7. Magic Genie God

Unloving God-Image: Magic Genie God.

Description: Magic Genie God is transactional. He gives me what I want if I do what he wants me to do. He’s a deal-maker. He can perform “magic” – I’ve heard him show up before and do miracles for others.

Potential Reasons for this God-Image: Your parents would give you what you wanted if you obeyed them. Your parents overemphasized material possessions as signs of good favor. Growing up, you became preoccupied with material possessions and health. As you grew up, you might have experimented with the new age trends like the law of attraction to see if you could get what you wanted in life. You were entitled growing up. You might have been a “daddy’s girl” as a child and have transferred that into being a “Heavenly Daddy’s girl” now. Spoiled child growing up.

Unlovable Self-Image: I have to be in control (“Manipulative Martha”).

Description: Since Magic Genie God transactional, I make sure to do the right things/steps/formula, so that God gives me what I want. Not really sure if God cares for me but oh well. You make sure to stay in control. At a deeper level, you wonder if you can just be loved for who you are rather than what you can do for God. You think you have to play God’s game to get his love. You might believe you’re failing in your relationship with God because you’re not doing enough. You feel entitled with God. He deserves to give you what you want. Uncertain relationship, Always 1 unanswered prayer away from a breakup. You focus on spiritual devotions like novenas to get rewards. Claim them with enough faith. Ask and you shall receive. God exists for the purpose of granting your wishes. God appears when you “rub” the lamp the right way and you say the magic words of prayer. God is in a box. God bestows blessings when you need him. But he can be put away when you would rather not be bothered by him. You are in control. You’re frustrated because God doesn’t seem to answer your prayer. Now you’re a spiritual spoiled child.

Scripture Passage: “Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? As for me, I would seek God, and to God what I commit my cause. He sets on high those who were lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety” (Job 4:6).

Loving God-Image: Unconditional God.

Description: God loves me just as I am; He doesn’t love me conditionally upon my doing certain things; He does what is best for me, not what some formula says He should do.

Scripture Passage: “He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6).
And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).

Lovable Self-Image: I’m loved as I am.

Description: I’m worth being loved just as I am; there is nothing I have to do to get God to love me; I can’t control or obligate God, but receive what I need from Him by simple faith.