First15 Devotional - First15

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Encountering God through Thanksgiving Jun 20, 2020

Show notes

Expressing gratitude and thanks to God has a miraculous way of opening and changing our hearts. Today we’ll explore the discipline of thanksgiving, and encounter God in response. May you take away from our time today, timeless principles that quickly get your heart in the right place despite your season or circumstances.

Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 100:4, and today's worship is Thank You by Bethel Music.

First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.

Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

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We just launched Vol. 7 of our First15 Devotional Series, Trust. And I couldn’t be more excited!

Trust is one of the devotional books I’ve been most anticipating, because of how critical trust is to our ability to thrive in and out of life’s difficult seasons.

This year has been arguably the hardest year we’ve faced globally in a generation. The pandemic has quickly taken its toll in every corner of our society, and every corner of the human heart. And the effects of systematic racism, and our lack of true racial reconciliation across the U.S. and beyond has brought us face to face with the mountain of division we’ve yet to overcome.

Personally, when life is good I find it easy to trust God, to be grateful for the ways he’s providing for me. But when my circumstances get hard, I find myself taking my life back in my control, and suffering as a result.

In Scripture, so many of God’s promises of peace, of provision, of safety are linked to our trust. Trust is like the “yes” that empowers God to move in deeper and more profound ways in and through us.

So I want to sincerely encourage you to get Trust today, to immerse yourself in this 5-week guide that will help you genuinely and wholeheartedly trust God. Because when you give God your trust, you’ll find an abundant peace and life that can carry you with unshakable joy through even life’s hardest challenges.

Click here to get your copy of Trust today.

Encountering God through Prayer Jun 19, 2020

Show notes

Prayer is so simple, but often times our minds convolute and complicate it. Today we’re exploring how to encounter God through prayer, and I pray you take away a simplified, childlike approach to spending time with your heavenly Father. May your heart and mind be at peace today as you encounter the living God.

Our Scripture for today comes from Hebrews 11:6, and today's worship is Confident by Steffany Gretzinger & Bobby Strand.

Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

_____

We just launched Vol. 7 of our First15 Devotional Series, Trust. And I couldn’t be more excited!

Trust is one of the devotional books I’ve been most anticipating, because of how critical trust is to our ability to thrive in and out of life’s difficult seasons.

Click here to get your copy of Trust today.

Encountering God through Faith Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

Having consistent and transformational encounters with God while on earth is meant to be foundational to the Christian life. Our God has not left us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we’ve been filled with the very Spirit of God who longs to reveal to us daily the nearness and love of our heavenly Father. We are never alone. There is nowhere we can flee from the presence of our God. May this week be filled with transformational encounters with the living God as we learn what it is to seek the face of the one who has formed us, knows us, and loves us unconditionally.

Our Scripture for today comes from Hebrews 11:6, and today's worship is Confident by Steffany Gretzinger & Bobby Strand.

Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

_____

We just launched Vol. 7 of our First15 Devotional Series, Trust. And I couldn’t be more excited!

Trust is one of the devotional books I’ve been most anticipating, because of how critical trust is to our ability to thrive in and out of life’s difficult seasons.

Click here to get your copy of Trust today.

Overcome Evil with Good Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

In our final devotional of this week long series on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re looking at God’s command to overcome evil with good. May God show us the pathway to his power today, and illuminate specific ways we can overcome evil with good today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:21, and today's worship is Let There Be Light by Hillsong Worship.

Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

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Live a life marked by faith.

The Bible has so much to say about our faith. And if I’m being honest, a lot of it is really confusing.

In Matthew 21 Jesus tells us that we’ll receive anything we ask for, if we have faith. Hebrews 11 tells us that it’s impossible to please God if we don’t have faith. 2 Corinthians 5 tells us that it is by faith that we “see” the path forward, and not with our physical sight.

But when I look into my own heart, I come face to face with ways I doubt on a daily basis.

I often trust in my own strength, lean on my own understanding, and seek to provide for myself with my own power rather than relying on the strength, empowering, and provision of God.

But, I also know that simply trying to have more faith doesn’t work either.

This is why I wrote a four-week devotional, Faith, to unpack what the Bible says about living a life marked by an authentic faith.

Faith isn’t something we muster up on our own. It’s not something we produce or create. Faith is the natural response to seeing, experiencing, and believing in God’s faithfulness.

And the pathway to greater faith is greater experience, greater understanding, and a true heart-knowledge of God’s faithfulness to us that guides our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

We've launched Volume 6 of our First15 Devotional Series, Faith, created to guide you into transformative experiences with God’s faithfulness and empower you to start living a life marked by authentic faith.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

First15 Conversations: Jon Tyson Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

2020 has been one of the most challenging years we’ve experienced as a nation, and it seems that no other city has had to bear as much as New York City. So today, we are grateful to spend some time with Jon Tyson, lead Pastor of Church of the City, New York, located right in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen. Over the last few months he has gained an up close and personal perspective on the challenges we face as a country and as the body of Christ.

In our conversation we cover topics like...

Jon’s personal battle with COVID-19
How we can respond to the division in our country
How to hold onto the lessons we’ve learned in this season

Jon has a passion for seeing God renew the church in New York and beyond, and I know you’ll be challenged and encouraged by his heart and story.

Live in Harmony Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

As we near the end of our series on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re going to explore together what it means to live in harmony with one another. There’s hardly a better feeling than being in harmony with those that are close to you. We were created for close, thriving relationship with God and others. And God in his power and love wants to equip us to build and keep harmony, even in the midst of our brokenness. May God give us wisdom, and empower us to walk the path of humility and love as we seek to live in harmony today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:16, and today's worship is Together at the Cross by The Church Will Sing.

Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

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Live a life marked by faith.

The Bible has so much to say about our faith. And if I’m being honest, a lot of it is really confusing.

But when I look into my own heart, I come face to face with ways I doubt on a daily basis.

I often trust in my own strength, lean on my own understanding, and seek to provide for myself with my own power rather than relying on the strength, empowering, and provision of God.

But, I also know that simply trying to have more faith doesn’t work either.

This is why I wrote a four-week devotional, Faith, to unpack what the Bible says about living a life marked by an authentic faith.

Faith isn’t something we muster up on our own. It’s not something we produce or create. Faith is the natural response to seeing, experiencing, and believing in God’s faithfulness.

And the pathway to greater faith is greater experience, greater understanding, and a true heart-knowledge of God’s faithfulness to us that guides our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

Rejoicing and Weeping with Others Jun 15, 2020

Show notes

In today’s devotional, we’re going to continue our series on the marks of a true Christian by looking at Paul’s encouragement to rejoice and weep with others. One of the most powerful acts of love we can make is to follow the way of empathy and compassion. Jesus allowed himself to be burdened by others burdens, pained by their pain. And may we follow the way of our Savior today as we spend time in his word, and in his presence.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:15, and today's worship is I Am Loved by Mack Brock.

Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

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Live a life marked by faith.

The Bible has so much to say about our faith. And if I’m being honest, a lot of it is really confusing.

But when I look into my own heart, I come face to face with ways I doubt on a daily basis.

I often trust in my own strength, lean on my own understanding, and seek to provide for myself with my own power rather than relying on the strength, empowering, and provision of God.

But, I also know that simply trying to have more faith doesn’t work either.

This is why I wrote a four-week devotional, Faith, to unpack what the Bible says about living a life marked by an authentic faith.

Faith isn’t something we muster up on our own. It’s not something we produce or create. Faith is the natural response to seeing, experiencing, and believing in God’s faithfulness.

And the pathway to greater faith is greater experience, greater understanding, and a true heart-knowledge of God’s faithfulness to us that guides our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

Bless Those Who Persecute You Jun 14, 2020

Show notes

In the middle of our week on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re looking at Paul’s command to bless those who persecute you. Truly blessing those around us that seem to be against us is an incredible act of love, producing fruit not only in the lives of others, but in our lives as well. May God give us insight into his heart for this command today, as well as the courage to live it out.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:14, and today's worship is Mercy by Amanda Cook.

Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

__________

Live a life marked by faith.

The Bible has so much to say about our faith. And if I’m being honest, a lot of it is really confusing.

But when I look into my own heart, I come face to face with ways I doubt on a daily basis.

I often trust in my own strength, lean on my own understanding, and seek to provide for myself with my own power rather than relying on the strength, empowering, and provision of God.

But, I also know that simply trying to have more faith doesn’t work either.

This is why I wrote a four-week devotional, Faith, to unpack what the Bible says about living a life marked by an authentic faith.

Faith isn’t something we muster up on our own. It’s not something we produce or create. Faith is the natural response to seeing, experiencing, and believing in God’s faithfulness.

And the pathway to greater faith is greater experience, greater understanding, and a true heart-knowledge of God’s faithfulness to us that guides our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

Rejoice in Hope Jun 13, 2020

Show notes

In our third devotional in this week-long series on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re going to explore together what it means to rejoice in hope. In a world that can so often bring us down, so often appear to be without hope, today we have the opportunity to make room for God to give us his perspective, that we might rejoice in his hope. May God give us wisdom, joy, and eternal perspective today as we make space for him to fill.

Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:12, and today's worship is Living Hope by Phil Wickham.

Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

__________

Live a life marked by faith.

The Bible has so much to say about our faith. And if I’m being honest, a lot of it is really confusing.

But when I look into my own heart, I come face to face with ways I doubt on a daily basis.

I often trust in my own strength, lean on my own understanding, and seek to provide for myself with my own power rather than relying on the strength, empowering, and provision of God.

But, I also know that simply trying to have more faith doesn’t work either.

This is why I wrote a four-week devotional, Faith, to unpack what the Bible says about living a life marked by an authentic faith.

Faith isn’t something we muster up on our own. It’s not something we produce or create. Faith is the natural response to seeing, experiencing, and believing in God’s faithfulness.

And the pathway to greater faith is greater experience, greater understanding, and a true heart-knowledge of God’s faithfulness to us that guides our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

First15 Conversations: Latasha Morrison Jun 12, 2020

Show notes

I could not be more thrilled to share with you a conversation that Rachel and I had this week with Latasha Morrison.

Our conversation covers topics like the history of racism in the United States, how we ended up here today, and crucial steps in moving forward. We had a ton of questions going into this podcast and as we walked away we felt a renewed sense of passion knowing that we can actually be a part of God’s plan for racial reconciliation.

Tasha is a bridge-builder, reconciler, and a compelling voice in the fight for racial justice. In 2016, she founded Be the Bridge, a non-profit organization equipping more than 1,000 sub-groups across five countries to serve as ambassadors of racial reconciliation. Numerous organizations have recognized her as a leading social justice advocate, including Facebook’s Community Leadership Program, Forbes, and EBONY magazine. Her first book, Be the Bridge, was released in October 2019, and is now on the New York Times and USA Today best seller lists!

Be the Bridge and Tasha have been one of the most formative voices for Rachel and me as we try to find our place in God’s work of racial reconciliation. I know this conversation will be formative for you as well.

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