Manifesting is Prayer

I was re-reading "As A Man Thinketh" yesterday. It's not an easy read because it was written in 1903. The title itself should let you know that its going to be written "old school". Each time I read the words in the book, something always gives me deeper clarity. 

There is a lot of talk right now about "manifesting". All kinds of people giving their understanding of what it means to manifest something you want in your life. 

Not too many are actually talking about the amount of work it takes for you to bring into your life what it is that you feel you deserve. If you haven't done the work, then manifesting isn't going to happen for you. Fact.

Manifesting is a fancy word for prayer. 
Manifesting is a belief that your want comes from something you cannot see...like God maybe?
Manifesting is living with pure intentions...like what the ten commandments teach?
Manifesting is releasing ego and listening to your soul...which is what faith teaches us to do.
Manifesting is trusting that all things happen exactly as they are supposed to...because God has to keep the balance down here.
Manifesting is being honest with one's self...kind of like accepting that manifesting is God's work.

An excerpt from As A Man Thinketh: 
"The thoughtless, the ignorant, and the indolent, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of luck, a fortune, and chance. Seeing a man grow rich they say, “How lucky he is!” Observing another become intellectual, they exclaim, “How highly favored he is!” In noting the saintly character and wide influence of another, they remark “How chance aids him at every turn!”

They do not see the trials and failures and struggles which these men have voluntarily encountered in order to gain their experience; have no knowledge of the sacrifices they have made, of the undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have exercised, that they might overcome the apparently insurmountable, and realise the Vision of their heart. They do not know the darkness and the heartaches; they only see the light and joy, and call it “luck”; do not see the long and arduous journey, but only behold the pleasant goal and call it “good fortune”; do not understand the process, but only perceive the result, and call it “chance”.

In all human affairs there are efforts and there are results and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result. Chance is not. “Gifts,” powers, material, intellectual, and spiritual possessions are the fruits of effort; they are thoughts completed, objects accomplished, visions realized.

The Vision that you glorifying in your mind, the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart - this you will build your life by, this you will become."