First Fifteen

We kick off season two with a focus on praying one type of scripture, a gospel.  In this season we will journey with Jesus and get to know him in a whole new way.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matthew 1:18-25.  Matthew introduces us to Joseph, Mary and the prophecy about Jesus' birth and reassures us that not only does God save, but he is Immanuel, God with us.            

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel (link).

The four step process demonstrated in this episode is available here.

Get a copy of the book Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel (link) on Amazon (or ebook)

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

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In the morning we pray to God first, even if we can't string a decent sentence together, even if the deeds of the wicked drive us to distraction.  We center ourselves in God and cry out to him, certain he will listen.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, First Fifteen is the right place for you.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  It's the perfect way to get started!

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

This episode brings the first season to a close.  We've demonstrated over a wide range of Scripture how to hear it, meditate and turn it back to God in prayer.

Until the next season begins, you can go back and listen to earlier episodes you might have missed.

Read the full chapter where we only covered a portion (Genesis 5, Luke 21, James 4, Proverbs 26, Habakkuk 2, Mark 1, Colossians 2, John 11, Numbers 6, Deuteronomy 1)

Start praying through the Psalms (one a day) or through a Gospel

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

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The wilderness is a rough place to be, both literally and figuratively.  We're looking at Deuteronomy 1 where Moses talks to a younger generation in the desert as they prepare to enter the promised land. 

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, First Fifteen is the right place for you.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

Deuteronomy 1 is a "second telling of the law"  and it is filled with stories and reminders about living faithfully and learning to trust God. 

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

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What is heaven like? The Revelation of John gives us a glimpse in Revelation 4.  It blows the mind and speaks to our heart, and we are going there today.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, First Fifteen is the right place for you.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

Revelation 4 is filled with symbols, images and messages to encourage God's people amid intense persecution and suffering.  We're going to focus on how to pray a portion of John's vision. 

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

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God's Law is filled with surprises, including a beautiful prayer of blessing that he wants to speak over you.  We'll hear today from Numbers 6. 

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, First Fifteen is the right place for you.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

Numbers 6 is tucked between two longer sections of the law, but it's placement here is not an accident.  We will hear God's gracious blessing on us today.

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

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John 11 contains a profound sign that reveals Jesus' true nature but it also shows that he is not distant from us, especially in our times of pain and loss.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, First Fifteen is the right place for you.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

John 11 has the shortest verse in scripture, but it also has one of the deepest resonances with our own spirit.

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

Support the show

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Colossians 2:1-10.  Paul in his letter to the Colossian believers urges them to grow in their faith and find all their answers in Christ and not worldly beliefs or philosophies.           

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

Colossians 2:1-10

1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, which is Christ 3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. 4 Now I say this so that no one may deceive you with persuasive speech. 5 For though I am not present physically, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 

6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him, and being strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 

8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone take you captive through his philosophy and empty deceit, following human traditions, holding to the fundamental principles of the world, and not lining up with  Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10 and in him you are made complete; for he is the head over all rule and authority” .

Back to the Cross book or ebook

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Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. 

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  For details on the process listen to episode 1.* 

Featured scripture in this episode is Psalm 19.  The truth about the world and about humans is revealed in this ancient song that celebrates two different ways of knowing God's truth.         

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

* To get a two page helpsheet pdf that details the First Fifteen process, go here.

To get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms (click) or the ebook
Both of these contain a chapter on Psalm 19.

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Psalm 19 (translation by Ron Oltmanns)

1)  The heavens declare the glory of God, the expanse of sky proclaims what His hands have made.

2)  Day after day pours forth new words and night after night brings forth knowledge;

3)  yet there is no speaking and no words and no sound from all this silent testimony.

4)  Their message goes out over the whole earth and to the extremes of the world.
God made a place in the sky for the sun 5) which is like a joyful bridegroom coming out of his wedding chamber or like a confident strong man ready to run his race.

6)  Rising at one end of the sky and running its course to the other end, there is nothing that can be hidden from its glow.

7)  The teaching* (torah) of Yahweh is perfect, it gives new life and strength.  
The testimonies* of Yahweh can be trusted and give wisdom to the untrained and inexperienced.  

8)  The instructions* of Yahweh are right and straight, bringing joy to the heart.
The commands* of Yahweh are clean and pure, they make the eyes light up.

9)  The fear of Yahweh** is good and pure, it will last forever.
The judgments* of Yahweh are true, and they are always fair and “just right.”

10)  I desire Your law and word much more than great amounts of the purest refined gold.
They are sweeter than honey, the purest honey straight from the comb.

11)  I your servant am warned and instructed by Your commands, and in obeying them I am rewarded greatly.

12)  Who can see and understand his own errors?  No one can—free me from my hidden faults!

13)  Keep me safe also from willful sins I know are wrong; don’t let them make me their slave.  Then I will be blameless before You and free from serious sin.

14)  I pray that my words spoken and what I meditate on in my mind and heart are pleasing to You.  Yahweh, You are my rock of protection and the One who rescues and redeems me from sin.

*teaching (torah) vv. 7-9  Torah can mean teaching, instruction or law. 
*testimonies (edoth) v. 7 a witness or testimony
*instructions (piqqud ) v. 8 instruction, procedure, precept
*commands (mitzvah ) v. 8 commandment
*judgments (mishpat) v. 9 a legal requirement or a judgment given
**fear of Yahweh (yirath Yahweh) v. 9 – this could be an expression for God’s law, such as “the proper reverence and honor given to God”, though this would be unusual. 

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

Support the show

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Mark 1:1-15.  Mark may be the earliest written gospel of Jesus and we have a chance to hear his message of God's favor and new beginnings in a fresh way.         

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

Support the show

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Habakkuk 2.  We look at several verses in the first two chapters of Habakkuk's prophecy where he struggles with widespread evil and God's timescale for dealing with the wicked.         

Go ahead and get started listening and subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

Hababkkuk was a prophet at a time when Israel was facing a crisis.  He brings two complaints to God.  The first one is pretty simple:  “How long, Yahweh?  How long must I cry and you will not hear?  I cry to you “Violence!” and you don’t save.  Why do you make me look at these evil deeds and see all this misery?  Destruction and violence are around me, everywhere there is strife and contention rising. The law is paralyzed and there’s no justice.  The wicked stalk the righteous and justice is perverted.”

That’s his first complaint from Habakkuk 1:2-4.  How long, Yahweh, is evil going to have the upper hand?  Amazingly, Habakkuk gets an answer from God immediately!  But it was an answer that was most unexpected.  “Look among the nations and just watch.  Be stunned, be astonished!  I am doing a work in your day which you are not going to believe even if someone told you about it.  Just look! I’m raising up Babylon, a cruel and impetuous people…who are fearsome and terrifying, a law unto themselves…” (Hab 1:5-7).  God goes on to describe in detail just how big and bad, how heartless and violent they are in the next four verses.  

Habakkuk is dumbfounded.  He can’t believe what he’s hearing.  He raises his second complaint to God:  “Yahweh, you’re too pure to look on evil and stand by quietly while the wicked punish the righteous.  Are you really going to let Babylon continue their reign of terror and get away with it?” (1:12-17) The gist of it is what philosophers have asked for years since: God, you’re good, too good to let evil prevail. So why don’t you do something?

“Yahweh is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!”  (Hab 2:20)

Pray:  O Lord, what can we say but Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.  The whole earth is full of your glory!  Your glory covers the heavens and your praise fills the earth.  Your ways are eternal and you will not let the wicked win.  Evil will not have the final word because only you can speak it and you are good.  I will wait, and I will rejoice in you.  God, you are my strength and you will bring me up to the heights to be with you.  In faith I pray, Amen.

God Help Me Grow:  Learning to Pray through the Psalms  get it on Kindle

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

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