A Guide to Holy Manifestation

Yesterday morning, I sipped a large mug of hot cocoa and enjoyed an equally rich conversation with my two sons.  It was 7 AM.  My oldest and I would be off to high school, him to learn, me to teach, in 15 minutes.  Yet here, in those holy moments, we were together, enjoying our breakfasts.  The youngest, 11, is pretty quiet, but I offered him a hug and we laughed and joked about something silly from the day before.  The oldest and I had a conversation about his future career musings and adventures with his best friend.   

These are the happiest, most meaningful moments of my day.  Fifteen minutes of mindful presence, enriching our bodies, hearts, and spirits.  

Living the Dream

My life is a blissful movement from prayer to meditation to meaningful service to intentional loving relationships.  My life is a dance with God.  

There’s this line said sarcastically when someone asks how you are doing: “Living the dream”.  I always laugh, because for me, it’s true.  In fact, it’s better than I dreamed, because God co-created it with me, and he’s wiser than I.

When I first deepened my relationship with God, I dabbled in the concept of manifestation and the law of attraction.  Almost immediately however, something didn’t sit right in my heart.  Manifesting a car, dream house, or high end job did seem possible.  Yet this was using the power of being made in the likeness of God in a way not in alignment with the love that we are. 

Perhaps surprisingly to many Christians, manifestation is something that Jesus alludes to on multiple occasions.  There is a way to manifest in alignment with the will of God.  

Manifestation Jesus-Style

The most obvious example comes during Jesus’ famous sermon on the mount. 

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 
Matthew 7: 7-8

In Luke’s version of this teaching, it is preceded by a parable about a man who asks his neighbor for bread in the middle of the night.  The man is given the bread not because of his friendship with the neighbor but rather because of his persistence.  Thus, the command to “ask, seek, and knock” comes with this vivid description of persistence to the point of annoyance.

Yes, we are commanded to be THAT persistent in our prayers.

Though not said directly in these verses, the teaching that follows in both gospels suggests that this asking, seeking, and knocking is for the purpose of us receiving good gifts from our Father, gifts that are in alignment with God’s will.  

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  
Luke 11: 9-12

So, we are to be annoyingly knocking on God’s door, asking for good gifts that align with God’s will.  And what is God’s will?  To do to others what we would have them do to us.  

This asking, seeking, and knocking has challenged me to take God on His word and to be persistent in my pursuit of His way and His will in all my affairs.  

Don’t Limit God

One more piece of this is our tendency to limit God.  Jesus encourages us to dream big.  We ought not limit our understanding of what is possible.  

“Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 
-Matthew 17: 19-20

And then, at the Last Supper, Jesus raises the ante one more level.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” 
-John 14:12-14

We often overlook this line. We have to potential to do “greater things than these” because we have the power of Christ working in and through us.  

The key to God-centered, holy manifestation is co-creating WITH God in alignment with the WILL of God.  That is, in alignment with LOVE.  

Co-Creating with God

When I started on this journey, my life was, well, rough. And though I initially prayed for a smooth life with worldly comforts, that wasn’t what I needed.

And God wasn’t about to give me a snake.

Because of my attachments and resistances (my “sin”), my messy life was exactly the life I needed to grow.

Once I woke up enough to realize what it meant to co-create with God, the first prayer I prayed to the point of annoyance wasn’t for a joyful life, it was for healing.

The key to aligning this prayer for healing with God’s will was the “why” behind the prayer. “Why” did I want to be healed? I prayed that God would empty me of myself so that I could be of service to Him. I was willing to do whatever that healing took and I trusted the Holy Spirit to take the reins.

Yes, healing was hard and painful. But pain isn’t suffering and even in the “operating room” of the soul, there was joy as I saw my soul begin to come alive more and more with every area within me that was mended and molded into the image of Christ.

“This” or “That”–Stage 2 of Manifestation

As I healed, grew closer to God, and let go of what held me captive in worldly attachments, it was time for a bit more of pestering God.  This time, I received a green light from God to ask for the “good gifts”.  Again, I asked only for what would best enable me to serve Him.  This ensured that my asking was aligned with both God’s will and my joy.  

The Holy Spirit played a “this or that” game with me.  This fine-tuned the mutually created vision for my future.

• Do you want a life partner who is as energetic as you or more grounded to provide balance?  Or something in-between?
• What balance do you desire between active service and prayer/holding people and situations in love?
• As a teacher, do you prefer more of a “showman” role or one of quiet, behind the scenes supporter?  What mix of leading and following is best?

With each round of “this or that,” I thanked God and elevated what my soul resonated with joy in.  When something was presented that wasn’t a good match, I embraced the opportunity to grow from it.  However, I did share with the Holy Spirit that this wasn’t my “preferred” mode of service.

Slow Shifts to Joy

Slowly, over a period of years, my life has and is still shifting into the perfect formula to match my unique make-up to God’s work in the world.  

-After two years as a single widow, God brought me my now husband, who shares my passion for faith and service and provides a grounded, peaceful balance to my whirling dervish energy.  

-I was given a dog to get me outside in nature more often and into more time alone with my thoughts and with God.  

-I was blessed with a job change from math teacher to special educator, and from a school a 12 minute drive from home to a 20 minute mindful walk from home where my oldest son also attends.  

-Finally, God showed me opportunities for ministry that perfectly aligns with my desire to teach, speak, and heal but not necessarily be in the spotlight.  I am an author, blogger, and podcast guest, without the need for content promotion that doesn’t seem to align with my soul’s path.  

A Day in the Life

If you’re curious, this is what a “typical” weekday in my life looks like at present:

5:30 AM Wake up, pray with my husband

5:50 AM Shower, dress

6:05 AM Meditate

6:20 AM Prepare kids’ breakfasts

6:30 AM Walk dog while listening to Lectio 365 AM Reflection

6:45 AM Wake kids, pack lunches and make my hot chocolate

7 AM Hot Cocoa and Conversation with the boys

7:15 AM Walk to Work

7:35 AM – 3:15 PM Work as a special educator–my dream job.  This includes 15 minutes for prayer/meditation over lunch

3:15 – 3:35 PM Walk home

3:35 – 4:15 PM Clean/Chores/Sometimes write

4:15 – 4:45 PM Afternoon dog walk, sometimes with husband

4:45 – 6:15 PM  Make, eat with family, and clean up from dinner

6:15 – 9 PM Church groups, podcast guesting, writing, time with the boys.  15 min dog walk included with evening Lectio 365 reflection

9 – 10 PM Watch a show with my husband, Evening Prayer

10 – 10:30 PM Bedtime

My weekends, school breaks, and summers are a bit more jumbled.  We have my husband’s kids at least every other weekend, and some days over breaks and summer vacation.  So, it’s A  LOT of momming, sports games, sewing projects, cooking, cleaning, love, and laughter. 🙂  I make time for yoga on Saturday mornings, church on Sunday mornings, and time to simply just be still and silent every day.  

Opening the Door to What is Possible

This is probably not your dream life, but it is mine.  I am happier than most people would think is humanly possible.  This didn’t stem from telling God what I wanted and vision-boarding it into existence.  I doubt I would have gotten much of it right and ended up worse off than before.  This type of joy is only possible because of choosing to cocreate WITH God.  

I can only guess at what’s ahead with Jesus’ promise that persistent prayer leads to doing greater things that He did on this Earth.  I am up for bringing as much of God’s love to this world as my physical vessel can.  I will keep asking, seeking, and knocking until only love remains within me.  Serving God is my greatest joy.  

Are you looking for a richer/fuller/more fulfilling life?  Ask God to heal you, and be willing to do WHATEVER it takes.  Then, when the Holy Spirit gives the green light, pray to co-create your dream life in service to HIM and His Will.  

God’s Word promises that He will answer.