It’s been interesting to see the comments online and various reports about the Law of Attraction. As if it’s new thinking or something.
Back in the early 1990s I learnt about the ‘RAS’, the reticular activation system from a doctor in psychosomatic medicine. Works pretty much on the same principle.
What you think about you are drawn towards… Your mind is like a magnet… What goes around comes around… You reap what you sow… Do any of these sound familiar?
If you are a woman wanting to have a baby, everywhere you look there are pregnant women, or women with pushers or young children, aren’t there?
If you’re a guy shopping for your first car, the make and model (or colour) that you’re interested in seems to be everywhere doesn’t it?
What about when you were learning to drive and told to look out for that xxx… did you hit it? Or come very close to hitting it?
Being focused on something means that we are aware of when that something is around us or passing us, or we are passing it. We become more alert - our radar is active and draws our attention to what we might ordinarily pass by in other circumstances. Our subconscious kicks in and is seeking out opportunities for the very thing for which we crave or seek, whether that thing be good for us or not.
What we think about - both negative and positive - can affect the way we live our lives and what happens to us in our lives. There’s nothing magic about it at all. But some have learnt to better harness this wonderful ability we all have. Both Dale Carnegie and Napoleon Hill wrote about this law many years ago. And heaps of others since. As each generation grows up, they rediscover this law.
What does the bible tell us about it?
Matt 7:7 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (NLT)
Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (NLT)
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (NIV)
Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (NIV)
In the first two above we’re encouraged to ask God for what we want. That doesn’t mean we will get everything we ask for - not everything we ask for is good for us, but if we are sincere within and what we ask for is in His will, we will get it. Some prefer to make it happen in their own right, rather than waiting on God, and this often means we go through challenges in life that aren’t necessarily good to go through (think about Abraham and Sarah when trying to have a son of their own - see Genesis chapters 16-25).
And if we are persistent and keep working towards a certain goal we will most likely achieve it, if we don’t undermine ourselves. Many think that overnight successes are ‘lucky’ but the reality is they’ve spent years working towards a goal to achieve it - although the general public aren’t aware of those people till they’ve ‘made it’! So how focussed are you on your goals or are you easily distracted?
By the way, has it occurred to you that your goals or desires within may be related to the very reason God has placed you on this earth?
Pay it forward… is another saying - giving to others without expectation invariably means that later down the track, when you have need something will be given back to you. Luke 6:38 backs this up and when you think about it, so does Gal 6:7. Basically God views our actions and responds accordingly. Kind of makes you want to start giving daily doesn’t it? And that doesn’t mean money necessarily - giving of yourself is a very important part in this law of attraction to work!
For more thoughts on a Christian view of the Law of Attraction, why not visit Three Sticks - Personal Development for Christians which has an excellent post on this topic.
Christianity and the Law of Attraction, The Secret, Christianity, Ask, Seek, Knock
14 responses so far ↓
1 Karen O'Bannon // Feb 1, 2008 at 3:20 am
There’s nothing new under the sun. Whatever we think we’ve discovered, God thought of it first.
2 Johnnie Ruth Hamill // Feb 1, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Very good food for thought. Glad to see you posting on this blog!
3 Heidi Caswell // Mar 3, 2008 at 5:43 am
I guess the thing that bugs me about many law of attraction writings is how they say the universe will reward you. To me it is blessings from God not the universe. I understand it is a term to appeal to all, no matter what religion. But for me I’m not taking God out of the equation.
4 Preparing for Mother's Day // Apr 3, 2008 at 7:33 am
[…] This has been known as a number of things - I like to think of it as the RAS or the reticular activation system - what you think about you are drawn towards. Today many talk of The Secret or the Law of Attraction - it’s the same thing. But this is also a biblical principal as I mentioned in my earlier post at “The Law of Attraction - a Christian View”. […]
5 proverbs31-woman.com » Is Your Mother “Worth More Than Rubies”? // Apr 3, 2008 at 9:51 am
[…] This has been known as a number of things - I like to think of it as the RAS or the reticular activation system - what you think about you are drawn towards. Today many talk of The Secret or the Law of Attraction - it’s the same thing. But this is also a biblical principal as I mentioned in a post at my blog Workplace-Ministry.com “The Law of Attraction - a Christian View”. […]
6 Blessed // Apr 7, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I don’t know whether anyone will read this as the thread appeared to run out a month or so ago. I have been a Christian for thirty years and in business for a good deal of that time. I have noticed over and over again that Christians are asking God for “stuff” but are constantly disappointed at the results. I have spent years observing preaching that encourages people to “believe God” but then there are the discouraging “buts” included as with the comments above “if we ask according to his will” or “God knows best what we need”. This so much leans then to the Sovereignty of God, did I Give enough, am I Worthy of it or any one of a myriad of “Doubt” statements that shut down believers faith. The scripture quoted above is not conditional it says “ask and it WILL be given unto you”.
I think one of the major downfalls in asking God for “stuff” is that the average Christian sees God as ” the Father” which is correct, but then projects personality onto God which then ends up with the Christian in a “doubt spiral” of “does God really want to give this too me”, “have I got pride” blah blah blah and we get according to our faith - Nothing. The result is we become just like the world - wanting but not getting and settling for mediocrety instead of walking in the favour, blessing and promises of God. (the same poor condition applies to healing)
God is GREAT, he loves to shower gifts on us, wants us to expand and progress in life, and become all that we can be. We are princes (and princesses) seated at the right hand of God with Christ RIGHT NOW, wearing Royal Robes RIGHT NOW and we have access to all of the abundant, unlimited resources of heaven RIGHT NOW. Getting this to flow into our lives has nothing to do with what we have done (even in the last 15 minutes) as we are righteous NOW because of Jesus, and has nothing to do with how often or how much we give - God has given us access to his abundance unconditionally.
Sorry if I kicked over some Sacred Cows but until 10 years ago I didn’t used to understand this and I got a harvest in line with my beliefs (very little) - I now believe that all that God has is mine and live accordingly - and am bless according to my belief.
7 Blessed // Apr 7, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Just a follow-up comment on above about giving - I am an avid giver and am in the forefront of giving in my church - however our giving has nothing to do with the favour or blessing of God in our life - Gods grace is unconditional.
8 Kathie // Apr 7, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Thank you for your comment ‘Blessed’ and I really appreciate you taking the time to add your thoughts.
9 Kathie // Apr 7, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Agreed about the giving Blessed. I’m sorry if my post had given that impression - that favour is dependent on our actions and giving as I know full well it isn’t.
I do want to encourage readers though to think about what God’s plan is for them and to look for what might be right in front of them - sometimes we don’t always realise what’s there until it’s pointed out to us, hence my post.
10 Blessed // Apr 7, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Thanks Kathie - thats cool
This subject is something that I am passionate about (you might be able to tell). I see so many Christians being sold short. One of my previous pastors said he pitched it in at that level as he didn’t want to see his people disappointed. Life is about stretching and growing and if that includes feeling the depths of despair and believing God for a way thru then so be it.
I think one thing that the “Law of Attraction” people have got right is that when they ask, they expect a positive resonse from “the Universe” whereas most Christians ask God tentitively as if they are expecting a NO. I can understand this as I had parents that had a poverty mentality, 9 times out of 10 it was No.
I have read so many books on self development from almost everyone, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, Peter Daniels, James Rohn, Anthony Robbins etc etc etc and LoA is usually part of it but also a big enphasis on goal setting.
I used to be a goal setting junkie, but in the end, if we have a desire, keep that desire before God, work on the skills we will need at the fulfilment of that desire - it will happen. I have changed my philosophy a bit and trust God for divine connections, divine opportunities and listen for the voice of the HS to make the hard decisions. Isn’t that LoA and isn’t that “living according to the spirit, not according to the flesh”.
11 Carol // Jun 28, 2008 at 8:08 am
I am so grateful that the internet allows an opportunity to research and discuss topics like this. I have just seen the re-run of Oprah’s show about LoA and I have to say that I was incensed at the number of references to the universe and magic. No one on that program ever mentioned Jesus Christ. Why? How can you have a complete picture/accurate program without acknowledging the supreme being that created us all. I am so tired of all the new age mumbo jumbo out there that I want to pull my hair out.
I also have read a lot, Brian Tracy, Zig Zigler, John Maxwell, Joyce Meyer, etc., etc., but I don’t remember a time where we have been, seemingly, surrounded by such secular/new age viewpoints. Besides prayer, what can we do to be sure that Christ is kept in the forefront and that people are not “fleeced” by these other than Christian viewpoints?
By the way, does anyone know of any good resources for a women’s retreat addressing this very topic?
12 Kathie // Jun 28, 2008 at 10:19 am
I’m glad you found this post Carol, thanks for dropping by. I believe what we’re going through is all foretold in the Bible - in some respects we live in exciting times, but they are also dangerous and troublesome times.
I love your idea about the retreat - hopefully someone might pop in and let us both know!
13 Blessed // Jun 28, 2008 at 11:52 am
Hi Carol
In response to your comments I totally agree, the power is in Jesus Christ. I believe that it is sad but true that the church over the centuries has mismanaged and misappropriated the incredible gift that God gave us through Jesus.
Fundamentally most people have a sense that this life is more than the four dimensions that they currently experience and I think that the attraction that the secular world sees in the likes of “The Secret” is a connection to something bigger than themselves that they always believed was that there. Unfortunately most of these people can see and experience the power of God through the use of the law of attraction - which in the end is a biblical principle and lines up with the nature of who God is - than they see in the church.
The church should be, and was always designed to be the powerful manifest presence of God’s grace, but what we generally see today is a sad misrepresentation of that fact. The church was called to be a light to the world, a city on a hill, to bring that spiritual connection between mankind and God. The main thing that the popularity of “The Secret” proves is that in general the church is not doing its job, and people see more of God in one of His principles that has been well expounded, and what the church is the achieving in its true mission to connect people to God one on one.
What they are really getting are the crumbs falling from the table, and not the banquet itself, but if the church is falling short, people will settle for the crumbs. The church seems to be spending more time concerned, putting down the secret than looking at strategies that potentially use people’s heightened awareness of the spiritual realm from the popularity of “The Secret”.
I have to say that I am fortunate to be involved in a church that is pressing forward and achieving great things and there are many around the globe that a like-minded. The sad thing is that most people have an impression of the church as a powerless religious institution that they have seen throughout their lifetime controlling its people, but manifesting very little of the power of God.
God is on the move! He will use the popularity of “The Secret” for His purposes and to draw people to Him, it proves that the biggest stumbling block for people to connect with Him is not a lack of desire for spirituality, but the stigma of organised religion.
Look forward to your comments.
14 Nerida Gill // Jul 4, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Thanks for putting me in the picture in such a succint way Kathie. It is Ecclesiastes all over again really. Nothing new under the sun. I’ve had a bit to do with Christopher Howard stuff. He doesn’t use the term law of attraction but certainly there is cross over.
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