The First Day

I have decided to begin my Bible reading at the beginning this year, for no other reason than I couldn’t settle on where to start. What an opening! God is working with a dark, blank canvas, about to design and form everything that we see as life on planet earth and beyond. Artists, engineers and inventors create out of man-made materials, but God creates out of nothing with His word. This truth has caused a child-like question to rise up in my mind today, and I have dared to ask my Father for an answer. Which really came first, the chicken or the egg?

Questions are a natural part of our humanity. We like knowing what makes things tick, and we especially like knowing what is ahead. When young, my children used to ask me questions relentlessly, simply because they were inquisitive, but also a bit fearful of the unknown. Our Father has given us brilliant minds, and I believe desires to answer our questions and reveal His plans and purposes for us, just as I answered my children, helping them to feel safe in their lack of understanding.

Genesis 1:20-23 has settled the egg and chicken question for me. I don’t see God creating eggs, but animals and birds and great creatures of the sea. For the One who utters, and nothing becomes something, there is no creative limitation. He simply speaks what He has designed in His heart and there it is! You will have to sort that one out for yourself.

This first day of creation was full of promise, creativity, hope and a future, even though it was not visible yet. The Spirit of God was hovering in preparation, waiting for the powerful utterance of God to form that which we know as light, in order for His purpose of time to come into being. From His vantage point God sees this first moment to the very last. Therefore, it makes sense for us to seek Him for our future, as His children and His Bride.

Many of us will be looking back to last year with hindsight and fresh understanding as to why some of our hopes and prayers for 2020 couldn’t seem to get any momentum. Let’s begin again, knowing that God’s mercies are new each and every morning (Lamentations 3:23), and that everything we need for 2021 can be found in Him. He is only good. Psalm 43:10 is a beautiful Scripture to memorise and pray. ‘Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground’.

Prayer: Father, Your divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of You who called us by Your own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3). Thank You. I come as a student this year, longing for You to teach me and lead me by Your good Spirit. I welcome You to hover over and prepare my heart to receive Your Word for the times in which we live. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.