First15 Devotional

So much of our faith is shrouded by mystery. It is impossible to fully comprehend the grandeur and elaborateness of God with our limited human understanding. But as we’ve seen this week, we have a God who longs to be sought out. May your questions and wonderings about God and his creation only push you further into seeking him. Because he has made it clear that if you’ll seek him, you will find hi...

The will of God is often a scary and difficult process to discern. But just as we learned earlier this week—God longs for us to know his voice. And God promises to speak his will to us in a way we’ll understand. My hope is that today you can rest at ease in total peace that your future is in God’s hands, and he’s got you. May you gain some insight about next steps for you today, and fresh peace in...

As we continue our week on God’s longing to be encountered, today we’ll dig deeper into how he desires for us to know his truth. God has given us everything we need to walk in his truth and ways this side of heaven. As we look to Jesus as our model, may we be filled with courage and light to love not just in word but in deed and truth. Our Scripture for today comes from John 8:32 , and today's...

Hearing the voice of God can always be a tricky subject. Many feel inadequate or wounded when it comes to the topic of hearing God speak. Today we’ll discover the beauty and simplicity of God’s longing for us to know his voice, just as you know the voice of a parent, spouse or friend. Hearing from God is essential to encountering the Lord. May you walk away today feeling more confident and equippe...

As we focus this week on God’s radical desire to meet with his people, today we’ll explore his longing for us to know his love. There is nothing more transformative than encountering the love of God. It changes everything about us and our lives. Every one of us needs to be reminded of the depth of his love on a regular basis, and it’s my hope that today we can take some time to do so. May you neve...

One of the most scandalous truths of the gospel is that our Creator longs to be encountered by his creation. God longs to meet with us. His greatest desire is for relationship with us. God is pursuing each of us with his relentless love, seeking out those who might respond to his open invitation by opening the door of their hearts to him. My prayer is that in response to God’s desire to meet with...

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 we’ll dive into that and more. Our Scripture for...

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 and closeness with the Holy Spirit today. Our Scripture for today c...

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. Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Thessalonians 3:16 , and t...

For many, relationships can often be the greatest source of joy, or be 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 considering others more significant than ourselves. Today we’ll dive into how live in harmony with others and experience the peace of heaven in our frien...

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 with the transcendent peace of God. Our Scripture for...

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 Christians. Our Scripture for today comes from Galatians 5...

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 heart of your heavenly Father to bring you peace th...

As we finish up our week on centering our lives around meeting with God, today we’ll discover the beauty of living from union with him. Today may you discover and wonder at how incredibly connected and one with God you already are through Christ. May you live each day aware of and benefitting from that union, and be forever changed. It is my prayer that the reality of Christ’s finished work on the...

As we begin wrapping up our week focused on centering our lives around Jesus, today we’ll look at how to make the most of our time. Where we spend our time is where we place our value. As you begin to examine your life today, may God give you eyes to see what’s hindering you and what truly brings you life. How we spend our time is foundational to how we center our lives around Christ. Our Scriptur...

Like we said at the beginning of the week, this life is marked by a single choice: who or what will we center our lives around? Today we will look to the person of Jesus Christ. He is the first and the last; everything was created for him, by him and through him. To center your life around anyone else is futile and empty. As we look to Jesus today, may our eyes be fixed on his eternal goodness and...

Every Christian I know wants to live an effective life for Jesus. The key to succeeding in this is abiding in him. Abiding in Christ is foundational to centering your whole life around God. Tapping into Christ’s presence and power is what will allow you to bear good fruit in this life. It is my hope that after today you are more equipped and empowered to live out a life centered about God. Our Scr...

Seeing God correctly is essential to centering your life around him and his presence. Many of us have a tainted view of earthly fathers, but today God wants to renew your view of him as your perfect heavenly Father. As we grow in understanding of God’s perfect love and relation to us, may centering your life around his presence come naturally. Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Corinthians 8:6 ,...

As we continue our week on centering our lives around meeting with God, today we’ll explore how this is always preceded by the longing of God to meet with you. God’s affections for us are always meant to be our starting place in seeking him. As you are reminded today of God’s great love and desire for you, may your heart be stirred with fervor to seek him and center your life around his presence....

This life is marked by a single choice: who or what will we center our lives around? This choice takes each of us down a path of decisions that shape who we are, what we feel, who or what we value, and what we will have accomplished at the end of our days. To center our lives around ourselves or the things of this world leads only to destruction. But, to center our lives around meeting with God fi...

Today as we wrap up our week of diving deeper into the fullness of life available to us, we’ll explore what it means to gain spiritual eyes. Our human perspective is so utterly limited this side of heaven. We see ourselves, God, and others incorrectly on a regular basis. To experience the fullness of life, it’s imperative that we take up God’s perspective on all things and allow him to enlighten t...

Fullness of life and surrender are inextricably linked. As we begin to wrap up our week on diving into the fullness of life, today we’ll explore the concept of surrendering to Jesus. May you be encouraged instead of burdened and take whatever next steps are necessary to give Jesus your all. Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 10:39 , and today's worship is Beautiful Surrender  by Jonath...

This week as we dive deeper into the fullness of life available to us, we’ll look today at the biblical concept of understanding and how it relates to experiencing God. May God shift your perspective today and bring you into greater fullness of life in your relationship with him. What’s beautiful about God is that no matter where you’re at in your walk with him, there is always more. Our Scripture...

Are you standing on sinking sand? Or do you feel the ground firm beneath your feet? Assess your heart in this moment. Are you living in fear? Are you shaken as things appear to be falling apart? Allow your answers to be indicators of whether or not you’re placing your faith and trust in God alone. The Lord is a firm foundation, and the only solid place to place your trust. In diving deeper today,...

As we dive deeper into the fullness of life available to us this week, looking at the concept of acknowledging our need for God is essential. We will never taste the fullness of God’s sufficient grace until we learn to live low, acknowledging our need and weakness before the Lord. So many of us are fearful of appearing weak and work our fingers to the bone to feel sufficient within ourselves. The...