I am

"The 2 most powerful words in the english language are “I AM” Because what comes after I AM will shape your life"

   ~Dale Carnegie

I was listening to a reading of a lecture done by Neville Goddard (

 

He goes on to quote this commandment. 

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not [d]leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." exodus 20:7

 He goes on to say that the Name of God  (I AM) cannot be taken in vain. For anything that comes after it will be made true. Honestly I think he is coming from a misunderstanding of the phrase "in vain". When I looked up the phase in vain it came up as meaning the first meaning is "without success or result". I believe this is the understanding of the phrase. I think a more accurate understanding of the commandment is in the second definition which says "Lacking Substance or Worth" or even the third that says "Having or showing excessive pride in one's appearance or accomplishments" (being prideful). Now let me be clear I am not saying he is wrong, because according to the first definition. He is correct. Hence why you should "be careful what you put after those two words", because they will shape your life. But I believe he may have missed the mark. This is why

Beauty, Money, lavish things, a brand new Shepard stick (whatever material thing) these things can be described as good, and have their purpose. Being caught up in the exterior can put you in a trap. If your riches are based on material objects, or money, or your beauty. These things will fade. Money looses its value over time. Eventually that new thing will become obsolete. Even the feeling or high you recieve from gettting these things fade, and in turn you have to satisfy that urge again, and get the next new thing. ( which I have come understand is a waste of your money, even though I like new things as well, ) Exterior beauty fades to some and grows to others. You can say these things Lack any real substance, and are based on appearances. But to Say I am prosperous. Can take a life of its own in all areas of your life. In family, friendships, finding cures, living a healthy life, all sorts of ways. Saying something like I am Consistent, can take someone from many failure's to many successes. This is what I believe God means by taking his name in vain. Misusing it for things just of use, but no substance. Empty. There is nothing wrong with being Rich, if it serves a purpose. There are many bible characters who other people of their time would considered them rich, but I don't think that was their focus. I believe that when they thought of the wealth they had. I believe they thought of their relationship with God second, their family and how prosperous their tribe has been under God. How God took them from Rags to riches literally. Not any vain description. It was for the things of the mind and heart that they came to value, because these things stood the test of time. 

other versus that support the "I am" idea. Proverbs 4:23 "