Podcasts about our scripture

In today's devotional, we're going to look at how God transforms us as we allow him to meet us at our place of weakness. You were never created to be self-sufficient, to have no need of relationship with God. Contrary to what the world tells us every day, weakness can actually be a tremendous source of strength when we allow God to meet us powerfully in humility. May God replace pressure and pride with peace and humility today as we meet with him right now.   Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 12:9, and today's worship is  Everything You Are by First15 Worship feat. John Mark Kohl. -- Thank you for listening to today's podcast.    As you go about your day today, notice the times when you feel most weak, when you feel most stressed or overwhelmed. And come tomorrow to meet with God with those needs in mind, inviting him to continue the work he's done today in your heart and life.    And if today's devotional was meaningful for you, give the show a fresh rating and review, and make sure to subscribe so you won't miss one of these free guides to God's presence.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.   

In the middle of our week on transformation, we're going to take time today to discover how God longs to transform us through experience. Every experience we have in life shapes us in some way. And experiencing God is no different. When we make space to truly experience God, he molds and fashions us into who we were created to be in marvelous ways. May God stir up our faith and our passion to be transformed in his presence right now. Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 3:18, and today's worship is Real Thing by Vertical Worship feat. Sean Curran -- With all the emotional and spiritual challenges of our time, one thing is clear — true peace is only found in the midst of God's presence. Yet finding that quiet space to be alone with God and receive his abounding love is not always easy. We love having you follow along with us each day wherever you read or listen to First15, and right now we are offering 25% off when you choose any three or more of our devotionals. Go to first15.org/store and use coupon code Devo25 at checkout! You can also find the link and coupon code in the podcast description. Whether you are stocking up on Christmas gifts or purchasing for yourself, now is a perfect time to do just that.  

In our third devotional in this series on transformation, we're going to take time today to look at what it means to be continually transformed. We serve a God who is always for us, and always with us. In his power and love, he wants to continually mold and shape us into his likeness, that we might enjoy this life for all it can be. May God stir up our hearts to accept change and transformation in him today as we make space right now for him to come and move. Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:1, and today's worship is Never See The End by Mission House.   -   Thanks for listening to today's podcast on continual transformation.    As you go about your day today, look for ways to invite God to continually transform you. While you're working, allow him to transform your mood or perspective. While with your family, allow him to guide you into a posture of focus and love. While alone, allow him to fill your time with encouragement and peace.    May God move in amazing ways today as you make space for him.    Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  

If our second devotional focusing on transformation, today we're exploring the ways in which God transforms us into new creations. Every day God longs to make us new, to forgive our sins and mold and fashion us into his likeness. May God do a mighty work today as we make room for him to move, and may we leave this focused time in his presence with a true feeling of being made new.   Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17, and today's worship is Never Be The Same by First15 feat. Ashley McCleery & Bryan McCleery. -- 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!   The prayer and worship of King David throughout the Psalms have stood the test of time since over 1000 years prior to Jesus' birth and remain some of the most beautifully powerful prayers in all of scripture. King David was careful to take time to delight in the Lord particularly when his heart was downcast. 1 Samuel 30:6-8 says, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” And in several of the Psalms he begins his prayers with praise, recognition of his heart's truest desire, and rounds them out with self reflection. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” David's practice of acknowledging the beauty, majesty, love, power, and good intentions of the Lord toward him is what gave him the stability of mind to be able to be honest with God about reality while not losing hope. It is our prayer that this new Guided Prayer from our friend Laura Woodworth would serve to you as the first part of one of David's psalms when you have a difficult time finding the words for yourself, and that they would give you the foundation of faith that your heart needs to share with the Lord your concerns so that you can do so with confidence that he hears you, knows you, and is working in all things for your good and his glory.

Today we begin a brand new week of devotionals, creating space every day for God to transform us more and more into his likeness. And in today's devotional, we're starting with a broader view, looking at what it means to truly seek transformation. May God do a mighty work in our hearts this week as we make room for his presence every day.   Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 51:10, and today's worship is Graves into Gardens by Elevation Worship. – Thanks for listening to today's podcast on seeking transformation.    As you go about your day today, pay attention to the areas inside your heart and mind that are causing you the most pain, or disturbance. Maybe it's something robbing your peace, maybe it's a temptation that constantly overwhelms you. And make sure to bring those areas with you, aware of them and present with them, as we seek transformation together again tomorrow. These times alone with God become more and more powerful, the more we focus our attention on the areas God most wants to heal.    If today's episode was meaningful for you, consider sharing your story with someone in a review, and giving the podcast a rating. And if you're just joining us, you can subscribe to the podcast so you won't miss an episode.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  

  In our last episode of this week on renewal, today we're looking at what it means to have a renewal of perspective. Lately for me, it seems like the difference between a bad day and a good day is simply just a difference in my perspective. And there's hardly anything more empowering that realizing that we have the ability to change how we think, to shift our perspective, and therefore change how we feel and how we act. So may God give us the power and courage to choose the right perspective today, to see the world and our lives through his eyes.   Our Scripture for today comes from 1 John 2:17. Today's worship is Only Jesus by Brian Johnson. – Thanks for listening to today's devotional, the last of our series on renewal.   Tomorrow we'll begin a brand new series on transformation, looking at how we can live in a lifestyle of ongoing transformation in communion with our powerful, loving God.    If you're new to this daily devotional, or maybe you've been engaged but haven't taken the time to subscribe, I want to encourage you to subscribe right now so you won't miss any of these daily guides to God's presence.    And if God did something meaningful in your life this week in this subject of renewal, consider taking 30 seconds to share your experience through a rating, and a review.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.   

As we near the end of our week-long series on renewal, today we're going to invite God to bring a renewal of conscience to our hearts and mind. That our perspectives and beliefs about ourselves would be washed clean in God's mercy and grace. May God empower us to see ourselves the way he does as we spend meaningful time in his presence today. Our Scripture for today comes from Hebrews 10:22, and today's worship is Born Again by Cory Asbury.   --   With all the emotional and spiritual challenges of our time, one thing is clear — true peace is only found in the midst of God's presence. Yet finding that quiet space to be alone with God and receive his abounding love is not always easy. We love having you follow along with us each day wherever you read or listen to First15, and right now we are offering 25% off when you choose any three or more of our devotionals. Go to first15.org/store and use coupon code Devo25 at checkout! You can also find the link and coupon code in the podcast description. Whether you are stocking up on Christmas gifts or purchasing for yourself, now is a perfect time to do just that.  

Join me live in our Prayer and Worship Facebook group Monday, September 25 at 7pm central time. I'll share a bit about the Podcast and what's coming up in the future! There will be songs! Join our Facebook group here! It's Friday of Ordinary Time, Proper 19 in the Church Calendar. September 22, 2023. Praying today for Jill in Mobile, Alabama, USA. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “Kyrie” by John Lang, Richard Page, and Steve George with a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 69:1-23, 29-36 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day followed by a time of spontaneous, prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Art: Bushwick, Eleanor Doughty Proper 19 - O God, because without you we are not able to please you mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

In today's devotional, we're going to invite God to renew within us a true sense of purpose. Throughout the day I find my heart wandering to all sorts of purposes, some good, and some bad. But every day life teaches me that the one purpose that leads to the greatest measure of life and joy, is the pursuit of God. Not the pursuit of religion, but the authentic pursuit of relationship. May the Holy Spirit reveal within us the true reason we were created, and guide us down the path of purpose today in his presence.   Our Scripture for today comes from John 15:16, and today's worship is  The Story I'll Tell by Maverick City. -- Thank you for listening to today's devotional.    If you have a clearer sense of purpose after your time of prayer, I want to encourage you to take just a few moments after this episode stops playing, to simply rest in that sense of purpose.    If today's episode was meaningful for you, consider giving us a quick 30 second review, and taking just 10 seconds to give us a rating. And make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won't miss an episode.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  

In the middle of this week-long series on renewal, today we're going to make room for God to renew our joy. Joy is something I so often struggle to walk in as I allow the cares and burdens of life to weigh me down. But every morning is a new opportunity to come before our Father, give our cares over to him, and choose again the path of joy. May God guide us today into a meaningful renewal of joy as we set our eyes and hearts on him. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 51:12, and today's worship is You are my joy by United Pursuit  -- With all the emotional and spiritual challenges of our time, one thing is clear — true peace is only found in the midst of God's presence. Yet finding that quiet space to be alone with God and receive his abounding love is not always easy. We love having you follow along with us each day wherever you read or listen to First15, and right now we are offering 25% off when you choose any three or more of our devotionals. Go to first15.org/store and use coupon code Devo25 at checkout! You can also find the link and coupon code in the podcast description. Whether you are stocking up on Christmas gifts or purchasing for yourself, now is a perfect time to do just that.  

Join me live in our Prayer and Worship Facebook group Monday, September 25 at 7pm central time. I'll share a bit about the Podcast and what's coming up in the future! There will be songs! Join our Facebook group here! It's Thursday of Ordinary Time, Proper 19 in the Church Calendar. September 21, 2023. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “Oh For A Thousand Tongues” by Carl Glaser, Charles Wesley, David Crowder, and Jack Parker with a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 71 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day followed by a time of spontaneous, prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Art: Sheep Meadow, Central Park, Eleanor Doughty Proper 19 - O God, because without you we are not able to please you mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

In our third devotional on seeking renewal from our good and loving God, today we're going to look at what it means to have a renewal of our first love. What, who we love first, makes all the difference in how we spend our days, and how we spend our moments. And unless God is our first love, the one we're giving all of our hearts to, life will always feel out of balance, and lacking the fullness of fulfillment. May God guide us to a deeper love of him today as we open our hearts and hands to meet with him. Our Scripture for today comes from Revelation 2:4, and today's worship is First Love by Josie Buchanan.   -   Thanks for listening to today's devotional.    As you go about your day today, try and notice what or who has your heart. For today, don't try and change anything, just simply be aware. Awareness of where our passion lies by looking at our time, talent, and treasure, is the first and sometimes biggest step towards transformation and renewal.    If today's episode was meaningful for you, consider giving us a quick 30 second review, and taking just 10 seconds to give us a rating. And make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won't miss an episode.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  

Join me live in our Prayer and Worship Facebook group Monday, September 25 at 7pm central time. I'll share a bit about the Podcast and what's coming up in the future! There will be songs! Join our Facebook group here! It's Wednesday of Ordinary Time, Proper 19 in the Church Calendar. September 20, 2023. Praying today for Asher, Micah, Michael, and Curtis. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “Ancient Gates” by Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood, and Jason Ingram with a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 72 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is 1 Corinthians 2:1-13 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day followed by a time of spontaneous, prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Photo: Crazy Sunrise, Eddie Gilbert Proper 19 - O God, because without you we are not able to please you mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Join me live in our Prayer and Worship Facebook group Monday, September 25 at 7pm central time. I'll share a bit about the Podcast and what's coming up in the future! There will be songs! Join our Facebook group here! It's Tuesday of Ordinary Time, Proper 19 in the Church Calendar. September 19, 2023. Praying today with AG for Jason, Cale, Michele, and Jacque. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “A Thousand Hallelujahs” by Brooke Ligertwood, Phil Wickham, and Scott Ligertwood with a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalms 61 and 62 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day followed by a time of spontaneous, prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Art: Jumping Shadows, Wasfi Akab Proper 19 - O God, because without you we are not able to please you mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

In the second day of our series on renewal, today we're going to invite God to renew our minds. Our minds are the gateway to our emotions, decisions, and perspectives. How we see the world around us, the assumptions we live with, the lies we believe, and where we choose to focus our attention, make all the difference in our daily experience. May God guide each of us down the path to renewing our minds in his presence, and through his word today, that we might experience a greater measure of abundant life in him.   Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 12:2, and today's worship is Sound Mind by Melissa Helser. -- 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!   For the nights when you find yourself anxious, overly excited, or struggling for whatever reason and sleep seems to you like an unconquerable feat, know that you are not alone. Sleepless nights aren't always due to negative issues. Maybe you have something really exciting that you are looking forward to and the anticipation of it all becomes a canvas in your mind of endless possibilities. Whatever the reason, we pray that this new Guided Prayer by our friend Peyton Garland will help you invite God into the space that he already dwells, and open your heart both to release to him all that is on your mind and to dream with him about the possibilities. As you do, remember this invitation from scripture: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28  

Join me live in our Prayer and Worship Facebook group Monday, September 25 at 7pm central time. I'll share a bit about the Podcast and what's coming up in the future! Join our Facebook group here! It's Monday of Ordinary Time, Proper 19 in the Church Calendar. September 18, 2023. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “Defender” by John-Paul Gentile, Steffany Gretzinger, and Rita Springer with a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalms 56 and 57 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is 1 Corinthians 1:1-19 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day followed by a time of spontaneous, prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Art: At the End of the Road, Wasfi Akab Proper 19 - O God, because without you we are not able to please you mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

One of the best aspects of spending time alone with God is being renewed daily by his word and presence. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). When we make space for God in our lives, especially at the beginning of the day, he is faithful to renew and prepare us for all we will face out in the world. So as we enter into this week focusing on renewal, Where do you need renewal? How greatly do you need God's mercies in your life? May God teach and guide us into daily renewal as we make space every morning for him to fill.   Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 4:16, and today's worship is All Things New by Tye Tribbett. – Thank you for listening to today's podcast on God's plan for renewal.    As you go about your day today, allow God to meet you at your place of weariness right when you sense it so you can experience renewal throughout your day today. The best declaration of God's reality and goodness we can make is living out of the abundance of life he makes available to us every day.    May God use us all to draw more of his children to relationship with him.    Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won't miss an episode of this series on renewal. And rate and review if you haven't already.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  

As we finish our week on Light, today we'll explore our calling to be the light. What's beautiful about this call is that the pressure is off. We have so many misconceptions about what God requires of us, and he is not the task master we so often mistake him for. May you be encouraged today to live out your calling as the light of the world, free from the weight of the world.   Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 5:14. Today's worship is The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham. – Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast, the last in our week-long focus on light.    Tomorrow we begin a brand new series on Trust. Like all relationships, our relationship with God has to be founded on trust. And luckily, we can trust our heavenly father wholeheartedly because he is always good, always able, and always faithful. I truly believe this next series will guide you into a depth of relationship you have yet to experience as we reestablish our relationships with God through the avenue of trust.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  

As we begin to wrap up our week on Light, today we'll explore following God into the light. We each face temptations of various kinds. And God promises each of us a way out by his leadership in the midst of temptation and struggle. We are not alone in anything we face, as our Jesus has told us he's faced it too. May you feel better equipped to face temptation and sin today as you encounter Jesus and his truth for you on this subject. Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 42:16, and today's worship is Step into the light by Sean Curran.   --   With all the emotional and spiritual challenges of our time, one thing is clear — true peace is only found in the midst of God's presence. Yet finding that quiet space to be alone with God and receive his abounding love is not always easy. We love having you follow along with us each day wherever you read or listen to First15, and right now we are offering 25% off when you choose any three or more of our devotionals. Go to first15.org/store and use coupon code Devo25 at checkout! You can also find the link and coupon code in the podcast description. Whether you are stocking up on Christmas gifts or purchasing for yourself, now is a perfect time to do just that.  

All of our longings and needs were meant to be met in God. And yet, we live in a world constantly vying to meet our needs and desires in false, inadequate ways. Today we'll explore how to walk in the light by looking to the light to meet all of our needs. As we re-train ourselves to seek God first for satisfaction, may we find how abundantly beyond our imaginings the Lord's sufficiency is for us.   Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 11:34, and today's worship is  Jehovah by Elevation Worship. -- Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast.    Tomorrow we near the end of our week-long focus on light by looking at how we can follow God into the light throughout our lives, allowing his perfect leadership to fulfill our need for guidance as his people.    I hope tomorrow gives you a clearer sense of God's direction for your life as his beloved child.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  

As we are called to the light, we are called to be fully known. Many of us shudder at the thought of complete, total vulnerability, and fall subject to the lie that we could never be fully loved if someone saw all of us. Today we'll explore why being fully known before God is so important and life-giving. May you walk away today free from shame and fear after having faced a holy God vulnerably and having encountered his unconditional love. Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 8:17, and today's worship is You Know Me by Steffany Gretzinger.  -- With all the emotional and spiritual challenges of our time, one thing is clear — true peace is only found in the midst of God's presence. Yet finding that quiet space to be alone with God and receive his abounding love is not always easy. We love having you follow along with us each day wherever you read or listen to First15, and right now we are offering 25% off when you choose any three or more of our devotionals. Go to first15.org/store and use coupon code Devo25 at checkout! You can also find the link and coupon code in the podcast description. Whether you are stocking up on Christmas gifts or purchasing for yourself, now is a perfect time to do just that.  

As we learn this week of the light of God, today we'll look to Jesus who is the Light. What does this mean about the Lord? And what does this mean for us personally? May our eyes behold him today, as we search out the source of goodness, beauty and holiness. May our hearts grow in wonder, worship and awe. And may our lives be forever transformed at the sight of him.   Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 60:20, and today's worship is Steady Light by LO Worship.   -   Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast.    I recently heard someone describe sin as the interruption of Shalom, which means peace, or wholeness. God doesn't want to lead you out of sin just for the sake of doing it, he wants to lead you into the fullness of life, the fullness of peace and wholeness.   May Jesus guide you into Shalom today as you seek to live in the light of his presence.    Have a wonderful day, and may God bless you as you seek him. 

As we continue our week on living in and pursuing the light, today we'll explore how we as God's people are called out of darkness and to the light. Our new inheritance as God's saints is to step out of hiding, and walk in full vulnerable honesty before God and man. May you be strengthened in grace and integrity today as you're re-envisioned toward your calling to the light.   Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 5:8, and today's worship is Let There Be Light by Hillsong. -- 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!   Several times throughout scripture, we read stories about people who go through various struggles and bear witness to the story that God has woven through their determination, faith, willingness to yield to the Lord in prayer and to be courageous in all the ways that He calls them to be. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the most compelling of them all as it tells the story of the God who loved his people and his creation so much that he chose to live among them, to sacrifice on their behalf, to redeem their lives, and to be and example of how to live in a way that honors the Lord, welcomes the kingdom of heaven in their lives, and anticipates the glory of the Lord in every beautiful way. It is our prayer that you would be encouraged today to seek the Holy Spirit and all his benefits as you journey with the Lord along the path on which he is leading you.  

We live in the reality that there is both light and darkness around us at all times. This world has both good and evil, right and wrong. As believers we must grow in both our acceptance of this reality and our pursuit of the light. We must allow God to mold and shape us into those who rid ourselves of any darkness, become fully known to God, and allow his light to transform us into reflections of his Son. May the Lord open our eyes to see the glorious light before us this week. Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 5:14, and today's worship is Father of Lights by Elevation Worship. – Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast! I'm Craig Denison, author of First15.    My prayer is that as we focus on this week's topic of light, God illuminates every part of our life that he could mold us more into his likeness.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him. 

In today's devotional we wrap up our week on living an unveiled lifestyle by looking at our righteousness in Jesus Christ. Acknowledging the new nature we've been given in God is absolutely critical in living life to the fullest, having the fullest experience of God and interior abundance in him. May you see yourself in light of the finished work of Christ today as we make space to see the new nature we've been given by God's grace.   Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 5:21. Today's worship is Worthy of my song by Phil Wickham & Chandler Moore. – Thanks for listening to the final episode in our week on living an unveiled lifestyle. I hope and pray that you've found new measures of closeness in God. If this week has been meaningful to you, consider rating and reviewing this podcast. A few moments of your time could mean the difference in someone else finding this podcast, and experiencing God in a fresh way every day.    I'm so grateful for you. I truly hope your life is changing for the better as you're creating space to meet with the Father. Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.   

As we near the end of our week on living an unveiled lifestyle, we're going to take time today to discover and reflect on the omnipresence of God. The tearing of the veil at Jesus' death tells us that God's presence is no longer contained to a specific place, but wholly available. In fact Scripture tells us that we're now the temple of God's Spirit, that God's presence is with us. May you have a profound sense of God's nearness today as we look at the incredible availability of God's presence. Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 84:3, and today's worship is My Refuge by Rivers & Robots.   -- Thanks for listening to today's First15 podcast. I pray that your heart is open and sensitive to God's presence in all that you do today. One way I find that helps me stay connected to a sense of God's presence is taking a few moments to worship in my car, or at my desk throughout my day. If you're looking for some fresh worship, you can check out some songs that my wife Rachel and I wrote on Spotify or YouTube. Just search First15 worship and you should be able to find it.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.   

It's Friday of Ordinary Time, Proper 17 in the Church Calendar. September 8, 2023. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “Oh Lord You're Beautiful” by Keith Green and we'll include a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 31 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is James 4:13-5:6 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day. We'll then have a time of prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Join our Facebook group here! Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Photo: Lost in thoughts - Dublin, Ireland, Giuseppe Milo Proper 17 - Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

In today's devotional we're going to explore the connection between faith and living an unveiled lifestyle. There is so much life, peace, and joy for you if you will join God in the work he is doing, and has already done in your life. May your faith increase today, and may your experience of God's presence deepen as we create space to seek God together.   Our Scripture for today comes from Hebrews 10:22, and today's worship is  Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship. -- I hope your faith is stirred in response to God's faithfulness today. So much of the life God has for us is accessed by faith. I pray that God fills your heart every day with new measures of faith in him, and that your life is marked by all the wonderful, miraculous gifts he gives us every day when faith opens our heart to receive them.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  

As we continue our series on living an unveiled lifestyle today, we're going to look at the essence of what an unveiled lifestyle is. May you hear and take the invitation of God to live differently, to live closer, to abide and rest in his presence in all you do today. Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 3:16, and today's worship is Out of Hiding by Steffany Gretzinger.  -- Thanks for listening to today's First15 podcast. I hope and pray that God has been drawing you closer to him this week as we've been discovering how to live unveiled. If you have any questions, or just want someone to pray for you, please reach out to us through the contact form on our website, first15.org. We love hearing from our readers and listeners, and would love to join you in your pursuit of going deeper in God.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.   

It's Thursday of Ordinary Time, Proper 17 in the Church Calendar. September 7, 2023. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “Humble Thyself In The Sight Of The Lord” by Bob Hudson and we'll include a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 37:1-18 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is James 3:13-4:12 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day. We'll then have a time of prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Join our Facebook group here! Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Photo: Looking at the sunset - Kristiansand, Norway, Giuseppe Milo Proper 17 - Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

It's Wednesday of Ordinary Time, Proper 17 in the Church Calendar. September 6, 2023. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “The More I Seek You” by Zach Neese and we'll include a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 38 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is James 3:1-12 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day. We'll then have a time of prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Join our Facebook group here! Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Photo: Fast - Dubin, Ireland, Giuseppe Milo Proper 17 - Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

As we continue our series on living an unveiled lifestyle, we're going to take time today to look at the tearing of the veil at Jesus' death. While all things are not restored, today we're going to discover that the closeness humanity was missing with God has been restored. You and I are the temple of the Spirit, his presence is with us. May we gain a deeper knowledge and experience of God's closeness today as we study the tearing of the veil.   Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 27:51, and today's worship is The Veil by We The Kingdom.   - Thanks for listening to today's First15 podcast. The best thing we can do in response to the great lengths God has gone to for us, is to simply open our hearts and abide in him. If you're looking for more ways to walk in nearness to God, head over to the blog section of our website, First15.org. We've got articles there with more practicals on what it looks like to experience the fullness of God's presence in different facets of life.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  

It's Tuesday of Ordinary Time, Proper 17 in the Church Calendar. September 5, 2023. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “I Believe” by Amanda Cook, Jason Ingram, Jonathan Helser, Melissa Helser, and Steffany Gretzinger and we'll include a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalms 26 and 28 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is James 2:14-26 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day. We'll then have a time of prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Join our Facebook group here! Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Photo: Dancing in the water - Valletta, Malta, Giuseppe Milo Proper 17 - Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

In our second day of looking at how to live an unveiled lifestyle, we're going to apply the example of Moses to our own lives. Specifically, we're going to look at the closeness he had with God, the depth of experience and encounter he had with the God who loves you and I just as much as he loves Moses. May God draw us closer to him, and give us eyes to see his face today.   Our Scripture for today comes from Exodus 34:29, and today's worship is Song of Moses by Aaron Keyes. -- 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! Several times throughout scripture, we read stories about people who go through various struggles and bear witness to the story that God has woven through their determination, faith, willingness to yield to the Lord in prayer and to be courageous in all the ways that He calls them to be. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the most compelling of them all as it tells the story of the God who loved his people and his creation so much that he chose to live among them, to sacrifice on their behalf, to redeem their lives, and to be and example of how to live in a way that honors the Lord, welcomes the kingdom of heaven in their lives, and anticipates the glory of the Lord in every beautiful way. It is our prayer that you would be encouraged today to seek the Holy Spirit and all his benefits as you journey with the Lord along the path on which he is leading you.  

In this week of First15 devotionals, we're going to explore what it means to live with an unveiled lifestyle. It's when we live our lives in light of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus that you and I begin to experience all his death was purposed to bring us. God longs for his children to walk in intimacy with him, directly connected to his wellspring of love for us. May you experience a more tangible, loving, and powerful connection with your heavenly Father this week as we celebrate living life unveiled. Our Scripture for today comes from Leviticus 21:23, and today's worship is Holy Forever by Chris Tomlin. – Thanks for listening to today's First15 podcast. As always, we have more resources on our website to help you experience life unveiled, life lived with greater closeness to the God who loves you. Visit our website, first15.org, to find blogs, books, videos, and more. Have a wonderful day, and may God bless you as you seek him.   

Today we'll finish up our week on living poor in spirit by exploring how spiritual freedom is tied to spiritual poverty. May you be stirred up today to live free as you hold tightly to the truths of God's kingdom. Abundant life is available to us now as we seek to live low and abide in Jesus.   Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Peter 2:16. Today's worship is Freedom Song by Christy Nockels. – We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by clicking here, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! 

As we begin to wrap up our week on living poor in Spirit, today we'll examine the life of Jesus as our example and how he always put others first. As we seek to understand how to live a lowly life of love, may you be envisioned and encouraged today to love God and others well. God wants to use you as a vessel of his grace and love in this world. Will you let him? Our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 22:4, and today's worship is Oh Praise The Name by Bridgetown Music.   -- Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.    --   We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by clicking here, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! 

A cornerstone to living poor in spirit is living with an acknowledgment of our need for God. We must learn to tap into our weakness and lean on Jesus in all things if we want to experience the blessing of God's grace. The beauty of God's way is that it will always turn the ways of our world on its head. To be strong you must become weak. To be rich, you must be poor. To find, you must lose.   Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 57:15, and today's worship is  New Wine by Hillsong Worship. -- Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast.    Today we can all be thankful for the reality that we have everything we truly need in God already. That in our weakness God has provided for us so richly an abundant life in him.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  --   We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by clicking here, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! 

It's Thursday of Ordinary Time, Proper 16 in the Church Calendar. August 30, 2023. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing my song “I Need You Lord” and we'll include a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalms 16 and 17 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is Acts 28:1-16 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day. We'll then have a time of prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for giving to support this ministry. You can go here to find out more. Join our Facebook group here! Would you like to be a guest reader on a future podcast episode? Go to benwardmusic.com/readers and find out more! Photo: Sognefjord - Dragsviki, Norway, Giuseppe Milo Proper 16 - Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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 from it. Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 1:7, and today's worship is Hide and Seek by First15 Worship feat. Nikki Moltz.  -- Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast.    In God, repentance is a joyful thing, because in acknowledging our wrong we get to experience God's incredible compassion and forgiveness. And in being forgiven, we're freed from the weight sin brings on to our life.    I hope that your experience with God today gives you a true sense of that lightness in him throughout the rest of your day.    Have a great day, and may God bless you as you seek him.   --   We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by clicking here, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! 

Today as we continue our week on being poor in spirit, we'll assess our hearts regarding storing up treasures on earth verses in heaven. We see this theme repeatedly in the words of Jesus, and it is my prayer we're able to heed his words and embrace what they mean for us. As we seek to have one devotion today, may our hearts be fully open to the One who's worthy.   Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 6:33, and today's worship is The Narrow Way by Steffany Gretzinger.  – Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast!   I hope you have a wonderful day, and may God bless you as you seek him.   - We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by clicking here, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day!   

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 our own. It is my hope today that we can learn to embrace our weakness, that God may be made strong in us.   Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 12:9, and today's worship is Grace to Grace by Hillsong Worship. -- 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! Have you ever been in the midst of a challenging season that seems to taunt both your heart and mind as though it has more strength than the God who created you and promises to see you through everything? A world filled with distractions has a tendency to throw even our faith off center, making it difficult to believe that the God to whom nothing is impossible can and desires to give you strength to endure as He works in ways that only He can to work both for your good and His glory as He teaches you what it looks like to “sleep in the stern” as Jesus did in Mark 4:38, fully at peace in the midst of trial. We pray that this verse will serve to you as a reminder of what ensued in the following verses as the frightened (and somewhat perturbed) disciples called out to Jesus for help, and watched in amazement as the very storm that threatened their lives bowed to his command.   --     We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by clicking here, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! 

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 grace offers, we must pursue a lifestyle of being poor in spirit. May you experience more of the depth of God's love this week as you discover God's heart to minister to those desperate for him. Our Scripture for today comes from James 4:6, and today's worship is Everything You Are by First15 Worship feat. John Mark Kohl. – Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast, the first in our week-long series on what it means to be poor in spirit. I'm Craig Denison, author of First15.    My hope for this week is that God would guide you and me into humility, following the example of Jesus. And that in learning what it is to be humble, we would see what it means to live wrapped up in the kingdom of heaven come to earth.    So if you're just joining our podcast, make sure to subscribe so you won't miss an episode. I am truly excited for God has in store for us this week.    Have a great rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  - We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by clicking here, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day!   

  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 parable of the prodigal son.   May we become more like our Father in heaven today as we look at his word, and spend time in his presence.   Our Scripture for today comes from John 13:34-35. Today's worship is Christ Be Magnified by Cody Carnes & Kari Jobe. – We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by clicking here, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! 

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 his presence today. Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 16:19, and today's worship is Oh Praise The Name by Bridgetown Music.   --   Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast on the restoration of authority.    Make sure you come back for tomorrow, where we'll wrap up our week on the prodigal son by looking at how we can model our lives after the father in the story, and have grace for others around us.    Ultimately the parable of the prodigal son is actually about the father, and how he reveals the heart of God. And the ultimate calling of the story isn't to be like the sons, but to become more like the father. I'm excited for the work the Lord will do in the heart of his people tomorrow, as we create more space to become like him.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.    --   We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by clicking here, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day!   

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 Jesus' story to our own lives.   Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Peter 2:9, and today's worship is  Graves into Gardens by Elevation Worship feat. Brandon Lake. -- Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast on restoration of identity.    If you're looking to spend more time in reflection on who you are in Christ, I want to encourage you to listen to an original First15 worship song called “New.” There's a link to the video in the description below. Engaging in worship centered around who we are in Christ is a great way to establish a firmer foundation of our new nature in God. So if that's a need you have, I hope you'll take some time today to go deeper with God in worship.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him. 

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 The Place You Found Me by DCC Collective.  -- Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast on restoration of sonship.    If you feel at all distant from God, like something you've done disqualifies you from sitting next to him at the table of his kingdom, I hope and pray that this story equips you to draw close to the Father again.    If that's you, I want to encourage you to take time, even if you're unsure of your status, to sit at the feet of the Father. To ask him how he feels about you. To let him speak into whatever it is that makes you feel distant from him. And know that if you create space, he will fill that space with a revelation of his nearness and his love.    And stay tuned for tomorrow where we'll look at how God restored the identity of the son. I think it'll really speak to this issue of distance and self-judgement.    May God bless you as you seek him today.  

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 Worship.  – Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast on God's instant forgiveness.    I hope that you got a sense of the lightness and peace that comes from laying the burden of sin at the feet of Jesus. I want to encourage you today, that if you confessed your sin to God, and received his forgiveness, then you can walk away right now without the burden of that sin. The Psalms say that God removed it as far as the east is from the west. Live today without the regret or weight of it, and let that freedom lead you into a lifestyle of greater righteousness.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  -   We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer? Why spend time with God? What does it mean to enjoy God's presence? “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.” Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by going to supportfirst15.org, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! Again that is supportfirst15.org. The link is also in the podcast description.  

Today we're going to look at how incredibly 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 and shortcomings.   May the patience and love of God transform your heart today, as we spend time in his presence, engaging with his word.   Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 86:15, and today's worship is Sound Mind by Bethel Worship. -- 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 world, life moves at such tremendous speed that sometimes it seems the only way one might gain any sort of grasp on all that is going on around them is to focus solely on what's going on in their own life. The temptation, then, isn't just to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others, but to actually be willfully blind to the struggles of others entirely. But the way of Jesus beckons us to follow him down a much more intentional path wherein even in his own suffering, he chose to care not only for those suffering in a similar way as he, but the very ones doing him harm. In today's prayer, our friend Peyton Garland helps us explore the topic of empathy through the lens of scripture and by way of her own honesty. I pray it blesses you today and helps you to lift your eyes above and beyond all that stand in front of you today so that you might see the riches of the way of Christ.  

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 shattering story of Jesus, the story of the prodigal son. May God draw you even closer to him this week, and teach of you his redemptive and life changing love. Our Scripture for today comes from John 1:16, and today's worship is Grace by City Alight. – Thanks so much for listening to this first podcast in our week-long focus on the prodigal son.    Every day this week, we'll look at a different aspect of this story, creating room for God to apply it to our lives, to illuminate new ways he wants to love us. Tomorrow we'll do that by looking at how patient God is with us. I think tomorrow's podcast will really give you some peace and help you get rid of some self-judgment. So make sure to come back tomorrow for that.    Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.  - We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kid's Devotional book, My Time With God.    Get your copy of First15's first ever devotional book for kids today!   My Time with God is a 20 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12, to help encourage and equip them to establish a lifetime of learning and walking with God through daily scripture reading and reflection. Each day of this 20 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how to connect more deeply with God and about how spending time with God helps us live the life he's called us to.    This resource is foundational, answering questions such as,    What is a devotional? What is prayer?  Why spend time with God?  What does it mean to enjoy God's presence?  “When we choose to love God and let ourselves experience his love, he also teaches us how to love others. Living for love means living like Jesus did. He was always thinking of others.”   Request your copy of First15's new kids devotional, My Time With God, today by going to supportfirst15.org, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! Again that is supportfirst15.org. The link is also in the podcast description.