let's start here
i am such a hypocrite

"can you believe they just said that!"

The bible tells us not to use God's name in vain.

To me...well that's simple don't say “Oh my God!” when something crazy happens, and certainly not any of the other ones either. This is all well and good. I do not personally appreciate people invoking the name of God when they don’t really mean it, especially when it comes out more or less without any care.

just a habit

Today after thinking about it, it hit me. I use His name in vain all the time.

Almost daily.

I was praying, and after I finished with my “In Jesus’ name, Amen,” I realized I didn’t mean half of what I had just said. I mean, I meant it in my head, but I didn’t really mean it in my heart. When I pray, I am speaking to my Father. Not any father at that, but one that I do not deserve! I am thanking Him for what He has done, petitioning Him to bring healing into someone’s life. At least that’s what should be happening.

Instead, more often than I’d care to admit, the effect is something like, “Hey, Jesus, how’s it goin? Hey, I’m sorry for that stuff I did. I won’t do it again (but I probably will). Oh, and by the way, can you take care of this person for me?

Thanks, man! I’ll holla at you later.”

I don’t mean to sound blunt, but when I finish praying, that’s what I felt like the heart of my prayer was, even though it sounded more “spiritual”. Then to top it off, I added “In Jesus’ name” to the end.

then it hit me...

“How dare you use My Son’s name so flippantly?

His name is not just a name. It’s not just something we say. It has power. It has strength. It has victory. He said himself that if we ask anything *anything* in His name, He will do it.

I think there is much, much more to His name than we realize. It’s no wonder the Jews didn’t write out God’s name. They realized the power in it. Somehow I lost it, or maybe I never really had it
I want it back.