That I am always on His mind—that is indeed precious

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
Psalms 139:17

A common phrase of encouragement in our day is: “My thoughts and prayers are with you.”  I have to admit, that phrase has tended to leave me a little flat.  As Christians, our prayers matter, but our thoughts?  Our thoughts are arguably not as beneficial as our prayers.  After all, prayers involve God.  Our thoughts cannot change anything, but God can—so prayers are preferred over thoughts.

But then I came across Psalm 139:17 in my daily Bible reading.  And there David writes of how “precious God’s thoughts” are and that “great is the sum of them!”

This has greatly encouraged me.  Pleasant thoughts of others, and especially God’s thoughts of me, are indeed precious.  It is actually encouraging that someone is thinking of us, wouldn’t you agree?

And how much more encouraging is it that (a) God’s thoughts are only always good; and (b) that God never stops thinking of those He loves.

I still think it is better to pray for someone rather than to merely think of them, but as a beloved child of God, that I am always on His mind—that is indeed precious, don’t you think?