First15 Devotional

As we reach the middle of our week-long focus on tilling the soil of our hearts, today we’re going to look at the power of Scripture in receiving all that God longs to give us. Within the pages of Scripture there is a wealth of stories all conveying how God has met with and restored his people from the beginning of civilization. And these stories are powerful resources in softening our hearts towards God, inviting him to meet with us and mold us into his likeness.

As we look at the power of Scripture today, may God stir our hearts to spend time every day in the pages of this transformative book. And may Scripture guide us deeper into true relationship with its author.

Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 1:1-2, and today's worship is Heal our Land by Kari Jobe.

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We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid’s Advent Devotional book, Jesus, the Light of the World. 

And you can get a copy for your children or grandchildren today!

Jesus, the Light of the World is a 25 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12.

Intended to be started on December 1st, each day of this 25 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how Jesus was the light that came to heal and save a hurting and broken world. 

This resource is foundational, answering questions such as, 

• Who is Jesus?

• Why was Jesus born?

• How does it matter in my life today?

“God is a good Father who gives good and perfect gifts. God is also a Father who speaks truth to us! When he tells us the truth, he wants us to trust and believe him even when it’s hard. When we trust God’s word even when it feels hard, it’s called faith. Faith is a gift God gives us, and the amazing thing is, we can always ask God for more.”

Request your copy of First15’s new kids advent devotional, Jesus, the Light of the World, today by going to supportfirst15.org, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! Again that is supportfirst15.org. The link is also in the podcast description.

As we continue this week-long focus on tilling the soil of our hearts, today we’re going to look at the power of worship in opening our hearts to receive all that God longs to give. For most of us, worship is something we engage in in a corporate setting. It’s a collective expression of adoration and relationship. But worship can be so much more than the songs we sing together. It’s a powerful avenue to softening our hearts towards God that we can, and should journey down every day. 

As we make space to focus on the power of worship today, may God stir up each of our hearts to worship him with all we are and all we have.

Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 29:2, and today's worship is Praise (feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore) by Elevation Worship. 

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Thanks for listening to today’s podcast.

Every day in the podcast episode description there is a link to the worship for the day. So if you’re interested in adding worship to your daily rhythm of meeting with God, every day within the podcast you can click that link and go straight to a worship video that relates to the topic for the day. 

In addition you can check out some original worship my wife and I wrote and recorded by searching on Spotify or YouTube for First15 worship. 

Make sure to subscribe and rate and review the podcast, so more believers just like you can find this space for God’s presence. 

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

As we continue this week focusing on tilling the soil of our hearts, today we’re going to look at the role of thankfulness in opening our hearts to receive all that God longs to give. While Scripture is filled with encouragements to be thankful, I think our own lived experience tells us that being thankful is essential in the pursuit of an abundant life. So may God remind us of all we have to be thankful for today as we make space to meet with him. And may our days be better as the result of taking just a few moments to be thankful for who we are, what we have, and all God has done for us as his beloved children.

Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 107:1, and today's worship is Gratitude by Brandon Lake.

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Thanks for listening to today’s podcast. 

As you go about your day today, look for opportunities to express your thankfulness to yourself, others, and your heavenly Father. If you start to feel like negativity is taking over, your heart is hard towards someone, or that life is simply dragging you down, taking just a few moments to find and express thankfulness makes all the difference. 

Make sure to subscribe and rate and review the podcast. Taking just a few moments to subscribe and rate the First15 podcast goes a really long way in helping more believers find this space for God’s presence. 

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

This week we’ll look at a vital spiritual practice to all those seeking to grow in God: tilling the soil of the heart. Jesus spoke in Matthew 13 of two different types of soil—hard and soft. God longs for us to till the soil of our hearts that we might be receptive to the seed of his word and bear fruit. May your heart become more responsive to the presence, will, and love of God this week as you cultivate good soil with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 13:23, and today's worship is House of Miracles by Brandon Lake.

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

As we begin this week-long focus on tilling the soil of our hearts, take time today to simply assess how receptive you are to the things of God throughout your day today. Don’t focus on changing anything, but simply noticing whether you are receptive or closed off, whether your heart feels hard or open. 

And bring that sense of awareness with you back to this rhythm of meeting with God tomorrow. 

And if you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and rate and review. 

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

As we conclude our week on living for heaven, today we’ll explore the return of Christ and what that means for us. How can you be best prepared for the return of Jesus? What does God expect of you as his child? May your heart only grow in anticipation and joy at the thought of his return after today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 24:36. Today's worship is You Are My One Thing by Bethel Music.

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Thanks so much for listening to the last podcast in our week long focus on living for heaven. 

Before we go, I want to ask you to take just a moment and assess your emotions. Does the idea of Jesus returning bring you peace or fear? Does it bring you hope or despair? There’s no wrong answer. God wants to meet you wherever you are today, and guide you to abundant life. With an honest answer in your heart, ask God to reveal more of his goodness in coming back, and to fill your heart with the assurance you need to celebrate what is to come. 

And make sure to come back tomorrow, where we’ll begin a new series taking a deeper look at the abundant life God wants to provide for each of us as his children. 

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 living for heaven, today we’re going to explore what it means to have our perspectives shift toward the things of God rather than the things of earth. We are so easily bogged down by the weight of the world, and today God wants to lift our chin and point our eyes upward to things unseen, the things of heaven.

Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 4:18, and today's worship is Throne Room by Jesus Culture.  

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Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11 to find real rest is for YOU. 

First15’s brand-new devotional book called Rhythms was written with you in mind. 

Each day of this 28-day devotional invites you to break away from your normal rhythm of waking, eating, working, and sleeping to discover a spiritual rhythm that, when practiced, will lead you into a more vibrant, abundant life in every way that matters.

Jesus wasn’t kidding when he said you can find rest in the midst of the craziness of life. He can give it to you, and Rhythms will guide you in that direction.

We’d love to send you a copy to say thanks for your donation of $27 or more today.

So please request your copy today at supportfirst15.org — and thank you for your donation to help create more content that helps more people connect with God each day!

As we continue in our week on living for heaven, today we’ll explore what it means to see Jesus’s prayer that God’s will would be done on earth as it is in heaven fulfilled. God desires his kingdom to invade the earth, and he wants to do it through us, his people. Open your heart and mind to God’s will for your life, and allow him to fill you with excitement and joy today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 6:9-10, and today's worship is 

Heaven on Earth by Saddleback Worship.

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Thanks for listening to today’s podcast on bringing heaven to earth. 

As a practical to go out on today, take a few moments to think about one way you could allow God to bring heaven to earth through you today. Take what the Spirit showed you in prayer, and think about how you can apply it. Who needs love today? Who needs healing or financial provision? Who simply needs someone to listen? 

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

What would it be like to have unhindered, abundant joy in the midst of all circumstances? The beauty of the joy God longs to give is that it’s not fleeting or temporary. It is sustaining, strong and true. As we continue to discover what it means to live for heaven, today we look at what it means for us to be marked by joy.

Our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 10:28, and today's worship is You Are My Joy by United Pursuit

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Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast on being marked by joy. 

If life is especially hard for you right now, where joy feels especially elusive. Take some time today to ask God where his joy is in the midst of your circumstances. When you face a trial or challenge, stop and invite God into that moment, and open your heart to receive his wisdom. 

The good news of the gospel is that God meets us where we are, and leads us to abundant life in the midst of anything life throws at us. 

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

As we continue our week on living for heaven, today we look at the concept of hope. Hope is a necessity on this day, and God wants to restore your sense of hope and give you a fresh dose today. May the hope of eternal life be an anchor for you all of your days.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 15:13, and today's worship is City of Hope by Amanda Cook. 

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Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, our second in our series of living for heaven. 

Whenever you’re tempted towards despair today, I want to encourage you to take a moment to stop, and ask God to illuminate his path of hope. The Holy Spirit wants to fill your day with hope built around trusting that he has every moment of every day covered in his love. And if you’ll allow him to open your eyes to see where he’s leading you, I know your day will be filled with a greater measure of hope. 

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

As children of God, we have been given a new home and a new hope. This week we’re going to take time every day to look at what it means to live for heaven. May your heart be set aflame by the joy and purpose of living out God’s command to live for heaven.

Our Scripture for today comes from Hebrews 12:1-2, and today's worship is Dancing by Elevation Worship.

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Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, Jesus is the Best Thing, the first podcast in our week long focus on living for heaven. 

For our US listeners, I want to take a moment to thank everyone in the working class for their hard work. Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” We were created for good works, and the effort you put in every day makes such a difference in the quality of life we all have. May we take time today on this labor day to re-center the focus of our work around loving God and his people, that our work would bear even more fruit. 

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