In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. —Genesis 1:1-2  

The book of Genesis is the book of beginnings. 

In Genesis, God reveals Himself to humanity through His creation and He enables us to get a  glimpse of His divine characteristics. 

Although we will never have the mind of God to understand or explain the details or inner workings of creation, God, in His grace, still intimately reveals Himself to us.

God reveals Himself as our eternal God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – present before there was a beginning and continuing into eternity without an ending. 

God reveals Himself as our infinite and incomprehensible God, infinite in His power, His wisdom, and His knowledge. Our holy God creates and provides everything we need with His unlimited power for His divine purposes. 

God reveals Himself as our omniscient and all-powerful God, Creator of all things.  

By Him and through Him, everything is perfectly designed, perfectly planned, and perfectly organized.

Finally, God reveals Himself as our loving and compassionate Father graciously including us in His divine plan for intimate relationship with Him. 

Ephesians 1:4 says, “For He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in His sight in love.”

Where were you when God created the heavens and the earth? The answer might surprise you. Ephesians 1:4 tells us that believers were chosen by God before the foundation of the world. 

In the beginning, when there was only God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, you and I were there in the heart and mind of God. We were chosen!

Before God created the heavens and the earth.

Before there was a world.

Before there was humanity.

Before there was sin.

Before God’s divine plan for the world was ever created, we were a part of it.

What an amazing difference it makes to know that we were chosen by God before the foundation of the world! 

It means that you and I were not an accident, a mistake, or an afterthought. 

You and I were in the heart and mind of God in the beginning.

Because God chose us from the very beginning, we reflect Him when we choose Him in our beginning. 

We have the opportunity to choose God in the beginning of our day, of our plans, of our relationships, and of our circumstances. We can center God in our hearts and minds, right at the beginning!

As we read through Genesis and through the rest of God’s Word, we must remember to see ourselves as God sees us: His chosen daughters. 

God graciously set His love upon us in the beginning.

God mercifully provided a plan of redemption for us in the beginning.

God lovingly provided purpose for us in the beginning.

God secured our position in Christ for all of eternity. 

Before creation.

Before time.

Before the foundation of the world, God chose us in Christ because of His unending love and grace.

In the very beginning.

Peace and grace to you,

Week 1 Challenge:

Spend time this week enjoying God’s creation. If you can, spend time away from anything human-made. Listen to the sounds of nature. Enjoy His creation without capturing it with a photograph. What do you learn about God by observing creation?

Week 1 Reading Plan

Week 1 Memory Verse

Have you purchased your In the Beginning Bible study journal yet? Not only will you find all of the daily reading passages and SOAP journaling pages, but you’ll have each of the daily devotions in printed form–no need to check the app on your phone while working through your study!

Don’t forget, the Bridge Reading Plan is only available in the printed journals! The Bridge is a two-week long reading plan designed to bridge the gap between two studies. In the In the Beginning journal you’ll find the Bridge Reading Plan along with two weeks of SOAP journaling pages and daily Scripture reading! Don’t miss this! The Bridge reading plans will walk through the entire Book of Psalms during 2021. This plan is found only in the study journals, so grab one today! You don’t want to miss out!

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Terria Moore

Terria Moore serves on the Love God Greatly encouragement team. She is a Georgia native, but currently lives in Virginia with her husband. She is a lover of naps, Oreos, and, especially, Jesus. Her passion is to ignite a generation of millennial women to grab hold of God’s truth and cling tightly. By day, she works serving patients tirelessly in local military hospitals. At night, she loves to read and write about the lessons and love that God has poured out in her life. Despite the tumultuous circumstances of Terria’s life, God always shows Himself strong and loving.