Offering Thoughts And Prayers
Encouragement for Offering Thoughts and Prayers
Have you ever told a hurting friend or family member that they’re in your “thoughts and prayers?”
Have you ever commented online about praying and received an onslaught of angry comments back from atheists?
I guess those commenters think that the more they badger Christians online, the better their chances to shut us up.
Even the sentiment “thoughts and prayers” has gotten a black eye.
This is our world, folks.
Christianity is being singled out.
The following true statement can really get them going . . .
“Jesus is coming again.”
The Coming Day of the Lord
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water. – 2 Peter 3:3-6, (NASB).1
Do Say, Don’t Say
Atheists love to tell us what we can and can’t say.
Here are some of the comments I’ve read recently:
“Thoughts and prayers don’t work”
“You’re praying to a sky god”
“So where is Jesus? I thought He was coming back”
Truth: We can’t expect unbelievers to act like believers.
And, until Christ returns, there’s nothing we can do, except be patient and pray for lost people in this broken world.
These unbelievers have no idea how much they need our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile, whether it’s an atheist or anyone else (including the media) trying to change what we can and can’t say, I hope you ignore them like I do.
Offering Thoughts and Prayers and Even More
When we went through our family accident years ago, we received a lot of love and grace from others.
Friends brought meals and more. I also knew who I could call if I just needed to talk to someone.
I welcomed every prayer during that difficult time.
It was a beautiful example to me (as a relatively new Christian) to witness these pure-of-heart demonstrations of what Christlike love is all about.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. – 2 Cor 1:3, (NASB).2
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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
