The Beginning

Our Father, our Maker: Your Son, Jesus taught us to call You our Father in heaven, so that we not think of our earthly fathers when praying to You. Yet You, O God created the heavens and stretch them out as a tent (Ps. 104:2) and indeed the heaven of heavens cannot contain You [1 Kings 8:27]!

You work. You work methodically, in an orderly way. Your wisdom defies description!

You make and evaluate and name. You show Your power, Your wisdom and Your love. By making You are Owner, by calling, “good,” to give honor and purpose, and by naming You put in relationship to Yourself.

Prayer (Mark 1:1-13):

O Son of God, You are from the beginning (John 1:1). O Christ, You are He who was promised down the ages to God’s people, even those like me who cannot trace their ancestors back to Abraham, but can call themselves descendants of the woman, of Eve. O Jesus, You were conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; You came down from heaven … and were made man. Your gospel begins with the prophets, down to John the Baptist. It begins in the wilderness: not made nor evaluated or truly named (and certainly not tamed) by people, but neither having the purity and peace of the Garden. It is a place outside Eden, a howling place, a place of testing, a place where life is by faith. Yet not God-forsaken, but there’s a voice and a body clothed like Elijah and water and both confession of and forgiveness of sins. You, Lord Jesus Christ baptize Your people with the Holy Spirit. You are Your Father’s beloved Son. For You alone are very good, and yet You were propelled by the Spirit into the howling, tempting wilderness! Bless You for enduring Satan and being served by the holy angels.

Thanksgiving

Prayer (Genesis 1:1-19):

Thank You

Prayer (Mark 1:1-13):

Thank You

Confession

Forgive me

Prayer (Mark 1:1-13):

Forgive me

Petition

Prayer (Genesis 1:1-19):

O Creator

Prayer (Mark 1:1-13):

O Holy Trinity

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