The Lord's Prayer
Daily Bible Studies for the Week of June 15, 2009
This Week’s Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:4 NLT
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
6Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” 7And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. 8God called the space “sky.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.
9Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. 10God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. 12The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. 13And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.
14Then God said, “Let great lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them mark off the seasons, days, and years. 15Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. 16God made two great lights, the sun and the moon—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, 18to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.
20Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” 21So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. 22Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.
24Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. 25God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
26Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
29Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. 31Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
1So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. 2On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. 4This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.
Monday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I confess that YOU and YOU alone are the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Before You, there was nothing. Because of You, all that exists came to be! I praise You for being the one, true and living God, and ask You to fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may live boldly in Your name. This I ask through Jesus Christ, our living Lord! Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
6Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” 7And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. 8God called the space “sky.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day. Genesis 1:1-8 NLT
What does today’s Scripture tell us about HOW everything was created? Does this conflict with science? Why or why not? What difference does it make to you if it does conflict?
Today’s Challenge: I will live with boldness as a child of God, because I know that He created all that exists out of nothing, and He cares for me!
Tuesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the beauty of Your creation, and pray that today you will challenge me to pause and thank You for it’s majesty and beauty. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
9Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. 10God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. 12The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. 13And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day. Genesis 1:9-13 NLT
Why do you think God chose the ORDER He chose in which to create the universe and all it contains?
Today’s Challenge: I will pause to reflect on the majesty and beauty of God’s creation as I go about this day!
Wednesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the amazing gift of a “larger and smaller light” to “govern” the day and the night. I thank You for how intricately You created our world and yet how simply! Let me recognize the intricacy and simplicity of Your universe today, and give You thanks. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
14Then God said, “Let great lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them mark off the seasons, days, and years. 15Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. 16God made two great lights, the sun and the moon—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, 18to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day. Genesis 1:14-19 NLT
What difference does it make for your faith, that God is the one who created everything? Where is Jesus in this creation account?
Today’s Challenge: I will take time to notice the complexity and simplicity of God’s creation as I go about this day!
Thursday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the fish, birds and animals with which you have populated our world! I praise You for the amazing variety of creatures and for the obvious creativity in it all. Thank You for this additional blessing of Your creative activity. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
20Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” 21So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. 22Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day. Genesis 1:20-23 NLT
Why do you suppose that God created so MANY different kinds of creatures?
Today’s Challenge: I will pause to appreciate the variety of creatures God has created and give Him thanks for them!
Friday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for creating us in Your image! Thank You for entrusting the care of this planet to us. I pray that You will fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may be a faithful steward of all You have entrusted to me. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
24Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. 25God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
26Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
29Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. 31Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. Genesis 1:24-31 NLT
What do you see in the account of God creating human beings that makes us “special” in all of creation?
What additional responsibilities do we have that the other creatures were not given?
Today’s Challenge: I will take my role as a steward of God’s creation seriously and call on Him to empower me to be faithful!
Saturday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, the account of Your creative activity is amazing! I know that You didn’t need to “rest” on the seventh day, but that You created that day of rest for us. I pray that You will place on my heart the desire to take a Sabbath time each week, and that You will strengthen my will to do it. All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
1So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. 2On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. 4This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.
Why do you suppose that God created a Sabbath? How well do you do at observing a Sabbath each week?
Today’s Challenge: I will observe a Sabbath in my life this week, and truly rest from my work as God ordained for me to do!