Praying through the Bible with Lindsey - Genesis 1

Read the Bible passage, then see the following prayer to take inspiration on how you might pray through this Scripture.

 

Genesis 1:1-2:3

(English Standard Version)

 

The Creation of the World

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

⁶ And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” ⁷ And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. ⁸ And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

⁹ And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

¹¹ And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. ¹² The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

¹⁴ And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, ¹⁵ and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. ¹⁶ And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. ¹⁷ And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

²⁰ And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” ²¹ So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

²⁴ And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. ²⁵ And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

²⁷ So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

²⁸ And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” ²⁹ And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. ³⁰ And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. ³¹ And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

The Seventh Day, God Rests

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ² And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. ³ So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Prayer for Genesis 1

1-2) Lord, You created me. In the beginning of my life, You hovered over my shapeless body before I was born. You hovered over my conscience as I grew, waiting patiently for me to acknowledge the sin in my life. Now that I know I’m sinful, You still hover in my times of darkness while I’m coming to terms with hard things in life. I’m so grateful You’ve been there since the beginning. I’m so grateful You are always nearby.

3-5) I’m so grateful You have shared Your light with me. Jesus, Your Word, all of You continue to show me the right path because You light the way for me. I don’t have to live in darkness because You are light and You chose me and waited for me. You look at me through Jesus and say I’m good enough and worth Your sacrifice. I am so grateful this is the truth day and night. Continue to point out the darkness in my life. I want Your light to shine through; I don’t want to be consumed by darkness any longer.

6-10) Sometimes, the darkness that plagues my life makes me feel like I’m drowning. Like a storm over a sea that never ends. I have nothing to hold on to but Your truths. Thank You for giving me a firm foundation when I’m being tossed about by raging thoughts and uncontrolled feelings. You, above all, are stability for my soul. Because our world is broken, I know when one trial is over, another one isn’t far behind, so remind me day and night to look heaven-bound for dry ground.

11-13) Thank You for all the nourishment You provide through Your Word. You feed me daily through the Holy Spirit. Without Your provision, I would be turned back into the dust from which You formed me. Lord, Your Word and Spirit provide shade and shelter when I cannot handle things, and I am forever grateful. Thank You for protecting daily me from all the harm from which I am unaware. You provide a hedge around my soul to help me avoid temptation. Where would I be without You? Every day, You care for me!

14-19) I am so grateful You also provide people in my life. In my times of happiness and contentment-when all things are sunshine and roses-You provide people to celebrate with me, bless me, cheer me on; they show Your love to me. In my seasons of darkness, it is the same. My friends mourn with me, bless me, encourage me, and offer boundless love that can only come from You. Your Word and Spirit provide all these things, but You use Your people to deliver that light sometimes. I cannot thank you enough for all the people in all my seasons of life that walk with You and help me grow in You. And Lord, those people fail me sometimes, but I am encouraged because no matter how many times a person fails me, You will not. When there is no moon, I still see stars. I know that tomorrow. the sun will rise. and light will fill my soul once again. You never ever leave me in darkness to suffer alone. You are with me day and night to provide hope when I cannot see it.

20-25) How wonderful are the things You have made, Lord! I find peace and inspiration when I’m surrounded by Your creations. When I see the beauty of Your animals, I can only stand in awe of Your power. Thank You for giving us animals to tend and care and love. I find entertainment, delight, and even companionship in Your creatures. They fill my soul to the brim (and my belly!) When the world is full of chaos, it’s so comforting to watch birds make their nests and feed their young without a care in the world. It’s like they know You’re in control. What a gift! Everything my physical body and mind could need, You provide for me through animals. Help me to honor them as Your creations. Remind me to raise them with Your care and Your guidance.

26-31) You made us in Your image. I want to be like You! I want to create! I want to be part of someone’s new life. Send people my way that I can bless, encourage, help, and share You! Help me to be the light to someone else. I want others to see light in me so that You may be glorified, and they may glorify You too! I want to make disciples, to multiply for Your kingdom! Help me to use Your Word and Spirit to teach those around me how You protect us, feed us, provide stability, beauty, and companionship. I want to work in Your kingdom. Show me what to do! I’m ready! I know You’ll give me everything I need to help grow Your kingdom. I need seeds, fertile ground, help to water, protection from danger – all the things to grow people for You. Tell me what my part is. Growing a family to serve You? Watering what someone else has planted? Protecting those around me with accountability? Your servant is in the garden and ready! Your plan for this world is so good. Your Kingdom is good. What You have made in this world to share with us will be restored into the goodness You made it to be.

2:1-3) One day, Your world will be complete. We will be whole again. There will be no more destruction, and everything will be restored to Your standard of perfection. And when that happens, we will finally rest. There will be rest from oceans of trials we faced. There will be rest from the darkness of sin. There will be rest from Adam’s curse. How can I ever thank You for this?! I don’t deserve this, yet You sought me from my birth to join You until Your completion of me and the earth. I can’t fathom a world without darkness and a world without a sea, but I trust You. And I will run towards that all of my days. I want to rest in You now and with You for eternity.

 

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