Prayers

Do You Send Prayers or Good Thoughts and Vibes?

by Andrew Tuttle
11/04/23
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Thoughts and prayers.

You’re in my thoughts some say to others facing a difficult time. A nice gesture. Pointless, but nice. To add a little spirituality, some add “and prayers.” Have you heard, “sending good vibes” or simply “sending good thoughts”? Or even “sending good thoughts your way.” How about “sending healing thoughts”?

All these inane comments basically amount to the prayers of the secularist.

Do “good thoughts” work? And what exactly constitutes a “good thought”? I’ve had people tell me similar words of encouragement. I cringe. I hate it. What does that even mean? “I’ll be thinking of you.” Really? Do you really think thinking a good thought, whatever that thought may be, works? Yet, you say sending good thoughts because you (likely) don’t believe in God, thus, offering to pray and tell the person as much, fails to cross your radar.

Sending good thoughts merely means you worship yourself because, you, simply by thinking a good thought (again whatever that means) works to remediate a difficult situation for someone else. You have the power! Simply by thinking something neat. I hazard to guess that those who think good thoughts or send positive vibes don’t think about the situation at hand a minute later.

Because really, what is it you do? Do you contemplate the person’s situation and think... well, what exactly? Dear Lord... Oops, wait a sec you don’t pray. Instead rather, Dear good thoughts. Got it! How about, “Hopefully this person gets better.” Or maybe, “Man, I wish the situation would improve for that person.”

Great. Thanks for “thinking” those nice thoughts. No doubt many of us have said those exact things but that doesn’t really help. It does nothing for the person other than maybe show a little sympathy. But how does sending these thoughts or positive vibes work? Do you outstretch your arms and wiggle your fingers to supernaturally send your good vibes? Like some unseen energy emanating from your body through your fingers to the affected person. What happens if you don’t point in the right direction and thereby miss the person? You could be sending your vibes north when the person sits south of you. Your energy. Where does it go? You missed!

Saying anything in your head or out loud for another person facing a difficult situation or facing a health scare, other than prayer, is dumb. If you don’t believe in God, if you think the fools following Christianity are foolish, then what does that make you? You believe your good thoughts or positive vibes work. Who is the fool now? We believe in prayer because our faith at least tells us to pray. “Pray without ceasing” it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” it tells us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2. It doesn’t say think good thoughts.

We have proof that prayer works, too. I’ve never seen proof that positive vibes or thinking nice things helps a person out. Doctors tell you to pray when all else has failed, not “think good thoughts” or “send some positive vibes, there’s nothing more we can do. Only your thoughts can save the person now.”

Interesting how people question Christianity but these very same people, most of whom I’d bet, say such silly things like “sending positive vibes your way” or “you’re in my thoughts (but no prayers).” You can always tell whether a person worships themselves or at least has a basic understanding that God exists based on their reaction to someone else’s troubles.

Sending positive vibes.

Don’t bother, please. It won’t work. I can't think of anything more arrogant then telling someone "I'll think good thoughts" or "sending good thoughts your way" because by doing so, you think your thoughts have something to do with a person's healing or alleviating their pain.

But if you want to make a prayer of intercession on my behalf to Jesus Christ, I’d be grateful for those thoughts.

Because only God can heal.