Redeeming the Phrases "OMG" and "WTF"

Two terrible phrases have sadly become common; I’ve even seen them being used by some professing believers. One of the most popular, “OMG!” takes God’s name in vain, because it means “Oh, My God!” I believe we can redeem this one by adding “I” in front of the phrase and say in our minds, “I Owe My God!” That’s an exclamation that fits with Scripture. When something suddenly happens that’s incredible, or shocking, or overwhelming, we can say, “I Owe My God!” In other words, “HE is sovereign, and He reigns in this, and in this situation I owe my thanks, my allegiance, my all to Him!” God is good, all the time—so let’s say, “IOMG!”

The other phrase is not only profane but also obscene: “WTF?” Without spelling this one out, you know it loosely means “What’s going on here?” or “How could this happen?” or even “Who says so?!” I’m thinking that when we see this one, we can change the wording in our minds to “Where’s The Father?” In John 5:17 Jesus said, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” I remember Henry Blackaby (in Experiencing God) reminding us that “Jesus watched to see where the Father was at work. Then He did what He saw the Father doing. For Jesus the revelation of where the Father was working was His invitation to join the activity. When you see the Father at work around you, that is your invitation to adjust your life to Him and join Him in that work.”

So…when we see things on the news or hear people interacting with that phrase, how about replacing it with “Where’s The Father?!” Where is He at work in this situation? What is He saying to me? How should I respond to what’s happening? When can I adjust my life to Him and join Him at work?”

With some changes in wording we could redeem and even give eternal value to two greatly overused profane and vulgar phrases!

"Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14