God’s Gifts in Plain Sight: Crystals, Herbs, and the Power of Intention

I’ve never considered myself a religious person instead, I call myself spiritual. I was born and raised Catholic: Sunday school, communion, confirmation. In my young adult years I visited Christian churches more, but I quickly discovered that many of the people sitting next to me were the biggest hypocrites I’ve ever seen. And something about me is this: whatever I don’t voice often reads across my face no filter, lol.

As I got older, I started studying the Bible more deeply, as well as the Law of Attraction, mindset, and mindfulness. I realized that intention is everything, and that I could have a personal relationship with Jesus outside the doors of any church. Let’s face it not many churches teach straight from the Bible anymore. That’s my take anyway.

Fast forward through all the study and research, and I truly fell in love with what our Creator has given us: from herbs and crystals to the decrees and promises laid out in Scripture. I know some say crystals are demonic, yet crystals (or precious stones) are mentioned all through the Bible in Exodus, Job, Revelation. For example, the High Priest’s breastplate was set with stones: carnelian, turquoise, lapis lazuli, emerald, amethyst, etc. Even the river from the heavenly throne is described as “clear as crystal.”

Some equate crystals (and even herbs like sage) with evil because they ignore intention. Anything can become “magic” if you give it that intention even the very device, you're reading this on. Mystical intent isn’t in my heart, but I accept it may be in others'. My belief is that there is beauty in everything God created, and these things draw me closer to Him. When I hold or display a crystal, I feel closer to God, to Jesus, whom I love. When I light sage, it’s to clear what I believe to be negativity around me to create space so I can speak freely, intentionally with the Lord. To deny the existence of negative forces around us is absurd. Ever shared an opinion about someone when your significant other or friend is close by, only to find it spreads because someone heard? That’s gossip, and a wide-open door to what many call the enemy. Everything can go wrong if intention is wrong.

The Bible speaks of herbs and healing too. In Ezekiel’s vision (Ch. 47), a river flows out of the temple, and “trees on both banks … Their fruit will serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.” In Revelation 22:2, the tree of life bears fruits every month and “its leaves are for the healing of the nations.” Genesis 1:29 also says that God gave “every herb bearing seed… for food.” These passages show that God’s creation, including herbs, trees, plants, and even stones, have roles in His design as beauty, as medicine, as reminders of His power and goodness.

On Intent, Healthy Beliefs, and Education

Here’s where many get stuck, and where I think there’s misunderstanding often uneducated belief, not malicious but lacking discernment.

• Intention Matters. The Bible clearly states that what’s in the heart counts. For example, Proverbs 16:1-9: “The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD … The LORD evaluates the motives.” 
  
  
• Also, Romans 8:27: “He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit…” 

• Many traditions or teachings conflate symbolic use (or appreciation) of natural things crystals, herbs, incense, sage with occult practice. But the Bible doesn’t say the presence of a crystal is evil; it warns about idolizing created things or attributing supernatural powers to them apart from God.

• When someone uses herbs or herbal oils, or lights sage, or displays crystals, their purpose (intent) matters deeply. Is it for healing, grounding, sobriety of mind, praise to the Creator? Or is it seeking power outside of God, manipulation, or superstition? That line is what many traditions ignore.

• Education helps. Learning what the Bible actually says, understanding how herbs and stones are used agriculturally, medicinally, how crystals are formed (unearthed) all this helps to remove fear, superstition, or the assumption that one must reject these things entirely because others misuse them.

If you’ve read this far, here’s what I hope you take from it, whether you agree or not:

• Your Christianity doesn’t have to mean rejecting all things natural or beautiful herbs, crystals, incense if your heart is aligned with Jesus. These can be reminders of God’s goodness, tools for focus, healing, beauty, thanksgiving.

• But don’t let any practice become an idol. The moment you believe a stone has power in itself rather than being a created thing through which God may work hat’s when things go sideways.

• Ask yourself: Why am I doing this? Why do I carry this crystal? Why do I burn sage? Why do I use oils? Are these things helping me connect with God, bring peace, love? Or am I seeking something else?

• Don’t be afraid to have an unchurched or misunderstood spiritual walk. Sometimes, the institution fails us. Jesus never promised perfect people around you, but He promises He is perfect. And He meets us wherever we are, in honest hearts.

• Finally, educate yourself. Study Scripture. Read about the origin and context of the things you believe. Speak with others who’ve done the work. Give yourself permission to hold beliefs that honor God even if they don’t neatly align with every tradition you encountered.

God’s creation every herb, crystal, tree, particle of soil is His handiwork. It all points to Him: His beauty, His power, His healing, His purpose. Let’s carry what we love with intention letting our hearts, minds, and actions align with truth. Let’s choose love, discernment, and authenticity. For when our hearts are right, our practice whatever it is becomes sacred, not superstitious.