First15 Devotional

In today’s devotional, 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 of 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 powerfully in humility.  May God replace pressure and pri...

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.  May God stir up our faith and our passion to b...

Are you curious about what Inner Healing Prayer is? Do you have deep hurts in your own life that you haven't yet submitted to the Lord in prayer? In this month's interview, Craig talks with a friend of the ministry, Bonnie, who does inner healing prayer ministry. Listen to learn more about what prayer for inner healing is, and to be encouraged by Bonnie's testimony.  And, we'd love...

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 our hearts to accept change and transformation...

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 a true feeling of being made new. Our Scripture f...

Today we begin a brand new week of devotionals, creating space every day for God to transform us more and more into his likeness. And in today’s devotional, we’re starting with a broader view, looking at what it means to truly seek transformation.  May God do a mighty work in our hearts this week as we make room for his presence every day. Our Scripture for day comes from Psalm 51:10 , and today&#...

In our last episode of this week on renewal, today we’re looking at what it means to have a renewal of perspective.  Lately for me, it seems like the difference between a bad day and a good day is simply just a difference in my perspective. And there’s hardly anything more empowering that realizing that we have the ability to change how we think, to shift our perspective, and therefore change how...

As we near the end of our week-long series on renewal, today we’re going to invite God to bring a renewal of conscience to our hearts and mind. That our perspectives and beliefs about ourselves would be washed clean in God’s mercy and grace.  May God empower us to see ourselves the way he does as we spend meaningful time in his presence today. Our Scripture for day comes from Hebrews 10:22 , and t...

In today’s devotional, we’re going to invite God to renew within us a true sense of purpose.  Throughout the day I find my heart wandering to all sorts of purposes, some good, and some bad. But every day life teaches me that the one purpose that leads to the greatest measure of life and joy, is the pursuit of God. Not the pursuit of religion, but the authentic pursuit of relationship.  May the Hol...

In the middle of this week-long series on renewal, today we’re going to make room for God to renew our joy.  Joy is something I so often struggle to walk in as I allow the cares and burdens of life to weigh me down. But every morning is a new opportunity to come before our Father, give our cares over to him, and choose again the path of joy.  May God guide us today into a meaningful renewal of joy...

In our third episode 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...

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...

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 an...

In our final episode 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 day comes from Romans 12:21 , and today's worship is Let There Be Light  by Hillsong Worship featuring Matt Crocker....

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...

In today’s podcast, 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 h...

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. O...

In our third episode 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 t...

As we continue this week on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re going to look at what it means to be fervent in spirit.  You were made to live with a fervent faith, zealous in response to God’s passionate love for you.  May God fill all our hearts with his love in a meaningful, authentic way. And may we find the courage in him to live our faith passionately. Our Scripture for today comes fr...

This week in the First15 podcast we’re going to take a look at seven principles found in Romans 12 that describe the marks of a true Christian. The intent of studying this passage is not to condemn or lead you to comparison. Instead, let Paul’s teaching fill you with a deep, transformative longing to wholeheartedly pursue the life God intends for you. Ask God to help you see yourself as he sees yo...

In the final episode of our series on experiencing God’s promises, today we’re going to look at what it means to live for God’s glory.  There are a wealth of promises that can only be experienced when we choose to lay down our own glory, and live for the glory of God instead.  We weren’t created to live for our own advancement, and attachment to advancement only breeds pain and suffering. But if w...

As we near the end of our week long series on experiencing the promises of God, today we’re going to look at how living with faithful action, being the hands of feet of Jesus, position us to experience more of God’s promises.  May God guide us to into a work birthed from the place of abiding in him, that our lives would be marked by the fruit of God’s promises coming to fruition every day. Our Scr...

In today’s podcast, we’re going to look at how being wise with our time, and investing it in the place of meeting with God face to face, positions us to more fully experience God’s promises every day. May God open our eyes to see the true value of our time, and how deeply he cherishes when we choose to spend it on him. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 37:7 , and today's worship is Endl...

As we continue our series looking at how we can position ourselves to experience the fullness of God’s promises, today we’re looking at how we can cast off negativity, so that we, right here and now, can experience to greater depth the joy that’s available to us in God.  May God grant us the courage and perspective to choose life over death today as we seek to live the abundant life wholly availab...

In today’s podcast, we’re going to go deeper into the place of trust, seeking to open up more of our hearts to our good and loving Father, so we can experience more of his promises, moment by moment. W ithout trust, we’ll miss out on so many of the gifts God wants to give us every day. Without trust, our hearts will be closed off to the fullness of what this life has to offer us.  May we as God’s...