First15 Devotional

God’s grace is the foundation of our freedom, a sure gift made available to us again every morning. Every mistake we make is covered. Every sin is forgiven. And my hope is that as we center our hearts and minds around God’s grace, that his forgiveness and mercy open a pathway to true freedom for us today. Our Scripture for day comes from 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 , and today's worship is Sails  b...

Grace is a gift most of us don’t know how to receive. We’ve been so inundated with the earthly systems of give-and-get and work-and-earn that grace is a concept few ever fully grasp. Yet it’s grace alone that has the power to transform lives. Grace alone has the power to bring freedom to the captives. By grace alone we are saved.  Today we’re launching a new series, taking time every day to discov...

As we wrap up our week on being used by God, today we’ll ask God to fill us with courage to live uncomfortably. May we bare our hearts before God, and ask him to change us, to rid us of all that hinders us. There is nothing to fear, and God is ready and excited to use us for his kingdom purposes. Will you accept his invitation? Our Scripture for day comes from Joshua 1:9 , and today's worship...

As we begin to wrap up our week on being used by God, today we’ll explore what it means to live compassionately. This radical way of living will transform the people around you and expose them to the beautiful nature of Jesus. After we experience his great compassion for us, may we have no choice but to mimic that with others. Our Scripture for day comes from Ephesians 4:32 , and today's worsh...

Today we’ll explore the concept of evangelism. There are so many fears and misconceptions wrapped up in this topic, and my hope today is that we’ll simplify it, and get straight to the heart of the issue. As we assess our hearts, may we remain soft and open to the commands and will of God for us. Our Scripture for day comes from Mark 16:15 , and today's worship is O Come To The Altar  by Eleva...

One of the best ways we can be used by God is by simply being ourselves. The identity Christ has given us as daughters and sons is meant to shine forth and be a witness to those around us. May you be encouraged today in your identity in Christ and freed from any unnecessary weight you’ve been carrying. Our Scripture for day comes from Matthew 5:16 , and today's worship is Let There Be Light  b...

Being used by God requires inward humility and exaltation of Jesus as King. It’s the only way being used by the Lord can work. Today we’ll take a deeper dive in our own hearts and examine who is actually enthroned there. Our Scripture for day comes from 1 Corinthians 10:31 , and today's worship is We Love Your Name (All Cry Glory)  by Jaye Thomas feat. Chris Tofilon. First15 is a daily devotio...

If we are going to be used by God, we must first acknowledge that he is already at work all around us, and that his work isn’t contingent upon us. This is not something we’re starting up. The weight is not on our shoulders—the pressure is off. I hope today you’re freed up to be used by God out of joy and delight rather than obligation or stress. Our Scripture for day comes from Philippians 2:13 ,...

In response to knowing the heart of God we are called to share the wonders of his invisible nature with a world in desperate need of him. God has chosen to use us to reveal himself. He’s filled us with the Spirit and empowered us to proclaim the good news of salvation and restored relationship with our Creator. May you discover this week that you were made to share God’s heart. And may you find jo...

As we end our week on knowing God’s heart for us, we’re going to focus on the call to action that God’s heart doesn’t just stop with us, but is meant to be carried through us into the lives of those around us. When you are operating out of God’s love daily secure in his affections for you, God can do miraculous things through you. Just imagine how God could use you to bless and enrich the lives of...

God is such a good, loving Father that he wants us to live with a foundational understanding of his affection toward us. He wants the knowledge of his unconditional love for us to be so deeply rooted within us, that all striving ceases and we live in total freedom as his children. Today we’re going to further explore that concept as we begin to finish up our week on knowing the heart of God. Our S...

One of the most influential ways I believe God wants to reveal himself and his heart is through others. No one is perfect like him, of course. But we all carry unique aspects of our Father’s character. God wants to use others in your life to show you more about himself on a daily basis. If we’ll open our hearts to those around us, the possibilities are unlimited to what God can do. Our Scripture f...

Today we’ll explore who the Holy Spirit is, and what that means for knowing the heart of God richly in our daily lives. The concept of God’s Spirit is often seen as elusive, but it’s my hope today we’ll come to know him as a person—just as we have Jesus. The Spirit longs to have a beautiful, deep friendship with you. And all it takes is opening our hearts to him. Our Scripture for day comes from J...

As we seek to know the heart of God this week, today we’ll look to his word as a steady, ever-present guide to God’s feelings toward us. If you’re ever feeling lost or confused about his heart, look no further than his word. May we begin to turn to the Bible as our source of truth and direction first and foremost, rather than the world around us. Our Scripture for day comes from Hebrews 4:12 , and...

As we continue our week on knowing God’s heart, today we’ll explore the idea of continually seeking God in our day to day lives, rather than living off of one-time experiences. God is always available to us, and as his children, we have his Spirit speaking to us as all times, in all places. May we walk away today more inclined to listen and more open to finding God in unexpected ways. Our Scriptur...

One of our greatest privileges as a child of God is that we can have the heart of our heavenly Father. We don’t have to wonder how he feels about us. We don’t have to wonder if he will guide us. We don’t have to question whether he loves us or cares about us. Through the Holy Spirit we have continual, free access to the heart of God. May your relationship with God go deeper and become freer as we...

In the last devotional in our series on honesty, today we’re going to focus simply on what it means to live honestly every day.  My hope for today is that God will empower us all to continue this journey of honesty and humility on a daily basis.  Let’s open up our hearts in real, intentional ways today, as we experience the power and love of our heavenly Father. Our Scripture for day comes from Ja...

As we near the end of our week on honesty, today we’re going to discover together how there is freedom in the light.  Any part of our lives in which we’re walking in darkness, living isolated and unknown, makes space for our hearts to be chained to thoughts and temptations God wants to set us free from.  So may the Spirit lead us into the light today, and may we find the courage to follow him. Our...

As we continue our week focusing on honesty, today we’re going to look at how true honesty affords us the ability to be more fully loved.  At the foundation of it all, we’re all searching for love. And the fullness of love can only be experienced when we allow true love to find its way into every part of us by bringing who we fully are into our relationships.  May God love us powerfully today as w...

As we hit the middle of our week on honesty, today we’re going to explore how being truly honest, or living fully known, is critical to experiencing fullness of life.  There may be nothing more terrifying to me than being fully known, but I also know there is nothing more liberating than being my full self with those closest to me.  May God replace fear with faith today as we experience his grace...

In today’s devotional, we’re continuing our focus on honesty by looking at how we can tear down walls we’ve built up in God’s presence every day.  There is true life in vulnerability. And if we can trust God to be our shield, living with openness and love towards him, ourselves, and others, we’ll experience a greater abundance of life than we thought was possible.  Let’s come before God today with...

In day 2 of our series on honesty, today we’re going to look at the temptation to build a façade and invite God to tear it down as we seek to live more honestly.  May God show you how loved you are, just as you are. And may his love bring you freedom and life as we rest in his presence right now. Our Scripture for day comes from Matthew 23:27 , and today's worship is Sails  by Pat Barrett feat...

Today we’re launching a brand-new series, looking at the role of honesty in getting the most out of our time alone with God, and the most out of life. And we’re starting that series off by looking today at how honesty is the foundation.  May God give us the courage to be who we truly are with him, with ourselves, and with others today. And may newfound freedom be the fruit in our hearts and lives....

In the last episode of this series on God’s pursuit of our hearts, we’re wrapping it all up by looking at what it means to live from the heart.  There are so many places to live from, so many different ways to go about a day. But God, in his power and love, wants to free us to live from the heart, to share with the world who we truly are, and how he is fully meeting with us.  May God use our time...

As we near the end of our week looking at how God is after our hearts, today we’re going to look at how the Holy Spirit connects with the heart, and take time to today to invite the Holy Spirit to do a meaningful work in and through us.  There’s no greater gift God gives every day than the gift of relationship with him through the Spirit. May he come and meet us right now, and reveal God’s love in...