What Does That Stand For?
Today I went over my prayer request lists. I have been noticing something new on the lists lately. For a long time, I have seen people using lol and idk. The “lol” is usually used on praise reports. These people are obviously happy that God has answered their prayers. Sometimes the “idk” is used when describing someone's diagnosis or prognosis from doctors. For example, "idk what docs say, but I know what God says." Shortened versions of words are so common these days, even on prayer requests it seems, but the most recent abbreviated phrase I saw was a little surprising to me.
On request after request at the very end, I saw the letters, GBY. My fifty-four-year-old brain had to stop and think. At first, I thought the three letters stood for goodbye. I wondered why suddenly so many people had decided to say "Good-bye" after their prayer requests. Finally, on one reply someone wrote, “God bless you also."
That's it! GBY equals God bless you. I felt relieved that I finally knew what all the GBYs were about, but at the same time, I wondered what God thought of His name being shortened to just one letter. "God bless you" is a shortened version for the prayer "May God bless you." Does God (G) still bless (B) all the "yous" (Y)who get the shortened version of the blessing prayer? I think so. God sees and knows all. He answers when we call on Him. Call unto me, and I will answer thee, Jeremiah 33:3
He knows each "someone" who needs a blessing in their life even if we don't know their name. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; Jeremiah 1:5
God has promised blessings. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: Isaiah 44:3
Even showers of blessings are promised. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:26
So, however, or whenever you ask God to bless someone, we know He is a God who keeps His promises. In this fast-paced world when we try to do everything the quickest way possible, we should remember God is a God of detail who has a perfect time for every single blessing to take place. No matter how many letters are left out of His name, or the words of a prayer, God is a great decipherer. His main concern is not the letters we type on a text or email prayer, but it is the thought behind the letters, the actual prayer that we pray for someone to be blessed. He knows whether or not the abbreviated letters come from our heart and stand for genuine love and concern.
For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7