The answer
Manifesting a reality or speaking things into reality is not a Christian approach. You cannot just affirm your reality by choice through repetitions of thoughts or words. For example, you cannot just repeatedly affirm your desires for better grades, a better job, etc., but you must study, you must apply yourself, you must seek job opportunities, etc. The reality is that you must make every effort toward your goal by hard work, study, and most importantly, by prayer. Positive thinking and optimism are good attributes, but not enough to achieve one's goals. You must labor and do, not just think, or say. In the Epistle of St. James, he instructs us, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)