Day 1 - In the beginning

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:1-3 (New International Version)

We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.

Colossians 1:15-17 (The Message)

In the beginning…

The phrase alone gives hope. “In the beginning” suggests a time of fresh starts and clean slates. It’s a place where you can be anything you want to be without lugging around the oversized baggage of a fractured past. A blank page waiting to be written on. A fresh life waiting to be lived.

So it’s no wonder that God begins His book with “In the beginning…” He creates a brand new world that He quickly fills with earth and sky, water and land, flora and fauna. And then, towards the end of that first week, God creates man. The Bible teaches that God created man and woman “in His image.” It’s as though God is saying right from the start, “These people are important to me. I want them to have the capacity to know me and to be known by me.”

Value.

Meaning.

Purpose.

Long before the first couple rebelled against their Creator, God breathed into them a life filled with meaning. His desire is, and has always been, for His creation to know Him. In the seventeenth chapter of John’s testimony of Jesus, he records a prayer spoken by God’s Son. Jesus prays, " Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” Imagine – Jesus sums up all of eternal life, not with works or “right” behavior, but with knowing God and His Son Jesus.

As we begin this 21-day prayer journey, let’s begin with perspective. God’s desire is not that you pray as a means of getting things from God, though He has good gifts that He longs to give to His children. God’s desire is not that you learn a system of rules and regulations, though He has standards that He longs for His children to embrace. God’s primary desire in prayer is for us to spend time developing the relationship that we were created for “in the beginning.”

Also, as a means of support, you may find it helpful to have a friend, family member or co-worker keep you accountable during the next 21 days. Simply ask them to ask you each day for the next three weeks if you have prayed that day. Having someone to spur you on will help you accomplish your goal and, hopefully, develop a habit of prayer.

As you pray today, allow the following prompters to fuel your conversation with God.

• Spend some time thanking God for making you and giving you the capacity to know Him.
• Thank God for what Jesus did in restoring the relationship that was broken because of our sin.
• Ask God to help you view your life, your family, your job and your future from His perspective of value and purpose.
• Ask God to help you stay focused and on track through this 21-day journey.
• Ask God to give you someone to spur you on to completing this journey.
• Thank God for this time with Him and for going with you through the rest of your day.