We often see “thoughts and prayers” in social media or personal comments, even in the way of hashtags. We’ll type it as a response to a Facebook post or tweet. We’ll include it in an email or text to let someone know that they are on our minds, that we will pray for them. When time is of the essence or we are in the middle of a lane change on an interstate in rush hour traffic, we’ll simply use a praying hands emoji. This is well and good, even appropriate. Well, maybe except for the part about using our phones while driving. But if we are not careful, we can use it as a mindless spiritual bromide, reflexively invoking it in situations ranging from a man losing his mind because he can’t find his keys or a video of a cat struggling with a hairball to the devastation suffered from natural disasters or heinous acts of terrorism. Side note: maybe Mark Zuckerberg should worry less about stemming the saturation of content designed to destroy mankind as we know it and more on the ubiquity of cat videos. I like furry felines as much as the next person, unless that person has 14 of them in a single-wide, but c’mon already.
As Christians, prayer is one of the most effective tools we have to affect the natural course of events and circumstances. We are told to pray always (1 The. 5:17), in time of need (Heb. 4:16), believing that it will avail much (John 15:7, Jam. 5:16). But is that enough? Jesus didn’t think so, and neither should we. Upon finding out about someone’s need or lack, indecision or confusion, trial or struggle, and sickness or pain, the first thing we should do is pray. “Lord, intervene and bring clarity, strength, healing and provision. AND, Lord, give me wisdom and equip me to be Your agent of Grace, insomuch as it depends on me.” So prayer is our first response, and maybe our last, but let us not be content to allow it to be the only way we minister to our neighbors (everybody- Luke 10:36-37). After all, Love gave His very life for us, and we are called to do the same (1 John 3:16).