Faith & Doubt

In the Beginning: Day One

Genesis 1:1-5

On the first day of creation God made light. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3). He separated the light from the darkness and called them day and night (Genesis 1:1-5).

God, in the beginning You spoke into the dark, and there was light. You saw that it was good. Where my life feels formless and empty, hover over it as Your Spirit hovered over the waters. Speak light into the dark places in me, and carry me through every evening into Your morning. Amen.

The Scripture

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”

— Genesis 1:1-5

Prayer points from Genesis 1:1-5

Thank God that He was there in the beginning, before anything else.

Name the place in your life that feels dark or unformed.

Ask His Spirit to be present over it, as He hovered over the waters.

Ask Him to speak light into that place.

Thank Him for the gift of evening and morning, rest and a new start.

Praise Him as the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

About this verse

These are the opening words of the Bible. Before any story of people, Genesis begins with God: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” What comes next is a picture of the world before it was ordered and filled. The earth was formless and void, and darkness covered the deep waters. Yet even there God was present, because the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God speaks for the first time in Scripture, and His first word brings light. He looks at the light and calls it good. He separates it from the darkness and gives each a name, day and night. The passage closes with a rhythm that will repeat through the whole chapter: there was evening, and there was morning. It is a prayer for anyone sitting in a dark or unformed season, waiting for God to speak.

When to pray this prayer

When your life feels formless and empty and you do not know where to begin

At the start of a new day, a new year, or a new chapter

When you are in a dark season and waiting for light

When you want to remember that God made everything and holds it still

At evening, when you are ready to give the day back to Him

In the Beginning: Day One

The Scripture

Prayer points from Genesis 1:1-5

About this verse

When to pray this prayer

More prayers on Genesis 1:1-5

More prayers for faith & doubt

Watch all of Genesis 1:1–2:3

Carry this quiet with you