First15 Devotional

Many of us are in a very necessary need of vision for and boundaries around our work. This may be one of the most important topics we discuss all week. We spend so many hours a day working, this time must surely be important. May you discover God’s heart for your work, and find deep purpose and joy today as you submit to God’s vision and boundaries for it.

Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 90:17, and today's worship is Give Us Clean Hands feat. Nikki Moltz by First15 Worship.

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The Songs Tell the Story, the 25 day Advent devotional is perfect for starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Day! 

Each reading only takes a few minutes and the stories behind how these Christmas hymns came to be are sure to make you hear & sing them in a whole new way. You and your family will want to listen to the songs with a newfound appreciation for how God worked to bring such timeless songs into our yearly celebrations of the gift of Christmas. Our hope is that each story reveals more of God’s heart for you in this season and renews your sense of wonder for the birth of our Savior.

So make sure to grab your copy at first15.org/advent while it is still available and to ensure you can begin reading it on December 1!

As we continue our week on vision and boundaries, today we’ll explore what it looks like to have vision for loving and serving others well. Is loving people something you do intentionally? Or is something you believe will happen effortlessly as you live your life? Sometimes God is asking us to intentionally discover vision for certain seasons, and is specific about ways we could minister to or bless someone. Today may we learn how to serve people in a healthy, intentional way with good boundaries and vision.

Our Scripture for today comes from Philippians 2:4, and today's worship is Unstoppable God by Pat Barrett. 

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The Songs Tell the Story, the 25 day Advent devotional is perfect for starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Day! 

Each reading only takes a few minutes and the stories behind how these Christmas hymns came to be are sure to make you hear & sing them in a whole new way. You and your family will want to listen to the songs with a newfound appreciation for how God worked to bring such timeless songs into our yearly celebrations of the gift of Christmas. Our hope is that each story reveals more of God’s heart for you in this season and renews your sense of wonder for the birth of our Savior.

So make sure to grab your copy at first15.org/advent while it is still available and to ensure you can begin reading it on December 1!

Today we will take some time for ourselves, something we’re often not very good at doing. The reality is God cares deeply for you before you can do anything for him, and he wants that truth to settle deeply into our hearts today. We will be exploring what it means to have vision for ourselves holistically. How do we set ourselves up for success emotionally, physically and spiritually? The truth is you matter, and it’s my prayer you are strengthened and encouraged today.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 10:10, and today's worship is See A Victory by Bethel Music.

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The Songs Tell the Story, the 25 day Advent devotional is perfect for starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Day! 

Each reading only takes a few minutes and the stories behind how these Christmas hymns came to be are sure to make you hear & sing them in a whole new way. You and your family will want to listen to the songs with a newfound appreciation for how God worked to bring such timeless songs into our yearly celebrations of the gift of Christmas. Our hope is that each story reveals more of God’s heart for you in this season and renews your sense of wonder for the birth of our Savior.

So make sure to grab your copy at first15.org/advent while it is still available and to ensure you can begin reading it on December 1!

As we focus this week on boundaries for life and vision, today we’ll explore what it would look like to have the right priorities in place in our relationship with God. Many of us live as though God has a long list of expectations for us to meet. Today may God’s priorities for us become our own, and may we set the necessary boundaries in place to keep our priorities in the correct order.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 15:4, and today's worship is What I See by Hillsong UNITED.

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The Songs Tell the Story, the 25 day Advent devotional is perfect for starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Day! 

Each reading only takes a few minutes and the stories behind how these Christmas hymns came to be are sure to make you hear & sing them in a whole new way. You and your family will want to listen to the songs with a newfound appreciation for how God worked to bring such timeless songs into our yearly celebrations of the gift of Christmas. Our hope is that each story reveals more of God’s heart for you in this season and renews your sense of wonder for the birth of our Savior.

So make sure to grab your copy at first15.org/advent while it is still available and to ensure you can begin reading it on December 1!

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Tomorrow/Today is Giving Tuesday, the one day a year when the world focuses on unleashing radical generosity.

And what better cause is there to be radically generous about than helping people connect with God?

A generous donor has offered a $8,500 Matching Grant to help reach the $157,929 Giving Tuesday goal.

This means any gift you give today will be DOUBLED.

You and I were made to connect — with others, and most importantly, with God. But many people struggle to find a devotional resource that’s easy to understand and relatable to daily life.

This is why First15 exists, and I assume it’s why you’re part of this growing community.

You can give your Giving Tuesday gift and have it doubled by visiting supportfirst15.org!

We serve a God of boundaries. In his limitless capacity, endless creativity, and boundless existence he still chose to create boundaries. He still had vision for what was good, right, pleasing, and perfect. And as children made in his image, we are to live, think, and create as he does. In a world marked by busyness from seemingly infinite opportunities, it’s important now more than ever for us to create boundaries. May you find freedom and joy this week as you receive vision and set boundaries under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 29:18, and today's worship is Be Thou My Vision by Influence Music.

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Thanks for listening to the First15 Podcast. My name is Ryn, and I’m a part of the First15 Team.  If you haven’t heard, we just launched a brand new First15 app, available now in your app store! One of the new features that you can enjoy when you download the app is our Guided Prayers. We’ve created unique guided prayers that are created specifically to help you connect with God in prayer wherever you are. 

Today, we’re sharing a preview of a Guided Prayer I wrote titled, “Of Repentance.” What a gift it is that our God calls Himself our Father and invites us to bring all the wrongs that we’ve done and lay them down so that they no longer hinder us from the life He calls us to live. Taking inventory of our hearts in God’s presence is one way to experience deeper intimacy and freedom with Him. I pray this guided prayer helps you to do that today, friend. And I pray it serves as a template for your own prayers of repentance so that you can walk in the fullness of the life God has for you to live, free of the weights and chains that keep us bound.

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Tomorrow/Today is Giving Tuesday, the one day a year when the world focuses on unleashing radical generosity.

And what better cause is there to be radically generous about than helping people connect with God?

A generous donor has offered a $8,500 Matching Grant to help reach the $157,929 Giving Tuesday goal.

This means any gift you give today will be DOUBLED.

You and I were made to connect — with others, and most importantly, with God. But many people struggle to find a devotional resource that’s easy to understand and relatable to daily life.

This is why First15 exists, and I assume it’s why you’re part of this growing community.

You can give your Giving Tuesday gift and have it doubled by visiting supportfirst15.org!

In today’s devotional, the last in our series on the parables, we’ll be looking at the parables of the lost sheep and coin. May you discover today how precious you are in the eyes of God. And may you be empowered to see yourself, your value, as he does.

Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 15:4-7 and Luke 15:8-10, and today's worship is Where I'll Be Found by Brandon Lake.

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The Songs Tell the Story, the 25 day Advent devotional is perfect for starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Day! 

Each reading only takes a few minutes and the stories behind how these Christmas hymns came to be are sure to make you hear & sing them in a whole new way. You and your family will want to listen to the songs with a newfound appreciation for how God worked to bring such timeless songs into our yearly celebrations of the gift of Christmas. Our hope is that each story reveals more of God’s heart for you in this season and renews your sense of wonder for the birth of our Savior.

So make sure to grab your copy at first15.org/advent while it is still available and to ensure you can begin reading it on December 1!

As we near the end of our week on the parables, today we’re going to look at the parable of the prodigal son. Hanging in my office is a print of Rembrandt’s depiction of this biblical scene. It’s hard for me to think of another passage of Scripture that produces such continual fruit in my life on a daily basis. May these words of Jesus redefine our relationship with God for the better today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 15:21-24, and today's worship is This Is The Sound by Harvest. 

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The Songs Tell the Story, the 25 day Advent devotional is perfect for starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Day! 

Each reading only takes a few minutes and the stories behind how these Christmas hymns came to be are sure to make you hear & sing them in a whole new way. You and your family will want to listen to the songs with a newfound appreciation for how God worked to bring such timeless songs into our yearly celebrations of the gift of Christmas. Our hope is that each story reveals more of God’s heart for you in this season and renews your sense of wonder for the birth of our Savior.

So make sure to grab your copy at first15.org/advent while it is still available and to ensure you can begin reading it on December 1!

One of my favorite stories is the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector. Through this story, Jesus makes it abundantly clear how we’re to come before God. May we today begin a fresh revival of humility in the church as we humble ourselves before God in prayer and honest worship. I want to encourage you to be open and vulnerable as you approach the Lord today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 18:10-14, and today's worship is Mercy feat. Nikki Moltz by First15 Worship.

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The Songs Tell the Story, the 25 day Advent devotional is perfect for starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Day! 

Each reading only takes a few minutes and the stories behind how these Christmas hymns came to be are sure to make you hear & sing them in a whole new way. You and your family will want to listen to the songs with a newfound appreciation for how God worked to bring such timeless songs into our yearly celebrations of the gift of Christmas. Our hope is that each story reveals more of God’s heart for you in this season and renews your sense of wonder for the birth of our Savior.

So make sure to grab your copy at first15.org/advent while it is still available and to ensure you can begin reading it on December 1!

As we continue to look at the profound, life-transforming concepts Jesus shared through parables, today we’ll focus on the parable of the lamp on a stand. May what might’ve once been a concept that caused many of us to feel pressure, now bring forth peace, purpose and freedom in God’s love and identity for us.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 5:14-15, and today's worship is My Lighthouse by Pat Barrett. 

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The Songs Tell the Story, the 25 day Advent devotional is perfect for starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Day! 

Each reading only takes a few minutes and the stories behind how these Christmas hymns came to be are sure to make you hear & sing them in a whole new way. You and your family will want to listen to the songs with a newfound appreciation for how God worked to bring such timeless songs into our yearly celebrations of the gift of Christmas. Our hope is that each story reveals more of God’s heart for you in this season and renews your sense of wonder for the birth of our Savior.

So make sure to grab your copy at first15.org/advent while it is still available and to ensure you can begin reading it on December 1!

Continuing our week on Jesus’s parables, we’ll look today at the parable of the mustard seed. As we dig into this rich, beautiful parable, may our hearts and minds be enlightened. Take a moment even now to ask God to give you fresh revelation.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 13:31-32, and today's worship is Faith of a Mustard Seed by Bethel Music.

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The Songs Tell the Story, the 25 day Advent devotional is perfect for starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Day! 

Each reading only takes a few minutes and the stories behind how these Christmas hymns came to be are sure to make you hear & sing them in a whole new way. You and your family will want to listen to the songs with a newfound appreciation for how God worked to bring such timeless songs into our yearly celebrations of the gift of Christmas. Our hope is that each story reveals more of God’s heart for you in this season and renews your sense of wonder for the birth of our Savior.

So make sure to grab your copy at first15.org/advent while it is still available and to ensure you can begin reading it on December 1!