Thoughts That Count

“I have been thinking about you. So many times I wanted to call you, I’m so happy to hear from you.” These are thoughts that were expressed to us or that we have expressed to others at some time or other during our life. But do we really mean it?

As the year ends I think of all the people that I have thought about, missed, wanted to talk to, or see, but I haven’t taken any action to ensure that we connect. These thoughts are often random and rapid; they are sometimes triggered by a memory. I will pass a restaurant and remember going there with a friend or colleague who I haven’t seen or heard from in a while and wonder, how they are doing. These thoughts do not elicit any real urgency to connect and dissipate quickly. However, when I remember someone who was going through something or facing a challenge with whom I have not connected in a while, that is when I say to myself I must call or text them to see how they are doing.

Weeks later I will realize that I never did the intended action. The feelings of guilt will then arise. Even though I never expressed the thought to others, especially them, I feel a sense that I have let someone down. My emotional response is as if I had told them of my intent to check in on them and then I had fallen down on my promise. I can sometimes feel so bad about it that I hesitate to connect with them because of my own sense of shame at the length of time it took me to call them. Crazy, right?

I now know that I did fall down on a promise. It was a promise to the Holy Spirit, to seek them out. I now believe that when people are placed on my heart in such a definitive way, it is the Holy Spirit calling them to my attention. It is the Holy Spirit’s call to action. Sometimes this action is to connect with them in a clear way, sometimes it is enough to just pray for them, even though I am unsure about their specific situation.

When I do connect, by text, calling, or even snail mail, it surprises me how many times I hear that they have been going through something and we end up sharing for a long time. I will usually feel happy that I obeyed the Holy Spirit and connected with them.

My pet peeve however is when they say that I have been on their mind. I then begin to think, well, what did you do with the Holy Spirit’s CTA on my behalf. Did you pray for me, did you text or email me? If you did then thank you, but if you didn’t do any of those things, it’s better that you don’t share that thought with me. I just don’t’ believe when people say “It’s the thought that counts.” In that situation, the thought didn’t count. No, it’s the action that matters. Only God’s thoughts for us matter, because they produce action.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Psalm 130:17–18

So I try to be careful and pay attention to those random “thoughts” about people. I try to remember it is the Holy Spirit calling me to action on the behalf of his people. Then I try to obey it by either praying for them or actually making contact with them. And I never tell them about all the times I have thought about them and never did anything about it. Why share this?

As this year-end, it’s not too late. Who has been on your mind? Who do you want to check in on? Who do you want to bless with a text, or a phone call, or even a visit if it is possible? Remember those thoughts could be the Holy Spirit calling you to action in the life of one of His children. Don’t fall down on this assignment.