First15 Devotional

Prayer can sometimes feel daunting. How do you pray? What do you pray for? Did God hear my prayer? Is he going to answer my prayer? Today we’re going to look at God’s invitation to pray vulnerably and honestly. We don’t have to earn the right for God to hear us. And we don’t have to pray the perfect prayer for him to answer us. Let’s come before God boldly today as we learn to pray in faith.

Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 6:5, and today's worship is Such An Awesome God by (feat. Maryanne J. George) | Maverick City Music.

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Being intentional about what we do with our time is a wonderful way to honor God as we begin this new year.

Our book Living Intentionally: Finding Meaning with a Modern Rule of Life, unpacks what a Rule of Life is and can help you identify ways you can develop your own. This book will help you review key areas of your life and help you discover the best ways to bring order to them, including:

• your spirituality
• your relationships
• your work
• your time
• your wiring

Request a copy of Living Intentionally — and make this the year you honor God by building more meaning and purpose into your life. 

Get your copy today at supportfirst15.org, or click the link in today’s show notes. 

God is worthy of our worship. But have you ever wondered why God needs our worship? In today’s devotional we’re going to explore why God deserves, and even requires, our worship. Let us come before him in humility as we trust that he will give us his best as we give him ours. 

Our Scripture for today comes from James 4:10, and today's worship is Behold by Phil Wickham & Anne Wilson.

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Thanks for listening to today’s First15 Podcast. My name is Ryn, and I’m a part of the First15 Team. If you haven’t downloaded our brand new First15 app, make sure to click the link in today’s show notes to check it out! One of the new features that you can enjoy when you download the app is our Guided Prayers. We are adding new prayers to our library every month, so if you need a moment of peace with God, let these prayers be your guide! 

Today we wanted to give you a preview of a new Guided Prayer that our friend Hannah Smith wrote, titled, “Our Greatest Companion.” There is nothing we have ever experienced that Jesus has allowed himself to be a stranger to. He understands our struggles because he has borne our struggles and achieved victory over them all. I pray you are reminded today that Jesus isn’t a distant observer of your life, but an ever present and compassionate companion on your journey.

We all want to live blessed lives. But the path to blessing the world offers runs contrary to the path God calls us to walk. In this first devotional of the week, we’re going to look at how we can live a life God can bless. May he help us to live in a way that honors him today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 5:3, and today's worship is To Worship You I Live by Israel & The New Breed.

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Being intentional about what we do with our time is a wonderful way to honor God as we begin this new year.

Our book Living Intentionally: Finding Meaning with a Modern Rule of Life, unpacks what a Rule of Life is and can help you identify ways you can develop your own. This book will help you review key areas of your life and help you discover the best ways to bring order to them, including:

• your spirituality
• your relationships
• your work
• your time
• your wiring

Request a copy of Living Intentionally — and make this the year you honor God by building more meaning and purpose into your life. 

Get your copy today at supportfirst15.org, or click the link in today’s show notes. 

Happy New Year!! I'm Craig Denison, author and founder of First15. 

A growing relationship with God comes when you experience him every day. So thank you so much for starting your year with us. 

I’ve got a really exciting announcement with what you can expect from First15 this year. 

One is, we’re expanding the writers that are contributing to the daily devotionals. There will still be a lot of content written by me, but this month we’re kicking the year off with a focus on spiritual awakening actually written by my Dad, Jim Denison. He’s one of the smartest and most heart-felt people I’ve ever known. It was a privilege growing up with him as a father. And I’m really excited for you to get to experience God with his content as a guide this month. 

Along with some new content, you’ll hear a new voice on the podcast reading the days devotional. That’ll help give consistency to your experience with God, not making First15 about the author, but about creating space for God to fill. 

Happy New Year. May God bless you as you seek him this morning, and every morning.

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For our final day of this week, we’re going to ask God to awaken the hearts of our nation and culture. The need for a move of God has become more obvious than ever, yet he often moves in response to the faithful prayers of his people. Let us be those people today and ask for the great awakening our world so desperately needs.

Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Chronicles 7:14, and today's worship is Holy Water by We The Kingdom.

Happy New Year!! I'm Craig Denison, author and founder of First15. 

A growing relationship with God comes when you experience him every day. So thank you so much for starting your year with us. 

I’ve got a really exciting announcement with what you can expect from First15 this year. 

One is, we’re expanding the writers that are contributing to the daily devotionals. There will still be a lot of content written by me, but this month we’re kicking the year off with a focus on spiritual awakening actually written by my Dad, Jim Denison. He’s one of the smartest and most heart-felt people I’ve ever known. It was a privilege growing up with him as a father. And I’m really excited for you to get to experience God with his content as a guide this month. 

Along with some new content, you’ll hear a new voice on the podcast reading the days devotional. That’ll help give consistency to your experience with God, not making First15 about the author, but about creating space for God to fill. 

Happy New Year. May God bless you as you seek him this morning, and every morning. 

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Life is unpredictable. As much as we’d like to think we know what the future holds, none of us are in control of our futures. As we start to wrap up this first week of the new year, today we’re going to look at living out our year with a sense of urgency. 

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 13:11-12, and today's worship is Waking Up by We The Kingdom. 

Happy New Year!! I'm Craig Denison, author and founder of First15. 

A growing relationship with God comes when you experience him every day. So thank you so much for starting your year with us. 

I’ve got a really exciting announcement with what you can expect from First15 this year. 

One is, we’re expanding the writers that are contributing to the daily devotionals. There will still be a lot of content written by me, but this month we’re kicking the year off with a focus on spiritual awakening actually written by my Dad, Jim Denison. He’s one of the smartest and most heart-felt people I’ve ever known. It was a privilege growing up with him as a father. And I’m really excited for you to get to experience God with his content as a guide this month. 

Along with some new content, you’ll hear a new voice on the podcast reading the days devotional. That’ll help give consistency to your experience with God, not making First15 about the author, but about creating space for God to fill. 

Happy New Year. May God bless you as you seek him this morning, and every morning.

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There is an incredible difference between knowing something in your head and experiencing it in your heart. Today, we’re going to explore what it looks like to do more than just learn about God but, instead, to experience him in a transforming and powerful way. 

Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 34:8, and today's worship is My Heart Your Home by Maverick City Music.

As the pace of our world continues to accelerate, it can be difficult for us to live in the present. Life passes us by in a flash, and if we’re not careful, we can miss what God is doing right here, and right now. God wants to work in your life today. Let’s explore this truth as we spend time in God’s presence.

Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 43:18-19, and today's worship is Song For His Presence by Hillsong Worship. 

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Happy New Year!! I'm Craig Denison, author and founder of First15. 

A growing relationship with God comes when you experience him every day. So thank you so much for starting your year with us. 

I’ve got a really exciting announcement with what you can expect from First15 this year. 

One is, we’re expanding the writers that are contributing to the daily devotionals. There will still be a lot of content written by me, but this month we’re kicking the year off with a focus on spiritual awakening actually written by my Dad, Jim Denison. He’s one of the smartest and most heart-felt people I’ve ever known. It was a privilege growing up with him as a father. And I’m really excited for you to get to experience God with his content as a guide this month. 

Along with some new content, you’ll hear a new voice on the podcast reading the days devotional. That’ll help give consistency to your experience with God, not making First15 about the author, but about creating space for God to fill. 

Happy New Year. May God bless you as you seek him this morning, and every morning. 

Happy New Year!! I'm Craig Denison, author and founder of First15. 

A growing relationship with God comes when you experience him every day. So thank you so much for starting your year with us. 

I’ve got a really exciting announcement with what you can expect from First15 this year. 

One is, we’re expanding the writers that are contributing to the daily devotionals. There will still be a lot of content written by me, but this month we’re kicking the year off with a focus on spiritual awakening actually written by my Dad, Jim Denison. He’s one of the smartest and most heart-felt people I’ve ever known. It was a privilege growing up with him as a father. And I’m really excited for you to get to experience God with his content as a guide this month. 

Along with some new content, you’ll hear a new voice on the podcast reading the days devotional. That’ll help give consistency to your experience with God, not making First15 about the author, but about creating space for God to fill. 

Happy New Year. May God bless you as you seek him this morning, and every morning.

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As we continue our first week of the new year, today we’re going to look at how God redeems all that he allows. Each of us faces difficult seasons in our lives, but thankfully, God does not abandon us there. Even today, even now, God is working to redeem our pain and heartache for his glory and our good.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 8:28-29, and today's worship is I Am Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave.

Happy New Year!! I'm Craig Denison, author and founder of First15. 

A growing relationship with God comes when you experience him every day. So thank you so much for starting your year with us. 

I’ve got a really exciting announcement with what you can expect from First15 this year. 

One is, we’re expanding the writers that are contributing to the daily devotionals. There will still be a lot of content written by me, but this month we’re kicking the year off with a focus on spiritual awakening actually written by my Dad, Jim Denison. He’s one of the smartest and most heart-felt people I’ve ever known. It was a privilege growing up with him as a father. And I’m really excited for you to get to experience God with his content as a guide this month. 

Along with some new content, you’ll hear a new voice on the podcast reading the days devotional. That’ll help give consistency to your experience with God, not making First15 about the author, but about creating space for God to fill. 

Happy New Year. May God bless you as you seek him this morning, and every morning.

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Today we’re going to explore what it means to truly trust God. Life is full of incredibly difficult circumstances, and in the midst of disappointments and pain it can be hard to trust that he is good and loving. But thankfully, God promises us that we can trust his heart even when we can’t see his hand. Let’s look at what it means to trust God in the midst of our circumstances today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Jeremiah 29:11, and today's worship is Welcome Resurrection by Elevation Worship.

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Thanks for listening to today’s First15 Podcast. My name is Ryn, and I’m a part of the First15 Team. If you haven’t downloaded our brand new First15 app, make sure to click this link  to check it out! One of the new features that you can enjoy when you download the app is our Guided Prayers. We are adding new prayers to our library every month, so if you need a moment of peace with God, let these prayers be your guide! 

In today’s First15 Podcast we wanted to give you a preview of a new Guided Prayer that our friend Hannah Smith wrote titled, “Renew me with your rest.” Oftentimes when I think about rest and peace I view them as one and the same. But as I read through Hannah’s prayer, I began thinking about how often she refers to action that leads to rest and prays for the grace of God to help her find rest. The first time rest is mentioned in the scriptures is after the work of building the whole world and filling it with life was complete. Hebrews 4:11-12 says, “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” I love that this set of verses makes achieving rest an actionable thing. What I really love about understanding peace and rest rightly is that we can clearly see that peace is a gift from God that helps us endure as we strive towards entering into God’s rest, and rest is the reward He gives us for having held fast to His calling. I pray today that this prayer reminds you that the work to which he has called us is holy and worthy, and that the promise of the reward of rest gives you the courage to keep going. 

Happy New Year!! I'm Craig Denison, author and founder of First15. 

A growing relationship with God comes when you experience him every day. So thank you so much for starting your year with us. 

I’ve got a really exciting announcement with what you can expect from First15 this year. 

One is, we’re expanding the writers that are contributing to the daily devotionals. There will still be a lot of content written by me, but this month we’re kicking the year off with a focus on spiritual awakening actually written by my Dad, Jim Denison. He’s one of the smartest and most heart-felt people I’ve ever known. It was a privilege growing up with him as a father. And I’m really excited for you to get to experience God with his content as a guide this month. 

Along with some new content, you’ll hear a new voice on the podcast reading the days devotional. That’ll help give consistency to your experience with God, not making First15 about the author, but about creating space for God to fill. 

Happy New Year. May God bless you as you seek him this morning, and every morning.

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As we begin a brand new year, we’re going to explore what it looks like to create New Year’s resolutions that matter. Many of us feel the pressure to make changes that will positively impact our lives, yet we often struggle to find sustainable resolutions that are truly valuable. But God, in his love, promises to make us new creations when we surrender ourselves to him and his plans. So as we dive into this brand new year, let’s explore what it looks like to receive this great gift of transformation today.  

Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17, and today's worship is Resurrecting by Chris Tomlin featuring Elevation Worship