O my God, I trust in You;

Let me not be ashamed;

Let not my enemies triumph over me.

Psalm 25:2

On television home makeover shows, the people often react to the reveal by crying, “Oh, my God!”

“OMG” is a common social media acronym to show amazement about something. These initials stand for “Oh, my God.”

In the Bible, we see this expression used to cry out to God in either praise, thanksgiving, or petition, as in the Psalms of David. It is a way of addressing our Creator, showing respect and acknowledging our relationship to Him.

¹¹ ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Deuteronomy 5:11

When we cry out, “Oh, my God!” to express mild surprise or annoyance, or mindless excitement, with no thought of our Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient Creator, isn’t that a perfect example of using His name in vain?

The ancient Hebrews treated God’s very name with reverence and awe. When we trivialize references to our Lord, we undermine His presence in our lives.

Using this expression casually can become a habit that is difficult to break. Perhaps, whenever we find ourselves writing or uttering these words, or even the initials, we should complete the thought with words of praise and thanksgiving. We are, after all, calling upon God’s attention. Let’s give Him something worth listening to.

O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You;

Psalm 63:1