attraction is a New Age concept that suggests that positive or negative thoughts bring about positive or negative experiences. According to this idea, focusing one’s thoughts purposefully on certain desires attracts those desires to them. Although some Christians have attempted to use Bible verses to legitimize this belief, the law of attraction as practiced in the New Age movement contradicts biblical teaching.
The Bible teaches that God is sovereign over the world (Daniel 4:17). Nothing happens outside of His decrees (Ephesians 1:11). While believers ought to pray to God for their desires, God answers prayers according to His perfect will (1 John 5:14). There is no impersonal law of the universe that rewards human thoughts or efforts.
The law of attraction emphasizes using one’s mind to achieve desires through visualization and positive thinking. However, the Bible teaches that the human heart is corrupt (Jeremiah 17:9). Visualizing and focusing inwardly cannot solve the problem of sin in the heart. Only through trusting in Christ may one find forgiveness and spiritual transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The law of attraction distorts the biblical meaning of faith. Faith is trusting in God’s promises, not believing with enough determination to actually achieve one’s desires (Hebrews 11:1). Those who attempt to manipulate God or universal laws through thoughts of faith usurp God’s sovereignty.
Though believers ought to pray boldly to God about their needs and even persistently according to His will (Luke 18:1-8), God is not obligated to answer selfish desires merely because someone has focused their thoughts on them (James 4:3). Believers should pray according to God’s will, not their own covetous desires (1 John 5:14).
Finally, the law of attraction emphasizes material blessings and getting what we desire in this life. Jesus taught that one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15) and to seek first God’s kingdom rather than earthly rewards (Matthew 6:33). The prosperity gospel and other self-help ‘name it and claim it’ approaches to prayer owe more to the law of attraction and New Age movement than to biblical Christianity.
In summary, the law of attraction is incompatible with biblical Christianity. God is sovereign over the world, not impersonal cosmic laws. While believers ought to pray boldly and persistently according to God’s will, God answers out of grace, not obligation. And God’s answers always align with His perfect plan, not necessarily one’s selfish desires. The law of attraction offers false hope, distorts the biblical meaning of faith, and leads to disappointment for all who attempt to practice it.
The Sovereignty of God
The law of attraction emphasizes the power of human thoughts and will to attract positive or negative experiences. In contrast, the Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all things. Nothing happens outside of His will and decrees.
Daniel 4:17 says, “The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.” God raises up kings and nations, and He brings them low according to His divine purposes.
Ephesians 1:11 says, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” God not only establishes the beginning from the end, but He “works out everything” that happens in between.
Since God is sovereign, believers ought to pray according to His will and trust that He will answer in His perfect timing and according to His wisdom. There is no law of attraction or metaphysical power humans can use to manipulate their circumstances or God’s answers.
The Limits of Visualization and Positive Thinking
The law of attraction teaches that human thoughts have power. Visualizing desires and thinking positive thoughts is believed to attract those desires into one’s life. However, this worldview faces clear problems from a biblical perspective.
First, the human heart is corrupt and fallible (Jeremiah 17:9). Imaging the future and trying to “speak things into existence” cannot solve the underlying problem of sinful desires that often motivate visualization. Second, a focus on material blessings or earthly circumstances is generally born out of selfish ambition, not the will of God.
James 3:14-16 contrasts earthly-minded wisdom with godly wisdom: “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
Rather than visualization, the Bible encourages transforming one’s mind and desires through Christ: “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). This inner renewal comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, not positive thinking (Titus 3:5).
The True Meaning of Faith
The law of attraction movement emphasizes strong faith in the power of one’s thoughts or desires. If someone believes strongly enough, they can supposedly attract and achieve what they want. In reality, this distorts and twists the biblical definition of faith.
The Bible defines faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith means trusting in the sure promises of God, despite physical evidence to the contrary. The object of faith is God and His Word, not one’s own thoughts and desires.
Throughout Hebrews 11, we find example after example of men and women who trusted in God despite difficult circumstances, opposition, weakness, and trials. Their faith was in something greater than themselves or the universe – in the true and living God.
Law of attraction advocates essentially put faith in themselves and the power of their desires to shape reality. This contradicts biblical, God-centered faith. As James 4:3 warns, even believers often ask selfishly of God. Saving faith prays according to God’s will and purposes, not one’s own earthly desires.
Praying Boldly but According to God’s Will
Should Christians pray boldly for things they desire? Yes, absolutely. Jesus tells a parable “to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). The persistent widow in the parable repeatedly came before the unjust judge until he finally granted her request.
Jesus concludes, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:7-8). Our prayers are heard by a loving Father when we approach His throne room boldly and persistently.
However, this does not mean God grants whatever we ask for in prayer. James 4:3 says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” 1 John 5:14 qualifies, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
While we should pray persistently and confidently, we must pray according to God’s purposes and glory, not our selfish desires. God promises to grant His children what is best according to His will.
Seeking God’s Kingdom First
Finally, the law of attraction movement focuses on material blessings, earthly rewards, and getting what we want in this life. In contrast, Jesus calls His disciples to seek God’s kingdom first and trust Him with physical needs:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:25, 33).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly teaches that one’s life does not consist in their possessions or earthly circumstances (Luke 12:15). Eternal rewards in heaven far outweigh the temporary blessings on earth. God promises to take care of each day’s needs as we prioritize laying up treasure in heaven over earthly gain (Matthew 6:19-21).
The law of attraction and similar Word of Faith or prosperity gospel movements focus on using God or universal laws to gain health, wealth, and desired circumstances in this temporary life. In contrast, Jesus calls His disciples to give up everything to follow Him for the promise of eternal life (Luke 18:29-30).
Conclusion
In summary, the law of attraction represents a different worldview from biblical Christianity. While God hears the prayers of His children and invites them to pray boldly and persistently for their daily bread and needs, He remains sovereign over all the earth. There is no impersonal law of the universe that humans can manipulate according to their thoughts or desires.
Furthermore, the flaws and selfish ambition that characterize human hearts apart from Christ demonstrate the inability of sinners to solve their problems through positive thinking alone. The only solution is found in Christ, who transforms believers’ desires as they renew their minds in God’s Word.
Though believers ought to pray boldly according to God’s will, the Lord makes no guarantee that He will grant the earthly treasures and circumstances we desire. Instead, Jesus calls His followers to seek first God’s kingdom and trust that He will take care of each day’s needs.
For all these reasons, the law of attraction falls short of biblical truth. It offers false hope in the power of human thoughts to control circumstances. But true faith and hope lie in God alone, who promises to work all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).