First15 Devotional - First15

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God Demonstrates His Grace Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

The story of the prodigal son moves my heart to delve into new depths of God’s limitless grace. I find myself in every facet of Jesus’ words of this story. I identify with the younger son’s rebellion. I identify with the older son’s judgement and resentment. I identify with the experience of the father’s compassion and love.

Today we begin a week long focus at this lifegiving, and perception shattering story of Jesus, the story of the prodigal son. May God draw you even closer to him this week, and teach of you his redemptive and life changing love.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 1:16, and today's worship is Grace by City Alight.

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Thanks so much for listening to this first podcast in our week-long focus on the prodigal son.

Every day this week, we’ll look at a different aspect of this story, creating room for God to apply it to our lives, to illuminate new ways he wants to love us. Tomorrow we’ll do that by looking at how patient God is with us. I think tomorrow’s podcast will really give you some peace and help you get rid of some self-judgment. So make sure to come back tomorrow for that.

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

We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid’s Devotional book, My Time With God.

Get your copy of First15’s first ever devotional book for kids today!

My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he’s called us to.

This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,

What is a devotional?
What is prayer?
Why spend time with God?
What does it mean to enjoy God’s presence?

“When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”

Request your copy of First15’s new kids devotional, My Time With God, 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.

Forgiving Yourself Aug 20, 2023

Show notes

As we reach the end of our weeklong focus on forgiveness, today we’re going to look at what it takes to forgive ourselves. For some of us, forgiving ourselves can be the hardest part of forgiveness.

May God give us the grace to see ourselves as he does, and offer ourselves love, compassion, and forgiveness regardless of what we’ve done.

Our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 28:13. Today's worship is Good To Me by First15 Worship feat. Taylor Zebracki.

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We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid’s Devotional book, My Time With God.

Get your copy of First15’s first ever devotional book for kids today!

This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,

What is a devotional?
What is prayer?
Why spend time with God?
What does it mean to enjoy God’s presence?

“When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”

Living Without Expectation of Perfection Aug 19, 2023

Show notes

As we near the end of our week on forgiveness, today we’re going to look at a more foundational aspect of forgiveness, living without expectation of perfection.

The goal today isn’t to adopt a pessimistic way of looking at the world around us, but to actually see others the way that God does. God isn’t surprised by our sin, but looks at us with eyes of hope and love. May we gain his perspective today, and the peace and joy that accompany it, as we spend time in his word and his presence.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 3:23, and today's worship is See A Victory/What A Beautiful Name by Jonathan Traylor.

Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast on living without expectation of perfection.

Tomorrow we’re going to take time to look at another aspect of living without expectation of perfection, by looking at how this applies to ourselves. If you struggle at all with perfectionism, or being hard on yourself, make sure you come back for tomorrow’s podcast.

Thanks again for listening. Have a wonderful rest of your day. And may God bless you as you seek him.

Forgive the Person, Not Their Actions Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

Today we continue our weeklong focus on forgiveness by looking at the idea of separating out our forgiveness of the person from their actions. It’s often our failure to do this separation that keeps us from engaging in the lifegiving command to forgive. But God has wisdom and revelation for us today as we look at his word, and freedom for our hearts today if we’ll engage with him in prayer.

May you find newfound freedom from the weight of unforgiveness today.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 13:34, and today's worship is

Forgiven by David Crowder.

Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast.

If you feel the freedom and courage from separating a person from his or her actions to finally forgive, I want to encourage you to take hold of that courage right now and do it. Initiate a conversation with them, that you might finally rid yourself of this weight of unforgiveness. No matter how difficult the conversation, it will be worth it.

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

A Lifestyle of Continual Forgiveness Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

In the middle of this week on forgiveness, we’re taking time today to look at what it means to live a lifestyle of continual forgiveness. Over time, as we open our hearts and allow God to do a continued work in us, we’re equipped to develop a new normal, a new way of living. So today we’re looking at how we can live with a constant openness towards forgiveness, equipped to both receive it and offer it, that unforgiveness would no longer have space in our hearts.

Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 4:26-27, and today's worship is Where Forgiveness Is by Sidewalk Prophets.

Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast on living a lifestyle of forgiveness.

Every command God gives you, is for your benefit as well as the benefit of others. You and I are not meant to live with the weight of unforgiveness. As soon as you sense the need to ask for forgiveness, or offer forgiveness, do it. God has a lifestyle of continual forgiveness for you, that you might live a weightfree, abundant life in him.

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

Healing Past Wounds and Forgiving Present Scars Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Today we’re going to explore God’s healing for our past wounds and present scars. There is so much power in forgiveness, so much healing in reconciliation.

May you find healing today for any wounds or scars you’ve been carrying, whether big or small. And may you find a greater measure of abundant life as the result of God’s presence and mercy.

Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Peter 2:24, and today's worship is Healer by Casting Crowns.

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Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast on God’s desire to heal past wounds and present scars. How amazing is it to have a God who sees our need, and meets that need, with his compassion and love.

Before you go, I want to encourage you to take just a few moments to reflect on what the Lord did in your heart today. Reflect on the reality of his healing. And let that time of reflection spur you on towards greater openness to the healing touch of God’s presence.

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

We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid’s Devotional book, My Time With God.

Get your copy of First15’s first ever devotional book for kids today!

This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,

What is a devotional?
What is prayer?
Why spend time with God?
What does it mean to enjoy God’s presence?

“When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”

Our Forgiveness in Jesus Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

Today we continue our weeklong focus on forgiveness, by looking at the incredible gift of forgiveness we’ve been offered in Jesus. Every command God has given us, he has already supplied the grace to live in obedience to. Forgiveness is no different. May we find the grace to forgive as we rest in the forgiveness we’ve already been offered through our Savior.

Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 4:32, and today's worship is Forgive Me by Tenth Avenue North.

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!

Do you ever struggle with forgiveness? Sometimes it’s difficult to understand how to translate God’s forgiveness of us so that we can learn to forgive ourselves. In today’s prayer, our friend Hannah Smith points us to scripture as she helps us engage with the Lord about what that really looks like. She reminds us that it is God’s forgiveness of us that helps us know how to extend the same to others, and helps us see that our confession is what truly opens the door of our hearts to receive both the mercy and forgiveness of God in a profound and life changing way.

The Nature of Forgiveness is Mercy Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

Offering forgiveness to others is one of the most difficult and important aspects of the Christian life. But Scripture clearly commands us to forgive others. This week, we’re going to look at how God longs to fashion us into his likeness that we might model the love we’ve been shown to a world with no concept of mercy. May you be filled with courage and boldness this week to offer forgiveness to those in desperate need of grace. And may God’s love shine through as you enter into your calling as a minister of reconciliation.

Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 6:36-37, and today's worship is Mercy + When I Think About The Lord by Common Gathering.

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Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast on mercy, the first in our weeklong focus on forgiveness.

I want to encourage you today to take a practical step forward in whatever the Lord was doing in your heart today as you prayed. Maybe you need to ask forgiveness, or maybe you need to offer it. Whatever your need is, may God fill you with the compassion and boldness you need to engage in his lifegiving process and promise of forgiveness.

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

We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid’s Devotional book, My Time With God.

Get your copy of First15’s first ever devotional book for kids today!

My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he’s called us to.

This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,

What is a devotional?
What is prayer?
Why spend time with God?
What does it mean to enjoy God’s presence?

“When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”

Request your copy of First15’s new kids devotional, My Time With God, 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.

In Grace God Teaches Us Aug 13, 2023

Show notes

In the last devotional in our series on grace, today we’re going to discover how in grace God teaches us. May we approach God with a humble and teachable heart. And may we learn whatever lesson we need from the Spirit today, as God teaches us in his grace.

Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Today's worship is The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham.

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Thanks for listening to today’s devotional.

As you go about your day today, do your best to respond to frustrating situations with a spirit of curiosity and ask the Lord what it is that he might be giving you an opportunity to see in a different way. Ask him to help you, and as you do take note of what you learn and what happens to your level of frustration when the Lord allows you to see things through the lens of hope and opportunity, and how he softens your heart toward him in the process. May you begin to see the gentleness of the way the Lord loves you as you do.

Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

May God grant us all a deeper level of purpose today. And may he bless you as you seek him.

God’s Grace Brings Purpose Aug 12, 2023

Show notes

As we near the end of our week on grace, today we’re going to explore how God’s grace brings us purpose. As we begin, where do you need more purpose today? Where are you feeling aimless, or lacking passion in life? May God fill us all with a deeper sense of purpose today, and may our days be more fulfilling and more impactful as we experience God’s grace right now.

Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Timothy 1:9, and today's worship is For The One by Jenn Johnson.

Thanks for listening to today’s devotional.

As you go about your day today, try and recognize whenever you begin to feel purposeless. And invite God into that space to remind you what really matters in life.

My favorite practice in maintaining purpose throughout the day is to simply be present. I find that if I can soak up all that there is in this moment, it’s far easier to sense my purpose than when I allow my mind to wander outside of the present.

Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

May God grant us all a deeper level of purpose today. And may he bless you as you seek him.

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