Thoughts and Prayers for the Sick
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9
I was looking at “Get Well” cards in a card shop. I was attracted to the ones that were labeled “religious.” When you are ill or recovering from surgery I like to send something uplifting, even “lol” funny, would seem appropriate. If it can point to the Lord as well, all the better!
Sentiments
Some of the cards had sentiments that included, “thinking of you,” messages with prayers that seem to extend from the thoughts and concerns. They were nice. The hardest ones for me were cards that say, “sending you healing thoughts,” and “sending positive energy.” I could reject these without a second thought.
I was confused by the cards that expressed both sending warm thoughts and prayers. Are the thoughts and prayers going to the patient or to the Lord?
Thoughts and prayers are very different. Some thoughts are prayers – if that is how we address them – to God.
Our Thoughts
Our own thoughts, according to the scripture (Mark 7:21, 1 Corinthians 3:20), lack much. It is encouraging to know that someone is thinking of us and that we are not left without a blanket of prayer when we have needs. When a person is ill or recovering there are times they will have needs no one but God can fill. Only He understands their immediate needs in the course of time. Pain, questions that do not get answered, or the feeling of being alone as they lie awake at night, unable to sleep because of the problems they are facing.
Prayer is what people need. Our thoughts, no matter how warm or positive, come from our hearts. Our hearts cannot accurately discern a person’s real spiritual and healing needs. In prayer, we ask the One who does have all knowledge and discernment to care for the brother or sister in physical need and to show us how to help.
Please, continue to think about your family and friends in need – and let them know they have not been forgotten. But, please, pray for them when you think of them. James tells us that, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16).
Truly, prayer does change things. Our thoughts…not so much.