First15 Devotional

As we end our week on transcendent peace, today we’ll explore what it means to be a person of peace. Jesus refers to his people as “peacemakers.” Would you say that title accurately describes you? What kind of emotion does that word stir up? In a world full of principles like “an eye for an eye,” how can Christians be set apart and different? Today we’ll dive into that and more.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 5:9. Today's worship is Sparrows and Lillies by Pat Barrett.

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Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast, the last in our weeklong focus on peace. 

If this week was meaningful for you, where you have a greater sense of peace after creating this space than you had before, would you take a moment to write a review? Rating and reviewing this podcast is a critical step in our ability to empower more believers, just like you, to create space for God’s presence. 

And make sure to come back tomorrow, where we’ll launch a new series focused on God’s desire to be encountered by his people. I really believe God will use this next week to draw you closer to him, and fill your heart with greater measures of expectancy for this time your setting aside. 

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 transcendent peace, today we’ll explore growing in relationship with the Holy Spirit, and how he can help us walk in peace. As we’ve learned this week, connectedness with God is crucial to peace in all circumstances, and today we’ll dive deeper into those thoughts. May you grow in your desire for and closeness with the Holy Spirit today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 4:30, and today's worship is Where The War Ends by Amanda Cook  

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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!

What would it look like to have peace in all circumstances? I honestly can’t imagine anything better. We see promises in Scripture of this peace at all times, but so few of us experience that. Why is that the case? Today we’ll explore why that might be and how to walk in transcendent peace untouched by the circumstances of this world.

Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7, and today's worship is 

Blackout by Steffany Gretzinger.

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Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast. 

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and rate and review! Your engagement really helps our ability to empower more people to experience God in a fresh way every day. 

And make sure to come back tomorrow where we’ll look at what it means to have Peace in our Spirits. 

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

For many, relationships can often the greatest source of joy, or be the quickest thing to rob us of peace. As we seek to walk in transcendent peace, it’s vital we seek peace in life’s relationships. It is vital we take the path of humility and considering others more significant than ourselves. Today we’ll dive into how live in harmony with others and experience the peace of heaven in our friendships, families and work lives.

Our Scripture for today comes from Colossians 3:15, and today's worship is Tell Me The Truth by Steffany Gretzinger.

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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!

Today we will explore how to have a peaceful thought-life, as we continue our week on transcendent peace. The Bible speaks very specifically about our minds, and how important it is to have control over our thoughts. Today we’ll dive a little deeper into those biblical concepts, and I hope we each walk away better equipped to face life’s trials with the transcendent peace of God.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 8:6, and today's worship is Agnus Dei / King of Kings by Hillsong Worship.

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Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast, a peaceful thought-life. 

I hope that God was illuminating some of your thoughts today as you prayed. The Holy Spirit has this incredible ability to reveal so lovingly things that are holding us back from the fullness of life in him. 

If there was a specific thought that came to mind today, I want to encourage you to share it with someone close to you. Shedding light on a harmful thought through a conversation with someone you trust is a powerful way to find more freedom. 

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

As we continue our week on transcendent peace, we’ll look today at where peace comes from. Peace isn’t something we can muster up in and of ourselves. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit of God. And thankfully, we have God’s Spirit living inside of us. May we learn today how to tap into the peace of God that’s so ever-readily available to us as Christians.

Our Scripture for today comes from Galatians 5:22-23, and today's worship is Peace Be Still by The Belonging Co. feat Lauren Daigle

One of the most powerful marks of a believer is transcendent peace. This world offers us no reason to be peaceful. It offers us no reason to be without stress, burdens, cares, and total frustration. But we serve a God who offers us peace in the midst of any circumstance. We serve a God in whom all true peace finds its source. May you discover the heart of your heavenly Father to bring you peace this week.

Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 9:6, and today's worship is Miracle in the Works by Bryan & Katie Torwalt.

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Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, the first in our weeklong series on peace. 

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you won’t miss a day in our pursuit of peace this week.

As the world gets more and more stressed, God is drawing you in me down the pathway to peace this week. May we accept his invitation every day, and find the rest we’re so desperately in need of. 

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

Today, in the last day of our week long focus on joy, we’re going to explore how we can be carriers for the joy of our God. Joy is contagious. It’s powerful. And it’s meant to be at the heart of our communication of who God is, and what relationship with him is like.

May God fill us all with a greater measure of his joy today, and a greater understanding of how to carry that joy into a world in desperate need of it.

Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 55:12. Today's worship is What I See by Elevation Worship.

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Thank you so much for listening to this last podcast in our week on joy. I’m Craig Denison, author of First15. 

Who around you especially needs the joy of the Lord today? Who needs to know about the joy God has available to them, if they would open their hearts to receive it. 

As you’re around that person today, or as the Lord prompts you to reach out them, ask him to lead you into an opportunity to talk about his joy in a real, fresh way with them. Sharing the joy we have in God is not only an incredible gift we give others, but a gift we also give to ourselves. 

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

As we near the end of our week on joy, today we look at another aspect of the joy available to us in God, specifically how our joy could be so great that the Bible would call it inexpressible.

May our hearts be opened to a greater measure of joy than we’ve yet experienced, and the wisdom and faith to hold on to that joy as our portion in God.

Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Peter 1:8-9, and today's worship is You Are My Joy by United Pursuit feat Will Reagan.  

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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!

Today we’re going to explore the role of the Holy Spirit in living with the joy available to us in God. Know that as a believer, the Holy Spirit is with you, ready to search the heart of God for you, and to give you this free gift of joy, if you’ll simply trust him and receive it.

May your relationship with the Spirit deepen today, and yield a joy so real and strong that no trial or tribulation could come against it.

Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7, and today's worship is 

Joy of the Lord by Dante Bowe and Katie Torwalt.

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I’m Craig Denison, author of First15. Thank you so much for listening to today’s devotional on joy from the Spirit. 

Take a moment, before you go, to just reflect on what the Lord has done in your life today. Reflect on what God’s doing as you’re creating space to meet with him. And think about how that’s impacting not only your life, but also how you engage with others around you. Reflecting on the fruit of meeting with God is a powerful tool in developing consistency, faith, and ultimately fully centering your life around the purpose for which you were created, relationship. 

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