First15 Devotional - First15

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Renewal of Your First Love Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

In our third devotional on seeking renewal from our good and loving God, today we’re going to look at what it means to have a renewal of our first love. What, who we love first, makes all the difference in how we spend our days, and how we spend our moments. And unless God is our first love, the one we’re giving all of our hearts to, life will always feel out of balance, and lacking the fullness of fulfillment. May God guide us to a deeper love of him today as we open our hearts and hands to meet with him.

Our Scripture for today comes from Revelation 2:4, and today's worship is First Love by Josie Buchanan.

Thanks for listening to today’s devotional.

As you go about your day today, try and notice what or who has your heart. For today, don’t try and change anything, just simply be aware. Awareness of where our passion lies by looking at our time, talent, and treasure, is the first and sometimes biggest step towards transformation and renewal.

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

The Renewal of Your Mind Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

In the second day of our series on renewal, today we’re going to invite God to renew our minds. Our minds are the gateway to our emotions, decisions, and perspectives. How we see the world around us, the assumptions we live with, the lies we believe, and where we choose to focus our attention, make all the difference in our daily experience. May God guide each of us down the path to renewing our minds in his presence, and through his word today, that we might experience a greater measure of abundant life in him.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:2, and today's worship is Sound Mind by Melissa Helser.

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!

For the nights when you find yourself anxious, overly excited, or struggling for whatever reason and sleep seems to you like an unconquerable feat, know that you are not alone. Sleepless nights aren’t always due to negative issues. Maybe you have something really exciting that you are looking forward to and the anticipation of it all becomes a canvas in your mind of endless possibilities. Whatever the reason, we pray that this new Guided Prayer by our friend Peyton Garland will help you invite God into the space that he already dwells, and open your heart both to release to him all that is on your mind and to dream with him about the possibilities. As you do, remember this invitation from scripture: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28

God’s Plan for Renewal Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

One of the best aspects of spending time alone with God is being renewed daily by his word and presence. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). When we make space for God in our lives, especially at the beginning of the day, he is faithful to renew and prepare us for all we will face out in the world. So as we enter into this week focusing on renewal, Where do you need renewal? How greatly do you need God’s mercies in your life? May God teach and guide us into daily renewal as we make space every morning for him to fill.

Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 4:16, and today's worship is All Things New by Tye Tribbett.

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Thank you for listening to today’s podcast on God’s plan for renewal.

As you go about your day today, allow God to meet you at your place of weariness right when you sense it so you can experience renewal throughout your day today. The best declaration of God’s reality and goodness we can make is living out of the abundance of life he makes available to us every day.

May God use us all to draw more of his children to relationship with him.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won’t miss an episode of this series on renewal. And rate and review if you haven’t already.

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

Being the Light Sep 17, 2023

Show notes

As we finish our week on Light, today we’ll explore our calling to be the light. What’s beautiful about this call is that the pressure is off. We have so many misconceptions about what God requires of us, and he is not the task master we so often mistake him for. May you be encouraged today to live out your calling as the light of the world, free from the weight of the world.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 5:14. Today's worship is The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham.

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Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast, the last in our week-long focus on light.

Tomorrow we begin a brand new series on Trust. Like all relationships, our relationship with God has to be founded on trust. And luckily, we can trust our heavenly father wholeheartedly because he is always good, always able, and always faithful. I truly believe this next series will guide you into a depth of relationship you have yet to experience as we reestablish our relationships with God through the avenue of trust.

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

Following God into the Light Sep 16, 2023

Show notes

As we begin to wrap up our week on Light, today we’ll explore following God into the light. We each face temptations of various kinds. And God promises each of us a way out by his leadership in the midst of temptation and struggle. We are not alone in anything we face, as our Jesus has told us he’s faced it too. May you feel better equipped to face temptation and sin today as you encounter Jesus and his truth for you on this subject.

Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 42:16, and today's worship is Step into the light by Sean Curran.

With all the emotional and spiritual challenges of our time, one thing is clear — true peace is only found in the midst of God’s presence.

Yet finding that quiet space to be alone with God and receive his abounding love is not always easy.

We love having you follow along with us each day wherever you read or listen to First15, and right now we are offering 25% off when you choose any three or more of our devotionals. Go to first15.org/store and use coupon code Devo25 at checkout! You can also find the link and coupon code in the podcast description.

Whether you are stocking up on Christmas gifts or purchasing for yourself, now is a perfect time to do just that.

Looking at the Light Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

All of our longings and needs were meant to be met in God. And yet, we live in a world constantly vying to meet our needs and desires in false, inadequate ways. Today we’ll explore how to walk in the light by looking to the light to meet all of our needs. As we re-train ourselves to seek God first for satisfaction, may we find how abundantly beyond our imaginings the Lord’s sufficiency is for us.

Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 11:34, and today's worship is

Jehovah by Elevation Worship.

Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast.

Tomorrow we near the end of our week-long focus on light by looking at how we can follow God into the light throughout our lives, allowing his perfect leadership to fulfill our need for guidance as his people.

I hope tomorrow gives you a clearer sense of God’s direction for your life as his beloved child.

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

Living Fully Known Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

As we are called to the light, we are called to be fully known. Many of us shudder at the thought of complete, total vulnerability, and fall subject to the lie that we could never be fully loved if someone saw all of us. Today we’ll explore why being fully known before God is so important and life-giving. May you walk away today free from shame and fear after having faced a holy God vulnerably and having encountered his unconditional love.

Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 8:17, and today's worship is You Know Me by Steffany Gretzinger.

With all the emotional and spiritual challenges of our time, one thing is clear — true peace is only found in the midst of God’s presence.

Yet finding that quiet space to be alone with God and receive his abounding love is not always easy.

Whether you are stocking up on Christmas gifts or purchasing for yourself, now is a perfect time to do just that.

Jesus is the Light Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

As we learn this week of the light of God, today we’ll look to Jesus who is the Light. What does this mean about the Lord? And what does this mean for us personally? May our eyes behold him today, as we search out the source of goodness, beauty and holiness. May our hearts grow in wonder, worship and awe. And may our lives be forever transformed at the sight of him.

Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 60:20, and today's worship is Steady Light by LO Worship.

Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast.

I recently heard someone describe sin as the interruption of Shalom, which means peace, or wholeness. God doesn’t want to lead you out of sin just for the sake of doing it, he wants to lead you into the fullness of life, the fullness of peace and wholeness.

May Jesus guide you into Shalom today as you seek to live in the light of his presence.

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

We are Called to the Light Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

As we continue our week on living in and pursuing the light, today we’ll explore how we as God’s people are called out of darkness and to the light. Our new inheritance as God’s saints is to step out of hiding, and walk in full vulnerable honesty before God and man. May you be strengthened in grace and integrity today as you’re re-envisioned toward your calling to the light.

Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 5:8, and today's worship is Let There Be Light by Hillsong.

Several times throughout scripture, we read stories about people who go through various struggles and bear witness to the story that God has woven through their determination, faith, willingness to yield to the Lord in prayer and to be courageous in all the ways that He calls them to be. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the most compelling of them all as it tells the story of the God who loved his people and his creation so much that he chose to live among them, to sacrifice on their behalf, to redeem their lives, and to be and example of how to live in a way that honors the Lord, welcomes the kingdom of heaven in their lives, and anticipates the glory of the Lord in every beautiful way. It is our prayer that you would be encouraged today to seek the Holy Spirit and all his benefits as you journey with the Lord along the path on which he is leading you.

Light & Dark Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

We live in the reality that there is both light and darkness around us at all times. This world has both good and evil, right and wrong. As believers we must grow in both our acceptance of this reality and our pursuit of the light. We must allow God to mold and shape us into those who rid ourselves of any darkness, become fully known to God, and allow his light to transform us into reflections of his Son. May the Lord open our eyes to see the glorious light before us this week.

Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 5:14, and today's worship is Father of Lights by Elevation Worship.

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Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast! I’m Craig Denison, author of First15.

My prayer is that as we focus on this week’s topic of light, God illuminates every part of our life that he could mold us more into his likeness.

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