First15 Devotional

Not one of us is without sin. And each of us lives with a need for consistent repentance and an active receiving of God’s forgiveness. This is so crucial to living poor in spirit. The beauty of our God is that his forgiveness is promised at our repentance. There is no fear or shame in God’s perfect love and mercy. May we learn to embrace this aspect of walking with the Lord rather than shy away fr...

As we continue our week on becoming poor in spirit, today we’ll explore the concept of living a lifestyle of grace. Many of us struggle with pride and self-sufficiency. But those things are in stark opposition to what it means to live poor in spirit. When we choose the road of humility, we open ourselves up to a life dependent on God’s grace to sustain us, a life fueled by God’s power rather than...

The biblical concept of being poor in spirit is foundational to every aspect of the Christian life. Foundational to salvation is a heart-level acknowledgment of our need for a Savior. Foundational to experiencing God’s love is acknowledging our great need of love. Foundational to heavenly peace and joy is an acknowledgment that this world truly offers us neither. If we want all that God in his gra...

Do you find it hard to love people these days? As the world seems to become increasingly divided by the minute, it can be so challenging to continue showing love to those around you. It’s relatively easy to ignore those you disagree with or dislike. It’s even easier to criticize them. But showing love, especially sacrificial love, can be such a difficult thing to do.  Today on the First15 Podcast,...

In our last day of our week long focus on the parable of the prodigal son, we’re going to make space to set our eyes on the father in the story, and ask the Holy Spirit to make us more like him. Our ultimate calling is to grow up into the clearest reflection of who God is, as his children made in his image. And we see an incredible picture of who we are to be in the character of the father in the...

One dollar, one more person meeting with God We are partnering with existing readers like you, to rapidly guide more believers to the presence of God through First15.  For every $1 you can give today, we can bring one more person into consistent connection with God.  That’s one, real person spending time daily in worship, reading, and prayer, because of your support.  That’s a real person going in...

As we near the end of our week looking at Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, we’re going to look today the restoration of authority the father gave to the son. And we’re going to create space today to look at what it means be granted the authority of the Father in our own lives. May we be positioned to work with God in bringing his powerful love to earth all around us as the result of our time in...

Today we continue our week on the parable of the prodigal son, by looking at the son’s restoration of identity. The way we see ourselves changes our lived experience of every day. And the world around us often sends us a totally different message about who we are than who our Father in heaven says we are. May God align our perspective with his today, as we apply the restoration of identity from Je...

Today we’re going to look at the moment in Jesus’ story of the prodigal son, where the Father restores his sonship. May the incredible love of the Father displayed in this moment of Jesus’ story give us a glimpse into how our heavenly Father feels about us today. Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 6:18 , and today's worship is Run to the Father by Cody Carnes. First15 is a daily...

In our third day looking at Jesus’ story of the prodigal son, we’re going to take time today to look at how quickly, how instantly God forgives us. May regret, and fear over God’s judgement be washed away as we see an incredible picture of how quickly and easily God forgives our sins. Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 15:20 , and today's worship is O Come To The Altar by Elevation Worshi...

Today we’re going to look at how incredible patient God is with us, as we begin our second day in a week long focus on the story of the prodigal son. So often we judge ourselves, we can be our own worst critic. But today, if we’ll open our hearts and minds to listen and receive, we’ll find a patient God whose never surprised by our mistakes, and who never casts us out in the midst of our failures...

The story of the prodigal son moves my heart to delve into new depths of God’s limitless grace. I find myself in every facet of Jesus’ words of this story. I identify with the younger son’s rebellion. I identify with the older son’s judgement and resentment. I identify with the experience of the father’s compassion and love. Today we begin a week long focus at this lifegiving, and perception shatt...

Do you remember what life was like pre-pandemic? I’m honestly still amazed at how much time has passed since I first heard the term “COVID-19,” and would’ve never expected the world to look the way it does at this point in 2020. Today on our First15 Podcast Conversation we talk with Ben Stuart about how even the way we connect with God may look different now! Ben is the pastor of Passion City Chur...

As we reach the end of our weeklong focus on forgiveness, today we’re going to look at what it takes to forgive ourselves. For some of us, forgiving ourselves can be the hardest part of forgiveness. May God give us the grace to see ourselves as he does, and offer ourselves love, compassion, and forgiveness regardless of what we’ve done. Our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 28:13 , and today...

As we near the end of our week on forgiveness, today we’re going to look at a more foundational aspect of forgiveness, living without expectation of perfection. The goal today isn’t to adopt a pessimistic way of looking at the world around us, but to actually see others the way that God does. God isn’t surprised by our sin, but looks at us with eyes of hope and love. May we gain his perspective to...

Today we continue our weeklong focus on forgiveness by looking at the idea of separating out our forgiveness of the person from their actions. It’s often our failure to do this separation that keeps us from engaging in the lifegiving command to forgive. But God has wisdom and revelation for us today as we look at his word, and freedom for our hearts today if we’ll engage with him in prayer. May yo...

In the middle of this week on forgiveness, we’re taking time today to look at what it means to live a lifestyle of continual forgiveness. Over time, as we open our hearts and allow God to do a continued work in us, we’re equipped to develop a new normal, a new way of living. So today we’re looking at how we can live with a constant openness towards forgiveness, equipped to both receive it and offe...

Today we’re going to explore God’s healing for our past wounds and present scars. There is so much power in forgiveness, so much healing in reconciliation. May you find healing today for any wounds or scars you’ve been carrying, whether big or small. And may you find a greater measure of abundant life as the result of God’s presence and mercy. Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Peter 2:24 , and...

Today we continue our weeklong focus on forgiveness, by looking at the incredible gift of forgiveness we’ve been offered in Jesus. Every command God has given us, he has already supplied the grace to live in obedience to. Forgiveness is no different. May we find the grace to forgive as we rest in the forgiveness we’ve already been offered through our Savior. Our Scripture for today comes from Ephe...

Offering forgiveness to others is one of the most difficult and important aspects of the Christian life. But Scripture clearly commands us to forgive others. In this week of the First15 podcast, we’re going to look at how God longs to fashion us into his likeness that we might model the love we’ve been shown to a world with no concept of mercy. May you be filled with courage and boldness this to o...

Today on the First15 Podcast we’re joined by Kim Walker-Smith, one of the most well-known female worship leaders in the world! For more than a decade she has played a major role in influencing worshippers and worship leaders to passionately pursue Jesus, and today she opens up with Josh and me about her personal journey, as well as her heart for connecting with God on and off the stage. You may be...

In the last devotional in our series on grace, today we’re going to discover how in grace God teaches us. May we approach God with a humble and teachable heart. And may we learn whatever lesson we need from the Spirit today, as God teaches us in his grace. Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 , and today's worship is Refiner by Maverick City Music. First15 is a daily devotional...

As we near the end of our week on grace, today we’re going to explore how God’s grace brings us purpose. As we begin, where do you need more purpose today? Where are you feeling aimless, or lacking passion in life? May God fill us all with a deeper sense of purpose today, and may our days be more fulfilling and more impactful as we experience God’s grace right now. Our Scripture for today comes fr...

In today’s devotional, we’re exploring the wonderful reality of how God provides for us by his grace. And as we begin, think about where you have need today. Where do you need God to provide? Where do you need what only God’s grace could give? And let’s run before our Father with faith and joy, that he’s a good Father who gives us good, and perfect gifts. Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Timot...

In the middle of our series on grace, we’re going to look at how experiencing God’s presence gives a truer, more heartfelt sense of God’s grace. As we begin, let’s set aside every burden, and simply be present with God today. And may our focus for the next few minutes empower us to experience to greater depths the grace-filled presence of our loving God. Our Scripture for today comes from Numbers...