I see this nonsense over and over again, often from people professing to be men and women of the Christian faith.
"Send a wish out to the universe, and it will send you back what you desire.": "Put positive energy out into the universe and focus on it, and you'll get back only positive things."
Now, I get the power of positive thinking. I was in business for years before the ministry (and still dabble in small business concerns) and the business world is full of having goals and the right mindset. After all, if you feel you are going to fail, you probably will. If you believe you are going to succeed, and are willing to put the work behind your desire, you have a far better chance of succeeding at your goals.
Having a positive mindset is fine, as long as you keep it in check. But to say, "send a wish to the universe to be successful" is to show yourself as someone with their feet in the camp of the New Age philosophers. And that is a camp no man or woman who follows Christ should ever find themselves in.
The universe is a non-caring realm of planets, suns, asteroids and space debris. It is a wondrous space that shows us the vastness of God's creation and stretches our minds and souls as we contemplate the wonders contained within. But should you venture there without the proper gear, the universe isn't going to care how many wishes and good thoughts you send out, it will simply kill you. I could sooner send my good wishes to a rock in my yard and expect a good return.
I believe in prayer. I believe prayer works wonders, I have seen miracles personally. But that is because of whom the prayer is directed towards; the holy and living God, who created all things, and who has power over all creation. To direct our prayers to anyone else, while we call ourselves by the name of Christian, is to set up a rival deity, a false god, who has no power and deserves no prayer.
If you are a Christian, a dedicated follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, part of the Triune Godhead, very God of very God, then direct your prayers and "wishes" to Christ and to Christ alone. To offer them to anyone, or anything else, is to negate the authority Christ has in your life, and He won't settle for being second best. He is either Lord of all or not...there is nothing in between.
Whom are you praying to?
God's grace be with you.
Fr. Charles Butler
