“O my God.” Do you use this expression? Do you ever think about why you use it? It is a common one in today’s lingo and, for the number of times that you hear it on a daily basis, you might be led to believe that Canada is a very Christian nation, calling on God as often as Canadians do. Except, however, for the way that this expression is used. In most cases, it is used as an expletive, spoken very expressively, with great punctuation, and without thought for its meaning. It is often used to express shock and amazement, but not typically in reference to God, who he is, and what he does.

 

In the Bible, King David used this phrase in a much different sense, in a very different context. In Psalm 40:8, he wrote:  “I desire to do your will, O my God, your law is within my heart,” as part of his prayer to God for help in a difficult situation. When David did so, he was expressing his devotion to God, the One he loved and served, the One he looked up to and respected, the One he trusted and confided in, the One with whom he had a very personal relationship. He was expressing unfailing dedication to the One he believed in as the King of kings, the Ruler Supreme, the Creator of heaven and earth, and his commitment to live according to God's standards.

 

Today, like David, many Christians still pray using the words “O my God”.  Any use of this expression other than in prayer takes it out of context and is a misuse of it. So, the next time you are inclined to use it, take a moment to reflect on whether you are doing so appropriately.