First15 Devotional

Have you ever felt the need to hide how you’re really doing out of fear of rejection, being shamed, or simply not having the capacity to deal with it? In our society, mental and emotional health often carry a shameful stigma. And because of that, people feel the need to perform and appear totally fine, when many are actually carrying around loads of struggles and hurt daily. On today’s episode of...

As we near the end of series on God’s promises, today we’re going to look at the promise of his presence. The nearness of God is always to our good. In every situation, good or bad, challenging or easy, it’s so good to be near to God. So wherever you are today, lay down every other pursuit, just for the next few minutes, and focus simply on resting on God’s presence. Our Scripture for today comes...

In today’s devotional, we’re continuing our series focusing on God’s promises by looking at his promise of comfort. We serve a God of all mercy and comfort, a God who knows our pain, weeps with us, and has a perfect plan to lead us to abundant life even in the midst of it all. Let’s come to God today open-hearted, ready and willing to receive his comfort, that we might be nearer to him as the resu...

As we enter the middle of our series on God’s promises, today we’re going to look at his promise of freedom. Every day this world tries to chain us to its ways, holding us down where God is trying to lift us up. But in Jesus, we’ve been offered total and complete freedom. And in the Spirit we’re offered a continual pathway to exercise that freedom. Whether it’s fear, lust, pride, or something else...

Today we’re going to look at God’s promise of compassion. Few things draw me nearer to God, faster, than a fresh revelation of his compassion. In a world that judges us so quickly, and so often fails to offer second chances, compassion is in short supply. May we not only get a revelation of God’s compassion in our own lives today, but may God mold and fashion us into his likeness, that we would be...

In today’s devotional, we’re continuing our series of taking hold of God’s promises by looking at his promise of strength. Every day I wake up, I’m reminded of my weakness. No human has ever lived a perfect day. But the goodness of this promise lies in that God promises his strength when we are weak. In his grace, you and I can live with the real, meaningful, and powerful strength of our God. Our...

In today’s devotional, we’re launching a brand new series looking at various promises our heavenly Father makes towards us, and creating space to take hold of them a little bit more every day. Today we’re looking at how God promises us his will, and how we can live our lives in connection to his desires and plans for us. May God stir our hearts to surrender anything that isn’t best for us, and may...

As we have learned this week, our God is fully trustworthy. Placing our trust in his hands is the wisest thing we could ever do. As we finish up our week on trust today, we’ll explore how trust plays a role in our sanctification and maturing as believers. As we commit to walk with and trust the Lord, may he bring forth a harvest of righteousness in our lives. Our Scripture for today comes from Psa...

As we begin to wrap up our week on trust, today we’ll look at the idea of trusting God for provision. May we find rest and peace today as we remind ourselves of our infinite Father’s ability to provide each and every need—big or small. There is rest available for God’s children today in the place of toil and striving. Your good Father wants to assure you of that today. Our Scripture for today come...

Today we’ll explore how emotional health and trust are linked. We are all emotional beings and how we’re doing emotionally affects us all on a regular basis. God has something to say about your emotional health, and it is my hope you are encouraged and feel afresh how deeply you’re loved by the Lord as we focus in on this truth. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 33:21 , and today's wors...

Today we’ll be discussing the plans we make for our lives. So often, our plans symbolize control. Giving up control of our life’s direction can be scary and feel unsafe. But this is all part of growing in trust of our heavenly Father. As we continue in that direction today, may you feel encouraged and motivated to place your plans in the hands of a capable, trustworthy Father who has your best int...

Today we’ll explore how leaning on the Lord for truth and understanding relates to trust. Where do you look for wisdom? God promises us that when we look to him, he will deliver all the wisdom and understanding we need for any circumstance. May you find the understanding you need for your situation today as you learn to trust the Father and lean into him. Our Scripture for today comes from Proverb...

As we focus this week on growing in trusting God, today we’ll explore the concept of obedience. Trust and obedience are directly related. Willing, joyful obedience comes from a place of deep-rooted trust in the character and intentions of your God. When we learn to trust the heart of the Father, obedience is a natural response to whatever he asks. May you grow today in your willingness and excitem...

Trust is something we are not created to give away lightly. We value trust like we value our own lives, constantly scrutinizing others to see if they’re worthy of our trust. But still we are made to do life with help. We are made to place our trust in that which will provide us with more life, joy, and peace. I pray that this week you and I will discover how trustworthy our heavenly Father is. I p...

As we wrap up our week on God’s heart to meet with man, today we’ll look at the encouraging story of John on the island of Patmos. Right when we think we’re unusable, a season is too dry or we’re past our prime, God comes and speaks fresh life and vision. If you find yourself like John on Patmos today, I pray God brings a new word of courage and life to you despite your season. Our Scripture for t...

In today’s First15 Conversations Podcast, you’re in for an absolute treat. Josh is actually joined by my amazing wife, Rachel, who happened to kick me out of the conversation for the chance to chat with international speaker, author, and activist, Christine Caine.  Christine recently released her latest book titled, “How did I get here?: Finding your way back to God when everything is pulling you...

As we near the end of our week on God’s heart to meet with man, we look today at Pentecost. The day of Pentecost was a major fulfillment of God’s desire to meet with us. On that day, his Holy Spirit flooded the earth and was poured out on ordinary people, just like you and me. We see God’s desire to dwell with a people satisfied as his Spirit fills them and remains with them forever. May you be en...

Have you ever believed the lie that your sin makes you unlovable to God? I think we all have at one time or another. We will look today at the story of the woman caught in adultery. For some reason, every time I read this story it surprises me again. God is oftentimes different than we expect, much kinder in fact. May today be no different. I pray you’re met by a generous, kind, merciful Savior as...

As we continue our week on God’s heart to meet with man, today we’ll look at the best example I can think of. Many of us doubt the love of God due to all kinds of circumstances, but I pray today you become even a little bit more convinced and sure of his pursuit and unconditional love for you specifically. Open your heart today and allow God to give you a renewed sense of how much you mean to him....

Oftentimes we look at Old Testament stories of man’s encounters with God and grow jealous. We question why God doesn’t show up in the way he did with Moses for us now. There is a portion of relationship, encounter and intimacy available to us with God today that men of the Old Testament could have never dreamed of. It is my hope and prayer that you leave today having experienced the richness, unit...

Have you ever felt incompetent for the work God sets before you? The mission and call of God on our lives can seem daunting and impossible. Know that Gideon felt that way, and it’s okay if you do too. But God wants to speak courage and empowerment to our hearts today that he will be with us, moving through us every step of our journey. Open your heart today that God may fill it with fresh fire and...

Throughout Scripture we see countless examples of God meeting with man and countless lives being transformed as the result. These examples are in Scripture to stir our faith and fill us with a desire to meet with our Creator. When we read about the life of David, we should be filled with a longing to live as he did, centered around meeting with our heavenly Father. When we read about Gideon or Mos...

People are messy. We are difficult and challenging. And it’s because of that no church is perfect. But there must be some reason Jesus desires for us to be unified and be one. Today we’ll explore how and why it’s important to encounter God through other people. May your wounds be healed, and your heart be opened to how God wants to use others to lead you to him. Our Scripture for today comes from...

Many of us know God’s presence is always available to us, but rarely do we take a second to become aware of how near he truly is. Today we’ll explore what it means to encounter God through receiving his presence. This simple concept has radically changed my life, and it is my prayer it changes yours too. May we learn to practice God’s presence on a regular basis and see his goodness flood our live...

In this world, it’s not difficult to become disheartened, visionless and confused about the direction of our lives or our circumstances. But God has given us a priceless gift to ground and root us in truth and vision for life—his word. If you’re feeling purposeless or lost today, look no further than the wisdom God has graciously provided through the Bible. Today we’ll dive into how we can encount...