First15

Today we’re looking at a topic I think all of us can relate to: how to have faith in the midst of trials. All throughout Scripture we see examples of God’s people struggling with faith in the midst of challenges. Doubt is something so natural, so human. And the world teaches us that when things get tough, we need to take this life into our own hands and sort it out. But God has a better way for us – the way of faith. May God empower us with revelation today that would bear the fruit of steadfast faith, even in the midst of trials. Our Scripture for today comes from James 1:2-4, and today's worship is Coming Through by First15 Worship (feat. Jeremiah Brinkley).  --   This month kicks off an extremely important season at First15 — a time when your partnership and prayers are deeply needed.   First15 has just launched a $216,584 Summer Initiative with the goal of connecting thousands more people to God and igniting their hearts for him. And today we’re asking for your support to make that possible. Support t

In today’s devotional, we’re going to look together at the marriage of faith and works. One of my greatest struggles is working with God rather than for God. God cares deeply about our work, our impact in this life, but not because he needs us to serve him or work for him, but because he wants to work with us. He wants to give us a picture of his goodness and love at work in the lives of others, and he wants to deepen our relationship with him by identifying and empowering us in our unique calling. May we gain revelation today that would stick, that would transform our understanding and deepen our experience of the connection, the relationship between faith and works. Our Scripture for today comes from James 2:26, and today's worship is  For Your Splendor by Christy Nockles. -- This month kicks off an extremely important season at First15 — a time when your partnership and prayers are deeply needed.   First15 has just launched a $216,584 Summer Initiative with the goal of connecting thousands more people

In today’s First15 devotional, we’re going to look at what it means to pray in faith. We have a good Father who listens to every word we pray, and knows every need of our hearts before we even ask for it. May God’s goodness become the foundation of our prayer, that we would learn to pray out of a place of belief instead of begging, and hope instead of doubt. Our Scripture for today comes from Mark 11:22-24, and today's worship is Where You'll Find Me by First15 Worship feat. Mark Alan Schoolmeesters.  --   This month kicks off an extremely important season at First15 — a time when your partnership and prayers are deeply needed. First15 has just launched a $216,584 Summer Initiative with the goal of connecting thousands more people to God and igniting their hearts for him. And today we’re asking for your support to make that possible. Support the Summer Initiative   You know the power of daily time connecting with God — the hope, clarity, and peace we find in his presence. And we’re so grateful for t

We’re in our third day in our series on faith. Today we’re going to look in greater depth at how we can actually live by faith, experiencing the incredible fruit that comes from trusting in the faithfulness of God in every moment. God is with you, and his heart is filled with love for you. May you find the strength and courage to trust in him today with all that you are. Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 5:7, and today's worship is Oceans by Hillsong.  -- I hope that today’s podcast helped you get a fresh glimpse of what life can look like when you live it with true, moment by moment, faith.    If you’d like to explore a new way of consuming First15 every day, we also have a free mobile app and email subscription. You can go to First15.org to learn more.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him!  

  In this week of devotionals, we’re focusing on faith. Living with our faith stirred up is absolutely foundational to living an abundant life. God is faithful no matter what. But faith allows us to have trust in that faithfulness, producing a peace and sense of calm in the midst of challenges that we desperately need. I pray that your faith would be stirred today as we look at the biblical principle that faith comes by hearing.   Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 10:17, and today's worship is Speak to Me by Kari Jobe.  -- Thanks for listening to today’s First15 Podcast. My name is Ryn, and I’m a part of the First15 Team. If you haven’t downloaded our brand new First15 app, make sure to click the link in today’s show notes to check it out! One of the new features that you can enjoy when you download the app is our Guided Prayers. We are adding new prayers to our library every month, so if you need a moment of peace with God, let these prayers be your guide!  In today’s First15 Podcast we wanted to

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is the undercurrent of everything we do as followers of Jesus. Without faith we lose all that Christ died to give us while here on earth. It is by faith we access the peace, joy, guidance, love, and purpose that comes from restored relationship with our heavenly Father. In this week of devotionals, we’re going to seek an increase in faith in response to God’s faithfulness. May you experience a greater depth of intimacy with your living, Almighty, and loving heavenly Father. Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Corinthians 2:5, and today's worship is Coming Through by First15 Worship (feat. Jeremiah Brinkley). -- Thank you for listening to today’s podcast on the heart of faith. I pray that this week your faith would be lifted and established as we focus on the incredible, unwavering faithfulness of our good and loving Father.    If you haven’t had a chance to rate and review this podcast, please ta

As we wrap up our week on loving people, we look today at how we can love the Church as God does. Jesus says we will be known by the way we love each other. Would people know you’re a Christian by the way you love your brothers and sisters? People are messy, it’s true. We all are. And yet Jesus saw our worth and loved us in the midst of our messiness. How can you mimic that same love today as you seek to love his Church? Today we’ll look at the perspective and affections of Jesus for his people. May our hearts and minds be transformed as a result. Our Scripture for today comes from John 13:35. Today's worship is King of my Heart by Steffany Gretzinger. -- Thank you for listening to today’s podcast, the last in our week-long series titled, Love Does. I hope this week has been empowering and fruitful, and that another life has been impacted because of this time you’re investing, seeking after God’s heart. Tomorrow we’re beginning a brand new series, simply seeking to stir up our affections for God. I pr

As we near the end of our series on Love Does, today we’re going to look at the role of hope in putting our faith into action. You and I need hope more than ever. We need God to give us fresh vision for the work he’s doing and will do in the world around us. And we need him to empower us to share that vision with others, that our perspective would be grounded in his goodness. May God fill us as his people with fresh hope in his presence today. Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Corinthians 13:7, and today's worship is Graves Into Gardens by Elevation Worship.  --   Thanks for listening to today’s podcast, Love Hopes.   Take notice today as you go about your day of someone around you who seems hopeless. And when you notice it, before going up to him or her, ask God for a word of hope. Sharing that word of hope, given to you straight from the heart of God, can make more difference than we can imagine in the life of another.   May God empower you today to be a giver of hope as he is.   Make sure to rate th

In today’s podcast, we’re going to look at the role of forgiveness in putting our love into action. In God we have forgiveness for every sin we can commit. And that forgiveness not only washes us clean, but empowers us to become like our great Forgiver. Every day we’re wronged in some way. And every day is an opportunity to show others forgiveness, not because they deserve it, but because loving forgiveness is the way of our Good Shepherd, the author and founder of our faith. May God empower us to forgive as he does today. Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 4:32, and today's worship is  Same God by Elevation Worship & Passion Music. -- Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast.   Today across all our platforms we’re asking our readers and listeners to become a monthly partner. We are all looking for ways to see our resources invested in God’s kingdom. Whether it’s our time, money, or talents, our lives are most full when we’re giving of ourselves for the sake of others. So this o

In today’s devotional we’re going to look at the role of encouragement in putting our love into action. In a world that constantly seems to beat us down, we’re in need of some real encouragement. God has an encouraging word to speak to everyone around you. And if we’ll make space to listen, he longs to share that word with us that we might see his kingdom advancing in the heart of another.  May God encourage us today, and empower us to encourage another as we make space for his loving presence. Our Scripture for today comes from Hebrews 10:23-25, and today's worship is Take Courage by Kristine DiMarco.  --   Thanks for listening to today’s podcast.   As you prayed today, I hope the Lord puts someone on your heart that you can encourage. I want to implore you to take this opportunity right now to reach out to that person. Call them, text them, write them a note, however you want to encourage them, don’t put it off. And I’ll see you back here tomorrow where we’ll look at the role of forgiveness in putting

In our third day of this series exploring how to put our faith into action, we’re looking at how we can love others by simply making time for them. The busier our schedules get, the harder it can be to make time for the needs of others. But we see in Jesus someone who while holding the power to save and heal the world, made time for the one. May God grant us his perspective and fashion us into his likeness today. Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 8:40-42, and today's worship is In The Family by Josh Garrels.  -- Thank you for listening to today’s podcast, love makes time for others.   As you go about your day today and recognize someone who needs a few moments of your time, try, even just for one opportunity, to set the rest of your day aside to meet a need. Oftentimes that which seems so urgent really can wait, especially if we sense the prompting of the Spirit to be his hands, feet, and maybe voice in the lives of another.   Make sure to rate and review the podcast and subscribe if you haven’t alr

As we continue this week’s focus, seeking to put love into action, today we’re going to look at how simply being present can make all the difference in the life of another. As our world becomes more and more distracted, and takes less time to notice what’s happening in the life of another, may God empower us as his people to simply be present today.   Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 139:7, and today's worship is Perfect Love by Rivers & Robots -- Thanks for listening to today’s First15 Podcast. My name is Ryn, and I’m a part of the First15 Team. If you haven’t downloaded our brand new First15 app, make sure to click the link in today’s show notes to check it out! One of the new features that you can enjoy when you download the app is our Guided Prayers. We are adding new prayers to our library every month, so if you need a moment of peace with God, let these prayers be your guide!  In today’s First15 Podcast we wanted to give you a preview of a new Guided Prayer that our friend RaeAnn Beckham

James 2:26 tells us, “Faith apart from works is dead.” If we are going to experience the fullness of life offered to us through our faith we must be those who put our words into action. We must not profess to love God on Sunday and live as if he isn’t present, real, or good on Monday. May your faith come alive this week as you seek to be a doer of the word. Our Scripture for today comes from James 2:26, and today's worship is A Long Way by Josh Garrels. -- Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast.   As we work this week to put love into action, I’m praying that God would give you specific opportunities to see his love change the life of another.   So as you go about your day today, take notice of who around you especially needs a word of encouragement, or a touch from God today. And look for one opportunity to put your love into action in a meaningful way.   Make sure to rate and review the podcast, and subscribe if you haven’t already.   Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you

As we wrap up our week on loving people, we look today at how we can love the Church as God does. Jesus says we will be known by the way we love each other. Would people know you’re a Christian by the way you love your brothers and sisters? People are messy, it’s true. We all are. And yet Jesus saw our worth and loved us in the midst of our messiness. How can you mimic that same love today as you seek to love his Church? Today we’ll look at the perspective and affections of Jesus for his people. May our hearts and minds be transformed as a result. Our Scripture for today comes from John 13:35. Today's worship is Days of Elijah by Charles Jenkins. --  

As we near the end of our week on loving people, today we shift to loving those we don’t know. We are all so busy, and most often unaware of those around us, becoming too focused on ourselves to notice others. Perhaps today God would shift our focus upward to see the faces we pass on the streets or on the elevator. How much could a kind word or smile help someone out having a rough day? Let’s try to take our eyes off ourselves and see those we pass every day and don’t seem to notice. Could God want to use you to minister to someone you don’t even know? Let’s find out. Our Scripture for today comes from Hebrews 13:2, and today's worship is Love God Love People by (ft. Michael W. Smith) - Danny Gokey (Lyrics).  --

In today’s devotional, we’ll be learning about what it means to be a friend who loves well. Think about your dearest friends. What role have they played in your life in the best and in the worst times? Does your heart fill with thankfulness as you acknowledge what a good gift God has given you in them? May we pinpoint exactly what it means to intentionally love our friends well today. May we be filled with the love of Jesus and grace of God to go out of way to love and minister to those special people in our lives today. Our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 17:17, and today's worship is  Friends are Friends Forever by Michael W. Smith. --  

As we continue in our week of loving people well, today we’re going to learn about loving family. For some this is an easy task, but for many this is a little more difficult. The beauty of it is, our God is with us every step along the way. He has purpose and power for you in loving the family in which he’s placed you. Our families have the potential to be our greatest place of influence. How might he use you today to minister for his goodness and glory? Let’s take a closer look.   Our Scripture for today comes from Exodus 20:12, and today's worship is The Blessing by Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes.  --  

As we continue our week on loving people well, we’re going to fix our eyes on Jesus. What better example or model is there for how to love than the One who laid his life down for the world? Today may you catch a glimpse of this beautiful King who loves perfectly. May you not only get a picture of how you could love others, but experience his incredible love for yourself afresh. Our Scripture for today comes from 1 John 3:16, and today's worship is Jesus You're Beautiful by Jason Upton.  -- When you trust Christ as your savior and Lord, you begin a relationship that extends into eternity.  However, eternity doesn’t start in heaven, and you don’t have to wait until then to experience a full life in Christ.   The truth is that we as Christians are called to invest in our relationship with God in this life as well as in the life to come.    And that means becoming more like Christ every single day.    In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provided a systematic ethic for how to be his disciples.         It was

We are all broken people, living in a broken world. It’s that simple. Unfortunately, no one is exempt from the effects of sin. The good news for all of us is that Jesus steps into the midst of our brokenness, is near to us and makes us whole in his love. What’s even more amazing is God wants to use you to see past the broken exterior to the hearts of the people in your life. Brokenness can often make us hard, bitter and difficult to deal with. But we’ve been given the call to see past that hard exterior and love people in the midst of their pain. In today’s podcast, we’re looking together at how we can see past the brokenness in others to love them well. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 34:18, and today's worship is Providence by United Pursuit. -- When you trust Christ as your savior and Lord, you begin a relationship that extends into eternity.  However, eternity doesn’t start in heaven, and you don’t have to wait until then to experience a full life in Christ.   The truth is that we as Christ

Loving others is one of the most important and difficult commands Jesus gave us. We are a messy, needy, and broken people. We constantly have to deal with our own wounds and the wounds of others. But if we can learn to love others well; rich, life-giving relationship will be our reward. May you receive the love of your Father given you by his grace, and be empowered to love others this week as we look to grow in our obedience of Jesus’ command to love others. Our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 19:11, and today's worship is Forgiveness by Jason Upton. -- When you trust Christ as your savior and Lord, you begin a relationship that extends into eternity.  However, eternity doesn’t start in heaven, and you don’t have to wait until then to experience a full life in Christ.   The truth is that we as Christians are called to invest in our relationship with God in this life as well as in the life to come.    And that means becoming more like Christ every single day.    In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus p