We mention you constantly in our prayers. –1 Thessalonians 1:2b
Sometimes hearing, “You’re in my thoughts and prayers,” sounds pretty feeble. It conveys that, while you say you care for the other person, you don’t care so much as to get directly involved. You’re thinking nice thoughts while standing on the sidelines.
But in a chaotic world, isn’t it nice if someone cares enough to say they’re thinking of you? Somehow, somewhere, that counts. You’re not alone in whatever you’re going through. Someone next door, or half way around the world, is empathizing with you and including you in their thoughts, no matter how briefly.
It’s just that when Christians say it, they are saying that you are more than a passing thought to them. Paul telling the Thessalonians that he was praying constantly for them did so by taking time to put it down in writing. He had also sent a messenger to them to find out how they were doing.
Paul is our model. It’s wonderful to be told that someone is praying for you. It’s even more wonderful when that’s backed up by a card, letter, phone call, gift, visit or some type of intervention. That really means we’re constantly praying.