Scott Souder
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In Our Thoughts and Prayers
There is a phrase that is commonly used when someone we know is going through a hardship, whether mentally or physically. This same phrase is often used when we give our condolences to the family members of someone we know who has died. It’s also used by people in the public eye after a tragedy. The phrase is “You’re in our thoughts and prayers”.
Although these are two separate nouns, “In our thoughts” conveys a message of condolences, which is an expression of sympathy. To it we add “and prayers”, which adds a spiritual air to it. “I will pray for you.”
Thoughts are an interesting human trait. Research in neuroscience has revealed that humans have 6,200 thoughts per day, and that most humans can have up to 4 thoughts at the same time. So while we are performing a task such as jogging or walking we can also think of a friend going through a difficult time. We can even think or say a short prayer. And although they will never know if what we said is true, we can fulfill what we said and have someone in our thoughts and prayers.
What about God? Will He know if He is in our thoughts and prayers? The answer is yes. In Psalm 139 David states “you know my thoughts before I think them” (New Century Version). David also told this to his son Solomon. In 1 Chronicles 28:9: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts (NKJV). So in a similar example while jogging or walking we can think of the beauty of God’s creation or the soon-coming Kingdom and give a quick prayer of thanks. This doesn’t replace praying to God the Father on our knees, but adds to our desired constant relationship.
So the next time we say to someone “you are in our thoughts and prayers”, we truly need to follow though and have them in our thoughts and prayers.
