I have heard this basic differentiation: Black magic is intended to cause harm and is evil; white magic seeks to heal, not harm. While that may be true, you have to ask the simple question, “What is the source of the power?” If it is anything but the power of Almighty God, then it is to be avoided at all costs.
God will never allow himself to be degraded to the point of being summoned to cast a spell or to levitate an object. I can promise you that will never happen. So, right away, you can rule out most “magic” as being of the devil.
Prayer calls on the power of God according to His good will and purposes. A prayerful heart says, “Lord I don’t know best, but You do, so please help me.” In contrast, magic calls on supernatural power for selfish gain or to cause harm, using occult rituals. The magic we are referring to is not the bunny in the hat, sleight-of-hand magic found at kid’s birthday parties; it is an occult ritual that calls on the evil, supernatural powers of the devil.