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First15 is a daily devotional written to help you connect with God. Each day, the devotional features scripture, a devotional thought, guided prayer, and action steps. For more information, please visit first15.org. To hear the music from the devotional, search for First15 Worship on Spotify or Apple Music. Tags: First15 Devotional, First 15, First15 Worship, Devotional
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All of us have insatiable longings that can only be satisfied in communion with our heavenly Father. The longing to be enjoyed, fascinated, to gaze upon beauty, and to be someone great are driving forces within each of us. The longing to experience intimacy without shame, to be wholehearted, and to make a deep and lasting impact resound within each…
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Tilling the Soil of the Heart: God’s Voice
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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…
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In today’s First15, 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, si…
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Tilling the Soil of the Heart: The Body of Christ
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As we near the end of our week focusing on tilling the soil of the heart, today we’re going to look at the role of community in positioning ourselves to receive all that God longs to give. God is calling us into a deeper commitment to love others, and be loved by others. He wants to use us and those he’s placed around us to guide us deeper into ful…
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Tilling the Soil of the Heart: Scripture
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As we reach the middle of our week-long focus on tilling the soil of our hearts, today we’re going to look at the power of Scripture in receiving all that God longs to give us. Within the pages of Scripture there is a wealth of stories all conveying how God has met with and restored his people from the beginning of civilization. And these stories a…
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Tilling the Soil of the Heart: Worship
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As we continue this week-long focus on tilling the soil of our hearts, today we’re going to look at the power of worship in opening our hearts to receive all that God longs to give. For most of us, worship is something we engage in in a corporate setting. It’s a collective expression of adoration and relationship. But worship can be so much more th…
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Tilling the Soil of the Heart: Thankfulness
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As we continue this week focusing on tilling the soil of our hearts, today we’re going to look at the role of thankfulness in opening our hearts to receive all that God longs to give. While Scripture is filled with encouragements to be thankful, I think our own lived experience tells us that being thankful is essential in the pursuit of an abundant…
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This week we'll look at a vital spiritual practice to all those seeking to grow in God: tilling the soil of the heart. Jesus spoke in Matthew 13 of two different types of soil—hard and soft. God longs for us to till the soil of our hearts that we might be receptive to the seed of his word and bear fruit. May your heart become more responsive to the…
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As we conclude our week on living for heaven, today we’ll explore the return of Christ and what that means for us. How can you be best prepared for the return of Jesus? What does God expect of you as his child? May your heart only grow in anticipation and joy at the thought of his return after today. More from First15 Read today's devotional or lis…
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As we begin to wrap up our week on living for heaven, today we’re going to explore what it means to have our perspectives shift toward the things of God rather than the things of earth. We are so easily bogged down by the weight of the world, and today God wants to lift our chin and point our eyes upward to things unseen, the things of heaven. More…
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As we continue in our week on living for heaven, today we’ll explore what it means to see Jesus’s prayer that God’s will would be done on earth as it is in heaven fulfilled. God desires his kingdom to invade the earth, and he wants to do it through us, his people. Open your heart and mind to God’s will for your life, and allow him to fill you with …
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Every single one of us has an innate need to know we’re loved. And yet, so many of us go too many days wondering or unsure of the love our heavenly Father has for us. Today as we continue our week on living for heaven, we’re going to dive into our need to be loved and to love others deeply in order to be successful in this pursuit toward heaven. Go…
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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. More from First15 Read to…
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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. More from First15 Read today's devotional or listen to today's worship song at First15.o…
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As children of God, we have been given a new home and a new hope. In this week of First15, 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 this week. More from First15 Read today's devotional or listen to today's worshi…
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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…
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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 closeness with th…
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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. More from Fir…
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For many, relationships can often be the greatest source of joy, or 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 consider others more significant than ourselves. Today we’ll dive into how to live in harmony with others …
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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 wit…
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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 Christia…
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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 h…
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Today, in the last day of our week long focus on joy, we’re going to explore how we can be carriers for the joy of our God. Joy is contagious. It’s powerful. And it’s meant to be at the heart of our communication of who God is, and what relationship with him is like. May God fill us all with a greater measure of his joy today, and a greater underst…
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As we near the end of our week on joy, today we look at another aspect of the joy available to us in God, specifically how our joy could be so great that the Bible would call it inexpressible. May our hearts be opened to a greater measure of joy than we’ve yet experienced, and the wisdom and faith to hold on to that joy as our portion in God. Boile…
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In today’s First15 we’re going to explore the role of the Holy Spirit in living with the joy available to us in God. Know that as a believer, the Holy Spirit is with you, ready to search the heart of God for you, and to give you this free gift of joy, if you’ll simply trust him and receive it. May your relationship with the Spirit deepen today, and…
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I think one of the hardest things to do in life is to live with joy in the midst of trials and challenges. It’s so easy to let life dictate to us our emotions and state of being. But in God, there is a joy available to us right where we are, no matter how good or bad the situation may be. Today we’re going to make space together to simply open our …
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In our third day of looking at Joy, we’re going to take time today to look at David’s statement in Psalm 16:11, where he describes a “fullness of joy.” There is a greater fullness of life available to you and in me in God that most of us will ever experience. To experience more of God almost always requires laying down more of the things of the wor…
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As we continue our week of looking at Joy, we’re going to take time today to receive a fresh revelation of how God rejoices over us. God not only loves you, but he likes you. He rejoices over you, just as you are. I hope and pray that you get a real, tangible sense of God’s joy over you today as we create space in his presence together. Boilerplate…
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BONUS: Praying through Political Anxiety
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Do you find yourself anxious, fearful or stressed during election seasons? As division and conflict surrounding politics seem to intensify, it can be hard to avoid getting caught up in the chaos. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to a different way - the way of peace. In this podcast, based on the book Peace in Politics by Josh L Miller, you…
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In a world that knocks us down, joy can feel so elusive. But Scripture is filled with encouragement, that there is a joy available to us in God that transcends the pain and suffering of the world. This week, we’re going to take time every day to open our hearts and receive the joy of the Father, that we could be children marked by the joy of heaven…
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In today’s First15 we wrap up our week on seeking God by looking at the act of seeking God through community. You may be a people person, or a total introvert, but either way, God wants to use his church to encourage you and draw you closer to him. The Lord loves unity in his body, and he longs for his church, his Bride to worship and seek him as o…
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As we near the end of our week on seeking God, today we will focus on seeking God in solitude. Our world is a busy place. Our home lives are busy. Our church lives are full. When are you ever alone to simply fix your eyes on the Father, and be uninterrupted by the things going on around you? If we will take up the discipline of solitude, our lives …
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In today’s First15, we’re going to explore the act of seeking God through his creation. God wants to use the world around us to declare his glory, goodness and love for us. May we take the time to open our eyes and hearts, to slow down for a minute and behold the beauty of our God in all that he has made. More from First15 Read today's devotional o…
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As we continue our week on seeking God, today we’re exploring what it means to seek God through fasting. This may be a new or even unpleasant topic for some, but my hope is that you would be energized and encouraged toward the act of fasting today. There is power in surrender and self-sacrifice for the sake of more of God, and I pray you experience…
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As we continue our series on seeking God, today we’ll explore the intimate closeness of seeking God through prayer. How amazing is our Father that he wants to commune with us? With you? With me? Take a second to fathom how beautiful that truly is. Today, may your heart be stirred to take advantage of the unbelievable gift prayer is today as you exp…
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In our second day of exploring what it means to seek God, we’re going to focus in on the act of seeking God through the Scriptures. We have been given an endless well of life-giving truth through the gift of God’s word. Whatever need you have, God wants to use his words to bring peace, life, strength, guidance and hope to you today. He promises you…
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Worship through song is one of the most powerful ways to connect directly to the love, compassion, power, and grace of God. In worship, walls we’ve placed between God and us get torn down, just as God tore the veil at the death of Christ. In worship, our hearts become soft, aware, and open to the glorious majesties of God’s nearness. In worship, Go…
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As we finish this week on living an abundant life, today we’ll explore where we’re placing our priorities, hopes, fears, and affections. God doesn’t want us to spend our days waiting for heaven, but instead wants to shift our perspective to see that eternity has already begun. Though we spend our days on earth, they matter immensely. And nothing is…
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Living an abundant life means letting go of lies and past sin patterns that hinder us. These lies and bad habits can often feel comfortable, but they are truly keeping you from experiencing abundant life every single day. The best truth of all is that they have no power or authority in your life anymore through the power of Jesus. Once we release t…
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A huge aspect of living an abundant life is the realization your life has purpose and meaning. God truly has a beautiful plan for his glory and your good set before the foundations of the earth, not only for mankind, but for your life. As we begin wrapping up our week on living an abundant life, I hope you leave today encouraged, envisioned and emp…
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As we continue our week on living an abundant life, today we’ll explore the topic of pursing Jesus passionately in our daily lives. As we discussed the past couple days, abundant life is a gift, but doesn’t mean it comes without a choice on our part to receive. Open your heart to the Father today, and allow your mind to be renewed to the good life …
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Living an abundant life here and now is as simple as tapping into the rich, boundless, intimate relationship God has made available to us with him through the sacrifice of Jesus. We tend to believe so many lies about the Father’s heart for us, when he really has made it so simple for us to come to him. God is for us and desires to walk closely with…
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Did you know you have the ability to stir and satisfy the heart of God, here and now? God has given us the ability to choose him here on earth, and nothing blesses the heart of God like his beloved people intentionally turning their hearts toward him. As we examine how to live an abundant life here on earth, today we’ll search out what it means to …
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Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus we have been afforded an opportunity to live an incredibly abundant life here on earth. Our God is nearer, more tangible, and has a greater ability to make his presence known than we’ve yet realized. He longs to make his children more in tune and aware of the depths of his love, guidance, empowerme…
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In the last episode of this week on transformation, we’re going to wrap up this focus by finishing our exploration into establishing a resurrection culture. May God continue this work of ongoing transformation, as we invite him to resurrect us in meaningful, fresh ways today. More from First15 Read today's devotional or listen to today's worship so…
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In today’s First15, we’re going to examine what it means to have a life in Christ and the power of his resurrection. We think of resurrection primarily as the specific time when Jesus returns, and begins the process of finally making all things right. But the reality is that God invites us into a lifestyle of resurrection every day. Every day he wa…
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In today’s First15, we’re going to look at how God transforms us as we allow him to meet us at our place of weakness. You were never created to be self-sufficient, to have no need for a relationship with God. Contrary to what the world tells us every day, weakness can actually be a tremendous source of strength when we allow God to meet us powerful…
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In the middle of our week on transformation, we’re going to take time today to discover how God longs to transform us through experience. Every experience we have in life shapes us in some way. And experiencing God is no different. When we make space to truly experience God, he molds and fashions us into who we were created to be in marvelous ways.…
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In our third devotional in this series on transformation, we’re going to take time today to look at what it means to be continually transformed. We serve a God who is always for us, and always with us. In his power and love, he wants to continually mold and shape us into his likeness, that we might enjoy this life for all it can be. May God stir up…
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In our second devotional focusing on transformation, today we’re exploring the ways in which God transforms us into new creations. Every day God longs to make us new, to forgive our sins and mold and fashion us into his likeness. May God do a mighty work today as we make room for him to move, and may we leave this focused time in his presence with …
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