“Order my steps in Thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”

Psalm 119:133

The idea of “speaking things (positive or negative) into being” (also called manifesting) is NOT taught by the Bible. Sadly, this concept has gained a large foothold in the church with many unaware of its satanic roots.

What The Bible Teaches

1. Only God can

Romans 4:17 is often misquoted and/or misapplied to teach that Christians can “speaking things into being”. However, the plainest reading of the actual verse contradicts this notion.

“…even God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were.”

Romans 4:17b

The verse tells us that it is God (not man, not angel, not anyone else) that is able make something out of what was initially nothing. Only God can create by using His Words. Indeed, this is such a unique characteristic of God that no one else in The Bible did anything like it.

2. The Power of God overrules the power of the tongue

Another passage used to support “speaking things into being” is Proverbs 18:21, which talks about the power of words. However, no Scripture should be used in isolation as satan did when tempting Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). Rather, Scripture is interpreted in the context of other Scripture (as Jesus did in resisting satan’s false claims, Matthew 4:1-11).

Accordingly, Proverbs 18:21 must be read along with Matthew 10:28-29 to gain the appropriate, Biblically-contextualized, understanding. Read,

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 18:21

and

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Matthew 10:28-29

Read together it becomes clear that God is the one who is in control, not you, not your words. Our words can neither cause death nor life without God’s consent. It is God who decides, not you, not me. Words can have powerful effects but they certainly do not supersede God’s authority and will.

3. God overrules the speaker and his speech

Perhaps, the oldest origins of this error is recorded in Numbers 22-23, where the Moabite king Balak paid the prophet Balaam to curse the Hebrews. Balak believed that if the right man uttered the right curse then it would necessarily be manifested, the words in the curse would come into being.

However, in those same chapters we see how God overruled Balaam, demonstrating His ultimate authority. Indeed, God did. not even permit Balaam to voice a curse, rather Balaam had to proclaim blessings on Israel. In other words, God’s will was done, not Balaam’s or Balak’s.

To be clear, God didn’t silence Balaam because He was afraid of Balaam saying the wrong words. Rather, God showed that even our speech (good or bad) requires His permission.

What the World Teaches

First, one should notice that this idea of “speaking things into being” (manifesting) is currently popular in both the church and among unbelievers. That is a major red flag!!! When the church walks in the same direction as the world, the church has a real problem.

Hinduism

These ideas about manifestation can also be found in ancient Hindu writings like the Rigveda, which teaches that focused intent and sound (words) can align the universe to bring about the wishes of the speaker [1, 2].

Quimby, Milford and Peale

Independently, Quimby, Milford and Peale popularized The Law of Attraction (a.k.a New Thought) which teaches that positive or negative thoughts bring corresponding positive or negative experiences into a person’s life. This is based on the pseudoscientific assertion that thoughts are energy that then attract similar energy into an individual’s life [3].

Word of Faith Movement

The principles of the Law of Attraction entered modern churches through the heretical teachings (prosperity theology) of the Word Of Faith Movement which taught that health or wealth happens by direct verbal decrees. This is the idea that you can speak yourself into becoming healthy or wealthy. And these goals can be accomplished regardless of what God has planned for your life. Whatever you say must be manifested just because you said it [3].

Dangers and Delusions

Don’t be like the devil

Lucifer was thrown out of heaven because he did not want to submit to God’s authority and dictates.

“Speaking things into being”/manifesting is the same as what Lucifer did because it asserts that one can exercise one’s will over or independently of God’s will: that God’s decisions are directed by our decreed desires.

However, instead of making decrees, God tells us plainly that we should make our requests to Him.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:6

Notice, Philippians 4:6 says “requests” not decrees. We shouldn’t make demands: We can’t tell God what to do. We should aim to be like Jesus, who was only concerned that God’s will be done (Luke 22:42) even though God’s will was for Him to die for our sins.

What Words?

Finally, God doesn’t hear our words directly.

Romans 8:26-27 tells us that The Holy Spirit intercedes for us because we don’t know how to pray properly. In other words, God pays attention to your intent, your heart, not the actual words that you use to express (or cover) what you truly mean.

God is not panicked if you say the wrong words, because He isn’t controlled by you or your words. What He does respond to is what is in your heart: Are you truly yielded to Him?

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27