“Sending thoughts and prayers your way.”
“Please send your happy thoughts and prayers to me.”
“I am sending thoughts and prayers to the victims…”
These are common phrases I see almost daily on my Facebook feed. They are usually a response to a tragedy or because someone is going through a difficult time. They leave me scratching my head. I understand it to be an attempt to offer condolences or encouragement or emotional support but what does it really mean? How can one send thoughts? Is this some sort of mental telepathy? How are prayers sent to someone?
It seems to me that in our politically correct world, we have watered down our language so much that there is nothing left. It might offend someone to say that we are praying to the almighty God to help them in their time of need but if that is not what we are doing, we are speaking empty words. Empty words that leave just a hint of being religious without really admitting who or what our true object of worship is, or maybe it is leaving the exact impression the speaker is intending.
If we have bought into the idea that God is us, then, yes, we can pray to someone else — a victim, a sick person, someone in need. But if we understand God to be who He says He is — the first and last, the creator of all, the I AM — then we have to know that prayer is so much more than a casual condolence on a Facebook page. When someone requests our prayers, we must humble ourselves before the Almighty and with reverence ask Him to help our friend or acquaintance. When we speak to God, for ourselves or making requests on behalf of someone else, we are talking to our Creator. We are talking to the One who was before the world was, has known each of us before we were born, knows how many hairs we have on our head. This is not a casual conversation with our buddy.
Prayer is a privilege, not a right. To think that we can be using God’s name in vain one minute and praying to Him the next is disrespectful. To think that we can live a life contrary to God’s word, whether public or private, and He’ll hear our prayers is hypocritical. God expects devotion, love, obedience and reverence from His people. We can’t ask for the good things one minute and deny Him the devotion, love, obedience and reverence that He deserves the next. Attempting to help others with meaningless words, is no help at all. We need to get our lives right with God and then our prayers will be heard.
When someone requests prayers, by all means, pray for them but don’t pray to them. Avoid the meaningless words and do something real for them. Pray to God for them. Share a meaningful scripture with them. Speak with them privately and offer physical help if it is needed and it is in your power to give.
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us…” Colossians 4:2,3
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18
“Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” John 9:31
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14
I just heard a news commentator “send thoughts and prayers” to a co-worker. This phrase has always puzzled me and I usually assumed that people were, as you put it, being obviously vague about their beliefs but wanting to sound “nice.” So, I checked with Uncle Google for his take on the subject and your blog was the first result! As a praying woman, I thoroughly appreciated your response! I would add that sending prayers may refer to some Christian groups who put a lot of faith in formulaic prayers and may think that the idea of sending “an Our Father” might do the trick. Thanks again for your kind and thoughtful response to this cultural phenomenon.
YES!