is saying "my God!" or "oh God" "taking the name of the Lord in vain" even if you think of God and pray to God every single time you say it?
211951
Goodness no!  It's perfectly normal and perfectly acceptable a means of expressing oneself.  In fact, I'd suspect that, if He existed, God would be pleased that you mention Him, even in moments of intense excitement, stress, and yes, even when you're upset or angry. No, taking the Lord's name in vain refers to what we commonly refer to as cursing.  And that ain't nice whether one's a beliver or not.  Capisce?
456309
God's language is silence.\n\nGod is omnipresent.  That means that God isn't separate from you or I.  God is within you and I.  \n\nIt's not like you are not part of God, but God is somehow external in some famous person.\n\nIf you really want to hear God, you have to listen to silence.  That means listening to not only all the typical noises around you, but all the thoughts in your head as well, including the voice that keeps telling you that this is a load of shyt.\n\nPeace brother.
314372
Philippians 2:9-11\n"Therefore God has also highly exalted Him and given Him THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY OTHER NAME, that AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THOSE IN HEAVEN, AND OF THOSE ON EARTH, AND OF THOSE UNDER THE EARTH, and that EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father."\n\nSounds like worship to me!\n\nJohn 20: 28\n"And Thomas (the Apostle) answered and said to Him (Jesus) 'My LORD AND MY GOD!'"\n\nSounds like worship again, and Jesus didn't tell him not to, but praised his belief and the belief of others who had not yet seen Him.\n\nAnd for jackiedj8952, this conversation is between John and an angel.  If you can't follow along, maybe you should get a Bible with the words of Jesus in red.\n\nRevelations 19:10\n\n"And I fell at his feet to worship him (the angel who was speaking). But he (the angel who was speaking) said to me, 'See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus.  Worship God!  For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
302635
God says He's a jealous God and I imagine He knows more about Himself than I do.\n\nConsider this: God is supreme.  He is GOD.  He wasn't invented by man, or He wouldn't be God.  He is all-knowing when we obviously aren't.  He's all-powerful when we obviously aren't.  He has always existed when we obviously were born not all that long ago.  He is holy and we definitely aren't.  He is GOD and is infinitely more awe-inspiring than we are.  Basically, He is worthy of praise.  He deserves it.  Just like kings and royalty get respect, He should get just as much and more.  He created us, we didn't make ourselves.  So imagine all that; imagine what the word "God" infers.\n\nAnd then read Exodus 20:2-5: "'Iam the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  You shall have no other gods before Me.  You shall not make for yourself a carved image...you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.  For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...."  \n\nIf God is really God, He has some claims on us.  Because we are not God.  We are His creation.  And one of those claims He has on us is that we worship His awesomeness.  I mean, imagine your favorite singer, actor, writer, athlete, and then imagine you trying to tell the media that, no, YOU are better than this person when obviously you stink next to their talent!  That is how we act as humans most of the time.  We don't give God His due.  And He has a right to be jealous.  Don't know if that answers your question, but that kind of jealousy is righteous.  Ours is petty.
611900
Exclaiming something like “Jesus Christ! Get the hell out of my way!” while driving on a highway has nothing whatsoever to do with the admonishment in the Bible about taking God’s name in vain. First of all, the name of God was lost many centuries ago because of the prohibition against speaking it aloud and writing it down. We know many substitutes for it today, but do not know the actual name. Even if we did know the name today, using it as a word of profanity still would not be the admonishment in question. What the Bible does caution against is, after learning the name, not calling upon that name in everything you say or do. That would be taking the name in vain (or for nothing).
318385
Interesting question. I know that some faiths recommend assistance in a person's approach to God via prayer by using special words and through intercession with a "Holy Spirit".   Sometimes using the a well-known poem, or pre-lude to prayer, or mantra, or words learned as a child, will enable a person to prepare themselves for communication with God.  The words spoken aloud or mentally chanted help to clear the mind and bring focus to the person's thoughts.  \n\nPeople communicate with God not only in prayer, but also in praise and to give thanks.  When was the last time you thanked God?  Did you need to use a prelude prayer or intercession with the Holy Spirit to give your thanks?  Or, did you just say, "Thank you, Lord, for what you have done for me!"  Have you ever mindlessly said the words, "Thank God!", when something truly miraculous and wonderful has happened to you?  Did you really mean to be so abrupt with God?  Were your thanks, prayers and praises heartfelt and were you fully congnizant not only of the words, but also of the meanings?  \n\nNearly every Muslim I know always includes the words "Prase be to Allah" whenever they say or do something - they acknowlege God out loud and in writing regularly and often.  This is also true of my friends who are devout Christians who also regularly remember to mention their belief in God and Jesus out loud.  Other friends who have other beliefs are prone to keep their beliefs to themselves - they find their faith to be more private.\n\nEach person has to communicate with God in their own way according to their own faith.  If the words in the prayer you shared with us have meaning and value to you and help you communicate with God, then I believe you should use them.  I hope this has helped answer your question.
269503
Every one wants their religion to be THE BEST ONE by flaunting good deeds they try to make it so.  In the  Bible it says do not flaunt your deeds only god needs to know. (not exactly, but close) I would like to think no matter what religion you practice this should apply, I hate to think people do good just to convince others of their goodness, only you and your god or goddess or??? need to know
217739
The title 'god' or 'God' can be applied to Jesus. It's like the title Atty. (Psalm 82:1-6) But Jesus is not God Almighty. He admits to the following:\n1. He is a worshipper of the Almighty God, Jehovah. (John 20:17 ?)\n2.His Father is greater than he is. (John 14:28)\n3. He does not have the authority to appoint who will sit at his right hand. Only his Father has that authority. (Matthew 20:20-23)\n\nHe was seen by many. Whereas no one can see God and live. (Exodus 33:20?)\n\nThrow away the concept of a Trinity. It confuses many. Further, it is pagan in origin and therefor unclean in God's eyes.\n\nhave a good day.
355898
You got it!!! Prayer is not words... but what is in your heart... the motive for the prayer... the honesty within the mind, heart and soul as you say the "words."  You can recite a formula of words... and it can be effective as LONG as you mean what your are reciting in you mind, heart and soul.  Your attitude, motive and integrity of your prayer is what counts.... as that prayer is laid at the foot of God's throne... I try to imagine that it needs to be a "good prayer" to be outstanding from all the other prayers to get God's attention  (LOL).  Sounds childish, I know, but it keeps me on tract when I pray... to settle in my mind, heart and soul, the RIGHT attitude, motive and integrity for the basis of my prayer.  Who helps you with this action... THE DIVINE HOLY SPIRIT!  If we knew how often the Holy Spirit worked within us in our daily lives, to motive us to live correctly, we would be surprised... so ask the Holy Spirit to be your daily companion, and to help you in your daily life... and see what happens when you give the Holy Spirit recognition and gratitude for its help....\n\nPS:  When you pray... you address your prayers to the Heavenly Father... in the name of Jesus, the Christ as Jesus taught us to... We do not pray to Jesus... we pray to God the Father in Jesus's name...
284799
My guess is that the saying evolved from the expression "Holy Lord!" or "Holy God!".  Over time, language has become more coarse and somebody felt like tossing in the ol' S-word instead of "God" and it stuck.
511685
Itis not atheist  writing God in that way,\n mostly Jews write God in that fashion. In the old testament the name of God was so Holy to the Jews that they left out the vowels when they wrote it in the hebrew. That way no one could speak the name of God. . That's why some people pronounce the name of God Jehovah and some pronounce it JHWH(pronounced Yaweh). I've also heard it pronounced JA. Since the vowels were left out, nobody knows the real pronounciation. The Jews when they write the name God in english they leave out the vowel 'O' and it is written G-d.
102883
I am one of those people! Sorry; it's such a habit that I'm not aware of it.\nIn Judaism, G-d's Name is so sacred & holy that it is never written out. We don't even say His Name. The terms you may hear others use such as YHVH or Jehovah are highly offensive & never used because they are inaccurate.\nWhen Jewish people pray, we use the term "Ha Shem" which literally means "The Name". We may also use the term "Adonai" which means "L-rd".\nHope this helps!\nAnd, it's wrong for me to write the word "Adonai". For me to write it like Jews do, it needs to be missing a vowel, but you'd then ask what THAT means!!!!!!!!!!! It should say "Ad-nai".
376101
My understanding is that Goodness! is just a shortened version of Goodness Sakes! Which is an old exclamation from days of yore...that is all I know...I don't think the word "Godness" is a real thing...
126896
Not "in vein" but "in vain".  In other words, don't call on the name of God in jest or pointlessly.
305044
"god" little "g" is a descriptive term.\n"God" big "G" is a proper noun and the common name that Christians use to address God.\n\nThere are numerous other names for God, for example:\nthe Great IAM, the Lord Almighty, the Creator, the Lord of Hosts, Father, the God of Abraham, Master, Father, Savior, and the list goes on.  \n\nThis follows Jewish tradition not to utter the true name of God, because the Name is holy (holy enough to need to capitalize the word "Name"), and to utter it is to risk using his Name in vain and there by breaking the 2nd Commandment.\n\nThe true pronounciation of the name of God from Genesis (YHWH) is actually a mystery, since you will never get a Hebrew to say the Name.  Most scholars believe it is pronounced "Yahweh" but no one knows for sure.\n\nThere is one name of God that everyone knows... Jesus.\n\n(Or Yeshua by the Hebrews, Jesu / Yesu by non-English speakers)\n\nA name is just how you know someone... the name is not as important as how well you know that Someone. ;)
672048
I don't know, but Dr. Wayne Dyer once pointed out that almost all the names for God contain the sound  "ah" in them.  Interesting little fact yeah?
43481
wow. that's not a question people usually ask. it's so personal... i would have to say, now that i think about it. i'm embarassed by my answer. i think i go days at a time without praying! that's aweful!!!\n\nwe're raised to pray every morning, night, and at meal times. i went to a christian school and we prayed before every class began. but since i have gotten to college it's been a... volentary thing. and it's been hard to force myself to do something i have always taken for granted.\n\ni've fallen into some bad habbits since being away from my christian school and my church, and my family. i just hope that i can convince myself to change back to the GOOD habbits they tried to instill in me when i grew up.