“A Lifestyle of Prayer”
The Birth of the World!
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Genesis 1:1-2 (NIV)
This week our prayer emphasis will focus on the birth announcement of everything as God speaks all creation into being. As I read the creation account recorded in the Bible, and live from a perspective of taking God at His word, it is a little surprising to me how much controversy exists about the origin of all things. I’ve heard many of the arguments that people get caught up in, and I’m not convinced they are really worthy of the division they cause. While Genesis contains a great account of creation, my favorite creation narrative is written by John . . . “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God . . . “. As you pray this week, ask God help you to know Jesus as the Word of God who created all things. Pray that you would see the power of God’s Word as you consider all that was simply spoken into existence. Pray that you would know the uniqueness of man and woman individually, and together as one created in the image of God.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
Please pray each day for for a greater appreciation for the creative work of God in the world.
Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church. Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.
Monday: The Birth of Day and Night. Pray with thankfulness for the ebb and flow between day and night. Pray that you would know the value of times to work and times to rest. Pray that those around you would know God as the source of day and night. “God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day.” Genesis 1:5 (NIV)
Tuesday: The Birth of Heavens and Earth. Pray about how God would reveal Himself to you through the power of His word separating all existence into land and sky. Pray for eyes which see the work of God displayed throughout all creation. “God called the expanse ‘sky.’ And there was evening, and there was morning — the second day.” Genesis 1:8 (NIV)
Wednesday: The Birth of Land, Seas, and Plants. Pray for eyes which see the wonder of God in all of the plants of the world. Pray for increased knowledge of God’s design and purpose of all the plant life He created. “The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:12 (NIV)
Thursday: The Birth of Sun, Moon, and Stars. Pray that your understanding of the elements of light would grow into a greater praise of God. Pray that you would see the mighty hand of God displayed throughout the visible universe and the many ways we have of observing it. “God made two great lights–the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.” Genesis 1:16 (NIV)
Friday: The Birth of Birds of the Air and Fish of the Seas. Pray that you would see how God’s creation of all the birds and fish show glimpses of His own beauty and creativity. Pray that you would respect that which God has created. “So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:21 (NIV)
Saturday: The Birth of Animals of the Land and Man and Woman. Pray that you would know the uniqueness of God creating man and woman to work together in ruling over, and caring for all of creation. Pray that you would value yourself, and others, as individuals made in the image of God and that your life would display that image. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” Genesis 1:26 (NIV)
