What is “name it and claim it” scripture?
The popular teaching known as “name it and claim it” is based on the erroneous idea that we can control God by our words. According to this teaching, if we simply speak what we want in faith, God is obligated to give it to us. But this teaching completely misconstrues the nature of God and His relationship to His creation.
While it is true that our words have power (Proverbs 18:21), we must always remember that God is not a genie in a bottle who exists to grant our every wish. He is the sovereign Lord of all creation who knows what is best for us (Philippians 4:19). We may ask for things in faith, but we must always be willing to receive whatever He gives us, knowing that His ways are perfect (Psalm 119:68).
Where does this idea come from?
This “name it and claim it” theology come from a few places. The first is from an extreme interpretation of Mark 11:24, which says “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
Some people take this to mean that if we just have enough faith, we can claim anything we want from God and He will give it to us. But this is not what the verse actually says. The verse is talking about prayers that are in line with God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). And even then, we don’t always get what we want because our plans are not always in line with God’s plans (Proverbs 19:21).
The second place this idea comes from is from a misunderstanding of Philippians 4:13, which says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Some people interpret this to mean that if we have Christ in our lives, we can do anything we set our minds to. But this is not what the verse actually says either. The verse is talking about how Christ gives us the strength to do things that are impossible for us to do on our own (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
So where does this leave us? First of all, we need to be careful about proof texting – taking verses out of context and using them to support our own ideas instead of what the Bible actually teaches. Second, we need to remember that God is sovereign and He knows what is best for us (Proverbs 3:5-6). We need to trust Him even when His plans don’t line up with ours ( Proverbs 16:9).
What are the benefits of this approach?
The benefits of this approach are that it helps you to focus on what you want, and not on what you don’t want. It also allows you to release your fears and doubts, and to receive guidance from your higher power.
Are there any drawbacks?
There are some drawbacks to the name it and claim it doctrine. One is that it can be used as a weapon by people who want to get their way. They will declare that something is going to happen, in the name of God, and then if it doesn’t, they will say that God wasn’t in it. This puts a lot of pressure on people who may already be struggling with their faith.
Another drawback is that this doctrine can lead to a lot of false hopes. People may declare that they are going to be healed of a terminal illness, for example, and then when they die, their loved ones are left feeling disappointed and betrayed.
Still, despite these drawbacks, the name it and claim it doctrine does have some value. It can help people to focus on what they want to achieve, and it can give them the strength to persevere in difficult times.
How can I put this into practice?
The best way to start putting the law of attraction into practice is by focusing on what you want more of in your life. For example, if you want more love, focus on love. If you want more money, focus on money. The reason this works is because your thoughts and feelings are what create your reality. So, if you stay focused on the things you want more of, such as love and money, you will attract more of them into your life.