January 1

Genesis 1

The first chapter of Genesis reveals God as Creator of the universe.

INSIGHT

In the beginning, God! That is the way it is throughout the Bible. “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). “Every knee [will] bow…every tongue [will] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11). God wants to be first and foremost_in your life. He is the Author of the first creation, and He is the Author of the new creation in your heart. In the first creation, the wind and the waves obey the Lord – they have no choice. In the new creation, there is a choice: to obey or not to obey – the pleasures of sin for a moment or the favor of fellowship for a lifetime. Have you chosen to put God first in your life? Not to decide is to decide.

PRAYER

Continue your time with the Lord by praising God through these psalms:
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth (Psalm 115:1).
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night (Psalm 92:1-2).

Now pray this confession to the Lord to keep your life in fellowship with Him:
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions (Psalm 51:1).

As you confess your sins, voice your affirmation of God’s Word:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
(Colossians 1:15-16)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Faithfulness with your time
• The president, national leaders, and national affairs
• Your prayer list

Offer this prayer of worship to the Lord:
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! (Psalm 90:14).