Neville Turley

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;    male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV)

When God made us in his own image, he planted within us an awareness of his presence. Paul explained why he did so. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

God designed us to interact with him.  However humankind has more often than not got it horribly wrong. Instead of turning to God, they have in their folly ignored him and instead worshipped what he created.

The earth, sun, moon, invisible deities, idols of their own making, false gods and fellow humans have all been objects of veneration to whom humans have prayed.  By so doing, they contemptuously rejected the one true God and justly merited his anger.

Jesus taught that the first priority of every believer must always be to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”(Matthew 22:37-38)

It is through prayer that our relationship with God grows and flourishes. Prayer enables us to be in communion with God. It is God’s way of communicating with us on a one to one basis, leading us through the Holy Spirit and showering us with blessings.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father thank you that you embedded within us a desire for your presence and an awareness of your love. May we through the Holy Spirit embrace that love in Jesus name and reflect it in our relationship with others.  Amen