First15 Devotional - First15

Latest Episodes:

The Parable of the Good Shepherd Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Jesus loved to use stories to illustrate profound, life-transforming concepts. He loved to use real and genuine settings, characters, and ideas that apply to all of us to reveal God’s heart of pursuit and love. This week we’re going to spend time allowing the parables of Jesus to speak directly to our situations, mindsets, and core beliefs about who God is. Open your heart and mind to be transformed by the powerful and captivating stories of Jesus.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 10:14-15, and today's worship is Shepherd by Amanda Lindsey Cook.

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Outro / Wrap Up:

Thanks for listening to today’s devotional, the first in our week-long series on the parables.

As you head out into your day, try and notice the value of stories. Think about the things happening in your life, and what narrative God might be weaving through your story. Even take a moment or two, if you can, to journal the story of your day, taking time to process what God is doing in and through you. And at the end of today, consider taking a few moments to share your story with someone you love. You never know how your story could truly impact the life of another.

Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

The Desire to Live a Life of Significance Nov 19, 2023

Show notes

As we wrap up this week looking at the desires of every heart, we’re going to look today at the desire to live a life of significance. God has a plan to use you in ways far beyond what you could ask or imagine, a plan for you to make an eternal impact in the world. As we make space for God to speak and lead today, may he give us a deeper sense of purpose and calling in him.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 25:21. Today's worship is Renew My Mind by Allen Froese.

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Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, the longing for greatness.

As you go about the rest of your day, try and recognize when your longing for greatness gets stirred up. And take just a moment to follow it to its source. Is that specific desire a fruit of God, or a fruit of pride or fear? Is it the Spirit leading you to fulfill his purpose for you today, or an opportunity to gain more traction in the pursuit of the world?

And if it’s God, take courage and boldly go forth. If it’s not, simply notice the desire and let it go.

May you find the daily practice of allowing God to satisfy your longing for greatness to lead you into a deeper and fuller fulfillment of God’s wonderful plans for your life.

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

The Desire to be Passionate Nov 18, 2023

Show notes

In today’s devotional, we’re going to explore the desire we all share to be passionate. Everyone of us desires to give our lives to something, our passion to something that truly matters. And God has given us all that desire with a perfect plan to satisfy it in a unique way, a way he’s perfectly wired each of us for. May each of us get a greater sense of how we can live more wholeheartedly in him today.

The main concept for this week is derived from The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle and Deborah Hiebert.

Our Scripture for today comes from Mark 12:30, and today's worship is Love You More by Harvest Bashta.

We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kids 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.

The Desire to be Fully Known and Fully Loved Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

In today’s devotional we’re going to look at the desire we all share to be fully known and fully loved. You and I were made for this. And pursuing that sense of knowledge and love from the world has left so many of us wounded. But the good news is that God has a path for healing, relationship, and love that’s void of shame, and wants to guide us down that path today as we create space and follow him together.

The main concept for this week is derived from The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle and Deborah Hiebert.

Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 2:4-5, and today's worship is

Hide and Seek by First15 Worship feat. Nikki Moltz.

Thank you for listening to today’s podcast, the longing for intimacy without shame.

As you go about your day today, try and notice whenever you get a sense of shame. And if you’re able, take a moment to simply hand that shame over to God. Shame is so destructive, and in union with the Spirit we have available to us a constant healer who wants to deliver us from the destruction shame produces.

And if you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to the podcast, so you won’t miss episodes like tomorrows, where we’ll look at the longing to be wholehearted.

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

The Desire for Greatness Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Today as we continue our series looking at the desires of every heart, we’re going to take time to recognize and satisfy our desire to be great. The desire to be great within the heart of man has produced tremendous and terrible things. It’s produced peace and war, advancement and destruction. And as we look at this desire today, I pray that God reveals the purity and power of it as well as his plans to satisfy it moment by moment, day by day.

The main concept for this week is derived from The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle and Deborah Hiebert.

Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Corinthians 2:9, and today's worship is Firelight by Brother Isaiah.

We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kids 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.

This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,

Who is Jesus?
Why was Jesus born?
How does it matter in my life today?

The Desire to Behold Beauty Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

As we continue our week-long focus on the desires of every heart, today we’re going to look at the desire we all share to behold beauty. God has created beauty all around us, beauty we can see and beauty we can feel. And in a world so inundated with false notions of beauty, today my prayer is that God reveals the purity within this longing that resides within each of our hearts, and his perfect plans to satisfy it.

The main concept for this week is derived from The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle and Deborah Hiebert.

Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 149:4, and today's worship is Beauty by David Funk.

Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, the longing for beauty.

As you go about your day today, try and recognize the beauty God has placed all around. Try and be more present in the world you live in, and allow God’s creation in all it’s forms to stir up your heart to find more enjoyment in him.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the longing for greatness. If you’re feeling unsatisfied in your accomplishments, like you’re not achieving everything you were meant for, you won’t want to miss tomorrow’s episode. So if you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to the podcast.

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

The Desire for Wonder Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

In today’s devotional, we’re going to look at the desire we all share for wonder. We serve an absolutely fascinating God – a God who has created a whole world to marvel us. May we set our eyes on him today by the power of the Holy Spirit, that our desire for wonder would be satisfied in relationship with our powerful and good God.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 1:22-23, and today's worship is Wonder by Hillsong UNITED.

Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, the longing for fascination.

As you go about your day today, look for opportunities to have your longing for fascination satisfied in God. Allow yourself to take in the world around you, the grandeur of it as well as its fascinating details.

And tomorrow we’ll take a look at our longing for beauty, and how God desires to satisfy it in meaningful ways every day.

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

The Desire to be Delighted in Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

All of us have insatiable desires that can only be satisfied in communion with our heavenly Father. The desire to be delighted in, for wonder, to behold glory, and to be someone great are driving forces within each of us. The desire to be fully know and fully loved, to be passionate, and to live a life of significance resound within each of us at the foundation of who we are. God created these desires knowing that they can only be fully satisfied in him—that they would be avenues to deeper relationship with him. As we look at each of these desires individually, I pray your heart would find its fulfillment in the loving nearness of your heavenly Father.

The main concept for this week is derived from The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle and Deborah Hiebert.

Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 62:5, and today's worship is Touch The Sky by Hillsong UNITED.

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Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast, the longing to be enjoyed.

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won’t miss a single opportunity for God to satisfy the longings of your heart this week.

Tomorrow we’re going to take a look at our longing for fascination. You won’t want to miss it.

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

Tilling the Soil of the Heart: God’s Voice Nov 12, 2023

Show notes

As we wrap up this week focusing on tilling the soil of our hearts, today we’re going to look at the role of hearing God’s voice in living open and responsive to God. I know for a lot of us the idea of hearing God speak can be a confusing, sometimes too far out there subject. But as God’s children, he wants us to live in communication with him. And through the Holy Spirit, you and I have the ability to hear God speak to our hearts.

May we discover today that we serve a communicative God who loves to talk to his people. And may his voice soften our hearts to receive all that he longs to give us.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 16:13. Today's worship is Here Now (Madness) by Hillsong UNITED.

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Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, the last in our week-long series on tilling the soil of our hearts. Tomorrow we begin a brand new series taking a deeper look at our topic for today. Every day in the next series we’ll look at a new way God speaks, inviting him to deepen our understanding and experience of his voice moment by moment, day by day.

So make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won’t miss an episode of this important series. And rate and review the podcast so more believers just like you can find this space we’re creating for God’s presence.

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

Tilling the Soil of the Heart: Prayer Nov 11, 2023

Show notes

In today’s devotional, we’re going to continue our week long focus on tilling the soil of the heart by looking at the power of prayer. There is no better way to soften our hearts towards God than making space to have a real conversation with him. His voice breaks down our walls. His answers give us the peace and direction we need. And his presence, simply resting in him, builds the solid foundation of connection we need to live open and responsive to him throughout our day.

May God do a mighty work in us today as we discover the power of prayer.

Our Scripture for today comes from Philippians 4:6-7, and today's worship is Whisper by Jason Upton.

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.

This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,