“Oh, My God, I Need You!” {Basecamp O.M.G. Series}

“TTYL”

“NP”

“BRB”

No, I didn’t just forget to delete some random typing from the beginning of my blog post during editing.  Those are some of the most common texting or internet chat acronyms.  While Talk To You Later (TTYL), No Problem (NP), and Be Right Back (BRB) seem like easy ways to communicate quickly, some other acronyms aren’t necessarily the most helpful… or perhaps could they be?!?

For example, #28 on one of many “Top 50 Popular Text and Chat Acronyms”: OMG, which stands for “Oh My God.”  Whether it’s shorted to three letters or said with all seven in the phrase, it bugs me how casually this phrase is thrown around in conversation in place of words that could be used like “REALLY?!?” or “I can’t believe it”.  Sometimes it’s used to talk about something upsetting or frustrating.  At other times simply referring to what clothes another teenager was wearing… “OMG… Did you see that hat he was wearing?!? I can’t believe it.”   Rarely, though, is it used to truly call upon the powerful name of the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.

In our next series at BaseCamp (or Sunday morning program for high school students), we’ll be looking into this phrase.  The interesting this is that our conversation won’t be about how we shouldn’t use this phrase but rather why we SHOULD! (Confusing I know).

Believe it or not this exact phrase is used many times throughout Scripture.  This Sunday we’re focusing in on times when we can use this in situations of desperation and needing God to help us.  There are times in life when our only prayer can be “Oh, My God, I need you!”  See what I mean in these passages:

As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God! (Psalm 40:17)

I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! (Psalm 3:6-7a)

In these passages the Psalmist writes of enemies and being attacked.  While we probably don’t face physical attacks each day that threaten our lives, there are many times when, like these writers, our only prayer is simply “Oh, My God, I need You!”

What is an area of your life or someone you love could use a prayer with this kind of desperation… a true need for God?  I think it’s easy for us to forget that we  need God for EVERYTHING… even our very breath.  Anytime you see or hear someone use the phrase “OMG” or “Oh My God” take a minute to stop and really use that as a prayer to the true God of the universe.  Let’s raise up and draw near to the Name above all Names, the One who is able to help us in our times of need!