First15

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 fills each moment with the glorious abundance of God’s love, provision, and transcendent peace. May your life be marked by union with your Creator as we explore what it means to center our lives around meeting with God this week. Our Scripture for today comes from Ecclesiastes 12:13, and today's worship is Waste My Life by Craig and Rachel Denison. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click h

As we wrap up this week-long focus seeking to answer the important question, why should we spend time alone with God, today we’re going to look at how God provides freedom through simply enjoying him. I hope and pray that chains weighing you down to the cares and sins of the world fall off of you today as we follow the Spirit down a path to more fully enjoying God. Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17', and today's worship is Could You Be This Good by Kristene DiMarco. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

As we near the end of our week long focus of why spending time alone with God is so important, today we’re going to look at the value of living in surrender. Every day there is an opportunity to hand over the burdens and cares of this world that we might pick up the peace and joy of relationship with God. And for me, that opportunity has presented itself most often in the rhythm of spending time alone with God. So I hope today that we both learn a little about the value of living in surrender, and experience the life that comes through actually dying to ourselves, that we might live in Christ more fully. Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 7:13-14, and today's worship is Have it All by Brian Johnson. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people enc

As we continue our week-long series looking answering the important question, Why should we spend time alone with God, we’re going to look today simply at the value of having time alone. In a world where we’re inundated with media, people, stress, and work from the moment we wake up, God has a better beginning to every day in store for us if we’ll follow him. Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 5:16, and today's worship is Breathe / What A Friend I've Found by Hillsong Worship. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

Today we’re going to look at how spending time alone with God every morning provides a daily opportunity to renew our minds to the goodness of God, the goodness of this life, and the moment by moment potential of living in real relationship with God. I pray that after today’s time, your mind is clear and focused on truth, and that your emotions and actions are marked by abundant life as a result. Our Scripture for today comes from Philippians 4:8, and today's worship is Stand in Your Love by Josh Baldwin. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

Today we’re going to look at what it means to live for love, to build our lives on the foundation of giving and receiving love. You and I were made in God’s image, and his very nature is love. So may he guide us into a deep discovery of who we are in him, and how we can live our lives filled with the passionate pursuit of love. Our Scripture for today comes from Mark 12:30-31, and today's worship is You Keep On Getting Better by Maverick City Music. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

As we continue our series looking at the heart behind spending time alone with God, today we’re going to look at the daily opportunity to store the treasure of our hearts in heaven. May God guide us into a passion for investing our lives in his kingdom, that we would have the most joy and peace possible here on earth as well as in heaven. Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 6:19-21, and today's worship is Goodness of God by Bethel Music. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

Why should we spend time alone with God? Why is meeting with God in the secret place so important? Until we gain an understanding of the immense value and availability of encountering God, we will never consistently engage in this foundational, vital practice. As we discover God’s heart to meet with us in order that we might experience the depths of his love, I pray that your life would be marked by a new grace to consistently and powerfully encounter the living God. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 31:19, and today's worship is Better by Pat Barrett. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

In our last day focusing on getting back the basics of a quality time alone with God, we’re going to focus on what it means to meditate as a Christian. There is so much life to be had in the practice of meditation. And there is so much history within Christianity around this wonderful practice of meditating. May the encouragements of Scripture and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit lead each of us to an embracing of this incredible opportunity in Christian meditation. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 1:2-3, and today's worship is Hidden by United Pursuit. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

As we near the end of our week getting back to the basics of a quality time alone with God, we’re going to take time today to look simply at the presence of God.  As mysterious as it may sound, God’s presence is meant to be a regular part of all our lives. Just as we experience the nearness of those we do life with every day, and the fruit of them simply being with us, God wants us to experience his nearness as well. My hope is that today the presence of God is demystified a bit, and becomes a regular part of every day we set aside to meet with him. He’s done so much to be close to us, and I can’t wait to see how he fills the space we set aside for him today. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 139:7, and today's worship is Nearness by Bethel Music. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the w

Today we’ll explore what I hope is the fruit of every day’s devotional, communion with God. We serve a God who is simply after being with us. Every moment of every day is a chance to let God in, to live in real restored relationship with him. May God guide us ever closer to him as we create room for him to fill right now. Our Scripture for today comes from John 15:4-5, and today's worship is Come to the River by Housefires. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

Today we’re going to look at what I believe is the most life-giving aspect of daily time alone with God, prayer. There are so many ideas out there about what prayer should be. Today my hope is to clarify what prayer can mean for you and me in this space we’re creating for God’s presence by looking at Scripture together. And then ultimately, making space today to really pray. My hope is that today clarifies a pathway for us that we can walk every day into deeper relationship with God. Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Corinthians 14:15, and today's worship is Find Me by Jonathan & Melissa Helser. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

This week we’re spending time breaking down the individual components of First15 by sharing God’s desire for each of them. The majority of First15 is dedicated to encountering God and learning about his character, but every now and then we will cover some teaching and tools that will help in pursuing God to greater depths. This week we will get back to the basics and learn some spiritual disciplines that will help us encounter him in deeper, more transformative ways. Today in our week-long focus on the foundations of a quality time alone with God, we’re going to look at the devotional piece of our times together. I’m so excited to share with you my heart behind writing what you hear every day, and I know that our time together will help you get even more out of this space for God’s presence. Our Scripture for today comes from 1 John 4:16, and today's worship is Head to the Heart by United Pursuit. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about th

Today we’ll continue our week looking at the foundation of a quality time alone with God by looking at the value of worship. Worship is perhaps the most foundational part of a quality time alone with God. It takes what can so often be a self-centered time, and empowers us to put God, with all his love and goodness, right at the center of our time instead. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 59:16, and today's worship is Only Jesus by Brian and Jenn Johnson. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

This week we’ll spend time breaking down the individual components of First15 by sharing God’s desire for each of them. The majority of First15 is dedicated to encountering God and learning about his character, but every now and then we will cover some teaching and tools that will help in pursuing God to greater depths. This week we will get back to the basics and learn some spiritual disciplines that will help us encounter him in deeper, more transformative ways. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 27:8, and today's worship is Not In A Hurry by United Pursuit. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

In the last podcast of this year, we’re going to take time to simply make space for God to fill. Whenever we make a little room in our day, and in our hearts for God, it always amazes me how he can fill us with exactly what we need. So today, simply make room for God for whatever you need most, and allow him to fill that space with his good and perfect nearness. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 46:10, and today's worship is Open Space by Housefires. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

As we near the end of this year, today I want to create space to simply dream with God. God has so many incredible plans for you next year. He has so many dreams in his heart for you. And today as we create space for him, my hope is that he shares those dreams with us, that we could partner with him in running after the abundant life he has for each of us. May your heart be filled with the fruit of his incredible plans today. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 37:4, and today's worship is Let It Happen by United Pursuit. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

Today we’re going to take a look at the fresh hope we have in God’s nearness. God’s promise to be near to us as his people, and the great lengths he’s gone to commune with us in the Holy Spirit, has the power to change every moment of our lives. And one of the most powerful changes his nearness provides is hope, and the peace that comes with it. As we make space for his presence today, I pray that he fills us with a new measure of hope and life in his nearness. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 33:22, and today's worship is Never See The End by Bethel Music. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

As we continue our series allowing God to prepare us for the new year, today we’re going to look at the promise of God that we can do all things in his strength. My hope is that we’re filled with courage and hope today for what God can and will do in us as we make space to live and work in him in this new year. Our Scripture for today comes from Philippians 4:13, and today's worship is You Make Me Brave by Bethel Music. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.

As we continue our series, allowing God to prepare us as the new year approaches, today we’ll make space for God to create new beginnings in our lives. Every one of us needs a new beginning in some way, a fresh start in some area of our life. And this season heading into the new year is a perfect time to allow God to fill us with new life. May you get a real sense of redemption and grace today as we seek the heart of God together. Our Scripture for today comes from Lamentations 3:22-24, and today's worship is This Is What You Do by Bethel Music. First15 is a daily devotional written and recorded by Craig Denison. If you would like to learn more about the First15 app, books, blogs, videos and our other resources, please visit first15.org. You can always reach out to us on our contact page on the website.  Click here to help even more people encounter God through the ministry of First15.