Photo: Gathered in His Name group members (back to front: Nicole, Laura, David, Titi, Adelaide and Andrea) pictured along with Eddie Evans (gray shirt) who they met at Great Falls park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, on June 20, 2026.

“How manifold are Your works, O Lord! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.” -Psalm 104:24, NIV

On Saturday, June 20, six of us gathered at Great Falls park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River for a morning of worship, prayer, and reflection. Just 25 minutes from the Washington, D.C., metro area, Great Falls is a place to slow down and rest in the beauty of God’s creation. Our purpose was to worship Elohim, Creator of heaven and earth.

Adelaide and Nicole reading about God’s name Elohim, from the book Praying Through the Names of God by Dr. Tony Evans.

We began by taking turns reading Psalm 104 aloud. There is something powerful about hearing the Word of God read together (Romans 10:17). Psalm 104 is one of Scripture’s great hymns of creation, celebrating not only that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, but that He continues to sustain all that He has made. Its structure mirrors the creation account in Genesis, reminding us that the Lord’s wisdom, power, and ongoing care are evident throughout creation. As the psalmist declares, “How manifold are Your works, O Lord! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.” (Psalm 104:24, NIV). Following our Scripture reading, we prayed through the first chapter of Dr. Tony Evans’s Praying Through the Names of God on Elohim, the very first name of God revealed in Genesis 1:1. The name Elohim reveals God’s sovereign power as Creator. Christians have long seen in Elohim, grammatically plural, a foreshadowing of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit working together in perfect unity.

Every prayer invites our Creator to continue His creative work according to His perfect will. When we pray for salvation, we ask Him to create new life. When we pray for healing, we ask Him to restore what has been broken. When we pray for peace, we ask Him to quiet anxious hearts. And when we pray for open doors, we ask Him to create opportunities that do not yet exist.

As I reflect on that morning, I considered what several theologians have written about creation and our Creator. Bishop Robert Barron observes that God did not create because He lacked anything. God is completely self-sufficient. Rather, creation is the overflowing expression of His goodness, His joy, and His love. This truth gives us tremendous confidence when we pray. We are not persuading a reluctant God to act. We are coming before a loving Father who delights to give good gifts to His children. Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible that the creation psalms ultimately direct our attention beyond creation itself to the Creator who revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. We know the Creator because we know the Redeemer. Creation and redemption are not separate stories. They reveal the same God whose love is fully displayed in Christ. The God who created the heavens and the earth is the same God who entered His creation to redeem it.

As we walked the Great Falls trails, we meditated on Scripture and prayed. Surrounded by towering sycamores, poplars, and oaks lining the Potomac River, we marveled at how God’s creation reflects His Word. Adelaide, a founding member of our group, drew our attention to the imagery in Jeremiah 17 of trees planted by streams of water, whose roots run deep and whose leaves do not wither. We were also reminded of Isaiah’s promise that God’s people would become “oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” Crossing the bridge above the rushing Potomac, we reflected on Scripture’s use of rivers as images of the Holy Spirit and the life He brings. As we watched the river surge through the gorge, we were reminded that God’s creative power never ceases. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation continues His creative work today, bringing life, renewal, transformation, and hope.

Gathered in His Name group members enjoying the beauty and majesty of God’s great creation at Great Falls park!

Arriving at one of the scenic overlooks, where the Potomac River plunges nearly 76 feet to produce one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in our region, we asked a gentleman nearby if he would take a group picture of us. He smiled and said, “I’d be happy to. I love your shirts. Can I ask you all for prayer?” He introduced himself as Eddie Evans. He was visiting from North Carolina and had come to Great Falls for the same reason we had: to enjoy God’s creation. Eddie shared that he was a pastor involved in planting churches in Ethiopia. We joined hands and prayed for God to strengthen, guide, and protect him. We prayed for wisdom, endurance, good health, and for the Lord to continue to advance His Kingdom through Eddie’s ministry.

Then Eddie prayed for us. Without knowing anything about our devotional that morning, he began with worship. “Hallelujah… Hallelujah…” He praised God for the river, the trees, the birds, and everything surrounding us. His prayer echoed the very truths we had spent the morning meditating on in Psalm 104 and reflected the same pattern we had seen throughout Scripture. Before God’s people bring their requests, they first worship their Creator. It was an unmistakable affirmation that God had orchestrated this Kairos moment long before any of us arrived at the overlook. How manifold are Your works, O Lord!

One verse near the end of John’s Gospel has always struck me: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25, NIV) The Creator’s work did not end in Genesis nor did it end with Jesus’ earthly ministry. His creative work continues today! Our prayer is that many more would come to know not only Elohim, Creator of heaven and earth, but also Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. May God continue His creative work in each of us. May He create pure hearts that seek Him, bold disciples who proclaim the gospel, new opportunities to advance His Kingdom, and new life through His Son.

To Him alone be all glory, honor, and praise.

-Andrea