First15 Devotional

As we continue our series, allowing God to prepare us as the new year approaches, today we’ll make space for God to create new beginnings in our lives.

Every one of us needs a new beginning in some way, a fresh start in some area of our life. And this season heading into the new year is a perfect time to allow God to fill us with new life.

May you get a real sense of redemption and grace today as we seek the heart of God together.

Our Scripture for today comes from Lamentations 3:22-24, and today's worship is Whisper by Jason Upton.

Thank you for listening to today’s devotional. 

Has this podcast been a blessing to you? You can help make this a blessing for others as well, by giving a year-end donation to ensure we can continue producing this show and reach even more listeners in 2024.

First15 has set a $378,160 goal to be reached by December 31 so that together, we can end the year strong and help more people connect with God in 2024. 

So I want to ask you to give a generous gift to help reach the goal. And right now your gift will be DOUBLED by a $65,000 Matching Grant provided by a generous friend of the ministry..

Your gift today will help First15 produce more children’s versions of our devotionals to help the next generation connect with God; and produce new releases of First15 music for more powerful moments of worship as well as create more in-depth prayer videos. All of this is in addition to the continued release of the daily devotionals that are experienced by nearly 2 million believers in email, podcast, web and app format.

Go to supportfirst15.org to give today. That’s supportfirst15.org. Thank you for your support, and may God bless you as you seek him.

As this year comes to a close, it’s vital that we take time to both reflect on what God has done and allow him to prepare us for what’s to come. A new year marks a fresh opportunity to center our lives around the goodness of God. I pray that as you begin looking toward what is to come you will make space to gain God’s perspective, ground your hopes and pursuits on his grace, and celebrate all that God has done and is doing. May your time with God this week be filled with the loving presence of your heavenly Father.

Our Scripture for today comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1, and today's worship is The Farmer and the Field by Jason Upton. 

Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, the first in our 6 day wrap up of this years devotionals. 

I truly believe that God has so much he wants to do in this small season in between Christmas and New Years. He has specific ways he wants to speak to you, guide you, and re-envision you for the year that’s to come. 

So make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you won’t miss an episode. 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.

Whatever is happening in your life today, there is joy to be found in the reality that Christ came for you, wants to make his presence known in your life, and that he will come again.

Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Peter 1:8, and today's worship is Joy to the World + Joy Of The World by Naomi Raine, Todd Galberth, Mav City Gospel Choir.

Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, Overflowing Joy. And Merry Christmas to you and your family. 

If you’re looking for another reflection on what Christmas means, and how you can soak up all of the goodness of today in the midst of the busyness, I’ve just written a fresh blog for our website. You can find a link in the description below. 

I hope your Christmas is filled with joy, peace, and all the goodness of Christ’s presence in your life. Merry Christmas, and may God bless you as you seek him.

Christmas is a time where we as believers celebrate God’s heart to write himself into our story. Prior to Jesus we had no real picture of God’s love. All we had to know him by was through stories of old and commandments written into law. But only in Jesus was a pathway created whereby we could walk in intimacy with the Father again. Only in Jesus was the veil torn allowing God’s manifest presence into the earth. We owe all that we have to Jesus. We owe all that we have to Christmas.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 6:51, and today's worship is Noel by Chris Tomlin feat Lauren Daigle. 

Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast, the first in our two-day celebration of Christmas. 

As you go about your day, looking forward to the joy of Christmas day tomorrow, try and take a few moments to simply let God be with you. Allow the truth of what Christmas is all about to invade your reality, celebrating the fact that Jesus came for you by allowing him to make his presence known in a real way today. 

May these days draw you ever closer to Emmanuel, God with you, this Christmas. 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.

As we finish our week on drawing near to God this Advent season, today we’ll focus outward on how we can carry the presence of Christ into our spheres of influence. We have learned this week that God is with us always and available to us at all times. There is never a time he isn’t by your side, and you have the profound privilege of carrying his presence with you everywhere you go. As you practice sensitivity, God will be faithful to show up and move in amazing ways. May this Christmas season be blessed beyond measure as you seek to show the world his love.

Our Scripture for today comes from 1 John 4:17. Today's worship is Make Me A Vessel by Vessel Collective.

Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, the last in our week-long focus on drawing near. 

Tomorrow we’re starting a quick two day series focusing specifically on Christmas. My hope and prayer is that these next two devotionals really root and ground us in the goodness of God, and equip us to soak up every bit of God’s goodness in these two wonderful days. 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him. 

As we begin to wrap up our week on drawing near to God, today we’ll explore what it means to draw from the endless well of living water and life available to us in Christ. In a season where consumerism is at an all-time high, God is inviting us to draw from his wellsprings of life for true satiation and satisfaction in him. Allow God to remind you afresh today of his love and ability to meet every need and longing in your heart.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 4:10, and today's worship is Endless by Cory Asbury.  

Thank you for listening to today’s devotional. 

Has this podcast been a blessing to you? You can help make this a blessing for others as well, by giving a year-end donation to ensure we can continue producing this show and reach even more listeners in 2024.

First15 has set a $378,160 goal to be reached by December 31 so that together, we can end the year strong and help more people connect with God in 2024. 

So I want to ask you to give a generous gift to help reach the goal. And right now your gift will be DOUBLED by a $65,000 Matching Grant provided by a generous friend of the ministry..

Your gift today will help First15 produce more children’s versions of our devotionals to help the next generation connect with God; and produce new releases of First15 music for more powerful moments of worship as well as create more in-depth prayer videos. All of this is in addition to the continued release of the daily devotionals that are experienced by nearly 2 million believers in email, podcast, web and app format.

Click the link in the show notes or go to supportfirst15.org to give today. That’s supportfirst15.org. Thank you for your support, and may God bless you as you seek him.

How often are you alone with God? Truly alone, pulled away from the rest of the world, in the quiet and stillness of his presence? I believe God is beckoning his people this holiday season to experience his Immanuel, God with us, nearness. Our souls need it, and God longs for it. Just as you desire to experience his presence and peace, God wants to experience your nearness too, simply because he loves you. May you be encouraged and motivated today to get truly alone with the Father in these days.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 1:14, and today's worship is Jesus, You're Beautiful by Jason Upton.

Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast, Solitude with Emmanuel. 

The older I get, the more I realize how hard solitude is to come by. As my home is filled with kids, and work gets busier and busier, it can be so difficult to make space to simply be quiet with God. But I’m also learning that the harder it gets, the more important it probably is. 

So as you go about your day today, take time to simply recognize your need for quiet. And if possible, find little moments throughout your day where you can make some space to rest in solitude. 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.

In the midst of this crazy season, it is important to remain sensitive to the Spirit of God. It can be so easy to miss out on the uniqueness of this Advent season because we get busy serving, celebrating, shopping. We are all guilty of it. But I can promise you, if you commit yourself to practicing sensitivity this Advent season, you will be so blessed for it.

Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 5:15-17, and today's worship is Whisper by Jason Upton.

Thank you for listening to today’s devotional. 

Has this podcast been a blessing to you? You can help make this a blessing for others as well, by giving a year-end donation to ensure we can continue producing this show and reach even more listeners in 2024.

First15 has set a $378,160 goal to be reached by December 31 so that together, we can end the year strong and help more people connect with God in 2024. 

So I want to ask you to give a generous gift to help reach the goal. And right now your gift will be DOUBLED by a $65,000 Matching Grant provided by a generous friend of the ministry..

Your gift today will help First15 produce more children’s versions of our devotionals to help the next generation connect with God; and produce new releases of First15 music for more powerful moments of worship as well as create more in-depth prayer videos. All of this is in addition to the continued release of the daily devotionals that are experienced by nearly 2 million believers in email, podcast, web and app format.

Go to supportfirst15.org to give today. That’s supportfirst15.org. Thank you for your support, and may God bless you as you seek him.

Sometimes we just need a reminder that things with God are simple, and the weight of our experiencing God is not on us or dependent upon our ability to be spiritual. Jesus wants to remind us today of how he is pursuing our hearts in this life, and all we need to do is say yes. May you find God today as you open your heart to him, and experience the rest that his presence brings.

Our Scripture for today comes from 1 John 4:19, and today's worship is Come Closer by Mark & Sarah Tilman. 

Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast. 

Across all our platforms we’re taking time today to give our readers and listeners a way to support this space for God’s presence. Resources like this daily devotional are funded entirely by our readers. So if God has been moving in your life, and in the lives of others around you, consider supporting First15 today so we can put this resource in the hands of someone else just like you. 

Go to supportfirst15.org to give today to First15 today 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.

As we spend the week focusing on drawing near to God this Christmas season, today we’ll explore a fun concept. Every morning is like Christmas morning when you know and walk with God. God is so, so good. And he desires for us to walk in the gifts of his goodness all the days of our lives. May we reorient our thinking so that each morning with God is more exciting than the next as we experience afresh his love and kindness.

Our Scripture for today comes from Lamentations 3:22-23, and today's worship is Morning Song by Steffany Gretzinger.

Thanks for listening to today’s podcast, the second in our week-long focus on drawing near to God. 

As you go about your day today, what’s one way you can create some space to receive gifts from God throughout your day? Maybe it’s pausing for a moment at the start of every hour, taking a deep breath, and letting God in. Whatever it is, may you find joy and purpose in the gifts of God given to you out of his love for you. 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.