O LORD God, Creator of heaven and earth, I come before Thee with reverence and awe, remembering the holy truth written in Thy Word: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” I worship Thee as the One who formed mankind with purpose, patience, and power. Thou art not distant from Thy creation; Thou art the God who shapes, the God who breathes, the God who gives life.

Lord, I confess that I often forget how dependent I am upon Thee. I forget that my strength is not my own, that my wisdom is limited, and that my days are not guaranteed. Yet Thy Word reminds me that I am dust, formed by Thy hand, upheld by Thy mercy. Humble my heart, LORD, and remove pride from me. Teach me to remember what I am without Thee: fragile, finite, and unable to create life in myself. And teach me also to remember what I am by Thy gift: a living soul, sustained by Thy breath.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground”—Father, thank Thee that Thou didst not despise the dust. Thou didst choose the lowly substance of the earth and didst form man. In the same way, I ask Thee to take the ordinary, the broken, and the unfinished places in my life and form them according to Thy will. Shape my character. Form my thoughts. Mould my desires. Let my choices reflect Thy holiness. Where I am hardened by bitterness, soften me. Where I am cracked by fear, mend me. Where I am scattered by distractions, gather me. Make me pliable in Thy hands, that I may become what Thou hast designed me to be.

“And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”—LORD, I thank Thee for the breath in my lungs, for every moment I inhale and exhale by Thy permission. I acknowledge that life itself is Thy gift. Breathe upon me anew, not only for my body, but for my inner man. When my faith feels weak, breathe life into it. When my love grows cold, breathe warmth into it. When my hope is threatened, breathe steadfastness into it. When I am weary in well doing, breathe endurance into it. Let Thy life-giving breath revive my heart when it is burdened, calm my spirit when it is troubled, and steady my mind when it is anxious.

“and man became a living soul”—LORD, thank Thee that I am more than a body of dust, more than a collection of days and duties. Thou hast made me a living soul with eternal significance. Help me to live with eternity in view. Deliver me from spending my life on things that cannot satisfy. Set my affection on things above, and grant me wisdom to number my days. Teach me to honor Thee with my time, my words, my labor, and my relationships, remembering that my soul matters—and that the souls of others matter also.

Father, I pray for cleansing and renewal. If I have sinned against Thee in thought, word, or deed, forgive me. Wash me and restore me. Do not let me treat lightly the life Thou hast given. I ask for a heart that is tender toward Thy voice and quick to obey. Let me walk in gratitude rather than complaint, in humility rather than arrogance, and in trust rather than fear.

LORD God, as Thou didst form man at the beginning, form me daily. As Thou didst breathe the breath of life, breathe upon me with spiritual strength and holy desire. As man became a living soul, let my soul live unto Thee—awake, attentive, and surrendered. May my life reflect the wonder of Thy creating hand and the mercy of Thy sustaining breath. I rest in Thee, the Maker of the dust and the Giver of life.

In Thy holy presence I pray, trusting Thee to form, to breathe, and to sustain. Amen.