First15 Devotional

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 Garments by Cory Asbury.

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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 living for heaven, today we look at the concept of hope. Hope is a necessity in 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 Living Hope by Phil Wickham.

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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 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 Jesus We Love You by The Worship Initiative feat. Trenton Bell.

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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! 

In today’s First15 Podcast we wanted to give you a preview of a new Guided Prayer that I wrote titled, “Brokenness Restored.” There are several places in scripture where God gives His prophets vision to see all that He has in store for his people, and they declare that ancient ruins of His holy city would be rebuilt and the ancient ruins would be restored. It wasn’t until I read Isaiah 61 that I was able to see that these declarations weren’t merely about a future construction project, but about the restoration of the hearts of the children of God. Isaiah 61:7 says, “Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.” It’s easy to look at all that we may have lost in our lives and feel sorry for ourselves, but that isn’t the inheritance that God has for us. He understands our pain for all that we’ve lost, and yet He is the God who stands in the midst of what looks like a desolate wasteland and not only sees its potential, but declares that it will come to pass. I pray this prayer give you the eyes to see what God sees, and the willingness to ask Him for the faith to see it come to pass for His glory and your good.

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 6:9, and today's worship is Sparrows and Lillies by Patt Barrett.

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If you’ve wrestled with making Bible study a consistent habit of spiritual formation, A Light Unto My Path will inspire and encourage you to drink more deeply from the unending well that is the Bible. 

A Light Unto My Path will answer these 7 critical questions: 

• Why do we read the Bible?
• How was the Bible created?
• Why do we need to interpret the Bible?
• What is the Bible about?
• What are the best tools for studying the Bible?
• What can I learn from others?
• How can I learn for myself?

I love that the goal of this book is not to learn more about the Bible (even though you will), but to better understand the Bible as one of the primary ways God seeks to have a relationship with us today. 

Get your copy today  at supportfirst15.org!

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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If you’ve wrestled with making Bible study a consistent habit of spiritual formation, A Light Unto My Path will inspire and encourage you to drink more deeply from the unending well that is the Bible. 

A Light Unto My Path will answer these 7 critical questions: 

• Why do we read the Bible?
• How was the Bible created?
• Why do we need to interpret the Bible?
• What is the Bible about?
• What are the best tools for studying the Bible?
• What can I learn from others?
• How can I learn for myself?

I love that the goal of this book is not to learn more about the Bible (even though you will), but to better understand the Bible as one of the primary ways God seeks to have a relationship with us today. 

Get your copy today  at supportfirst15.org!

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 2 Thessalonians 3:16, and today's worship is Blackout by Steffany Gretzinger.

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If you’ve wrestled with making Bible study a consistent habit of spiritual formation, A Light Unto My Path will inspire and encourage you to drink more deeply from the unending well that is the Bible. 

A Light Unto My Path will answer these 7 critical questions: 

• Why do we read the Bible?
• How was the Bible created?
• Why do we need to interpret the Bible?
• What is the Bible about?
• What are the best tools for studying the Bible?
• What can I learn from others?
• How can I learn for myself?

I love that the goal of this book is not to learn more about the Bible (even though you will), but to better understand the Bible as one of the primary ways God seeks to have a relationship with us today. 

Get your copy today  at supportfirst15.org!

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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If you’ve wrestled with making Bible study a consistent habit of spiritual formation, A Light Unto My Path will inspire and encourage you to drink more deeply from the unending well that is the Bible. 

A Light Unto My Path will answer these 7 critical questions: 

• Why do we read the Bible?
• How was the Bible created?
• Why do we need to interpret the Bible?
• What is the Bible about?
• What are the best tools for studying the Bible?
• What can I learn from others?
• How can I learn for myself?

I love that the goal of this book is not to learn more about the Bible (even though you will), but to better understand the Bible as one of the primary ways God seeks to have a relationship with us today. 

Get your copy today  at supportfirst15.org!

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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If you’ve wrestled with making Bible study a consistent habit of spiritual formation, A Light Unto My Path will inspire and encourage you to drink more deeply from the unending well that is the Bible. 

A Light Unto My Path will answer these 7 critical questions: 

• Why do we read the Bible?
• How was the Bible created?
• Why do we need to interpret the Bible?
• What is the Bible about?
• What are the best tools for studying the Bible?
• What can I learn from others?
• How can I learn for myself?

I love that the goal of this book is not to learn more about the Bible (even though you will), but to better understand the Bible as one of the primary ways God seeks to have a relationship with us today. 

Get your copy today  at supportfirst15.org! 

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.

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If you’ve wrestled with making Bible study a consistent habit of spiritual formation, A Light Unto My Path will inspire and encourage you to drink more deeply from the unending well that is the Bible. 

A Light Unto My Path will answer these 7 critical questions: 

• Why do we read the Bible?
• How was the Bible created?
• Why do we need to interpret the Bible?
• What is the Bible about?
• What are the best tools for studying the Bible?
• What can I learn from others?
• How can I learn for myself?

I love that the goal of this book is not to learn more about the Bible (even though you will), but to better understand the Bible as one of the primary ways God seeks to have a relationship with us today. 

Get your copy today  at supportfirst15.org!

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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If you’ve wrestled with making Bible study a consistent habit of spiritual formation, A Light Unto My Path will inspire and encourage you to drink more deeply from the unending well that is the Bible. 

A Light Unto My Path will answer these 7 critical questions: 

• Why do we read the Bible?
• How was the Bible created?
• Why do we need to interpret the Bible?
• What is the Bible about?
• What are the best tools for studying the Bible?
• What can I learn from others?
• How can I learn for myself?

I love that the goal of this book is not to learn more about the Bible (even though you will), but to better understand the Bible as one of the primary ways God seeks to have a relationship with us today. 

Get your copy today  at supportfirst15.org!