Expected End

As a Christian, I have had to approach teachings of “The Secret” or the “Law of Attraction” as I do one of my favorite snacks: sunflower seeds. Before I can enjoy this treat, I have to first crack open the seed, separate the kernel, and spit out the shell. Tasty but time consuming – not to mention the fact that throw away more than I eat!

I approached the film “The Secret” like sunflower seeds: extract the good and spit out what I can’t digest. I will not argue that the teachings of “The Secret” or the “Law of Attraction” has and will benefit a lot of people. At the core of the The Secret basically boils down to this:

• Thoughts become things
• You attract to and manifest in your life that which you think about.
• Your mental images set up an attractive force, which determines the your results in life.

Here is a statement by “Life Coach”, Andrea Conway:

“Define your miracle creation and declare to the universe — with the quiet authority that comes from your inner knowing of yourself as spirit — that you want this miracle and have decided to have it. Maintain this vibration, and your creation must be delivered by Law of Attraction.”

Andrea Conway, Successful Self Employment (SSE) News
http://www.successfulselfemployment.com/

There is a truth to this, but not THE truth. The true secret to having your wants and needs met is taught by Jesus in the gospel of Mark.

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mark 11:22-24, American Standard Version

Whenever you read the Bible and see the word “faith”, mentally substitute the word “trust” because indeed, that is what faith really is. I believe you will see that the bible teaches from Genesis to The Revelation, that that God honors faith in His people above all else.

I’ll name a few of the men and women who God rewarded for their faith: Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, Mordecai, Job, David, Manoah, Hannah, and Daniel.

Faith is the nonnegotiable basis (the sine qua non) of our relationship with God. Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes after/approaches/seeks fellowship with and blessings from God must believe thatHe exists and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

So the first part of the “Trust Principle” is faith or trust in God. The second part of the “Trust Principle” mirrors an axiom of the so-called “Secret”. The Law of Attraction states that our thoughts and intentions must line up vibrationally with what we want to be manifest. Without this resonance, the “universe” will be unable to give you what you ask. Consider what Jesus says:

25 Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? 26 Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? 28 And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 6: 25-34

Jesus here acknowledges that we have wants and needs – Jesus never preaches asceticism. God is ready and willing to provide for us be He asks one thing: Seek His kingdom and His righteousness. Align vibrationally with the Creator and everything else you need will be supplied to you.

14 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.

1 John 5:14,15

Just as a sound wave or an electromagnetic wave has both frequency and amplitude, in order to resonate vibrationally with God, we must not only seek Him, we must align ourselves with His will. My petitions should never require that someone must lose in order that I gain. My petitions will not all be centered on self, but I will wished to bless others as I am blessed.

The final component to what Jesus taught is expounded in the book of Hebrews 12th chapter.

Now faith is substance/assurance of things hoped for, the evidence or a conviction of things not seen. Close your eyes and stretch out your hand. Imagine someone placing one of those new dollar coins in your outstretched hand. Keep your eyes closed. Imagine your had closing about the dollar coin. Feel the edges of the coin. Feel the ridges. Imagine the “gold” color of it. You now experience the substance of that dollar. Now in your mind, go to the nearest convenience store and pick up a soda, a candy bar or what ever you need. Picture the clerk ringing up your purchase. Hand the dollar coin to the clerk. Get your change. Thank the clerk.

Now when you gave the clerk that dollar coin in order to complete your purchase, you were acting upon your conviction or evidence that you had a dollar and that dollar had value. So when you ask, believe that you will receive what you ask for. Then act upon your belief that you have received what you asked for and give thanks for it.

To apply Jesus’ “Trust Principle” follow these three principles.

1. Ask
2. Have Faith/Trust in God that He wants to and is able to bless you.
3. Align yourself with God’s will by thinking and acting like a citizen of His kingdom: Seek His Righteousness.
4. Be thankful for what you have and what you will receive.