WEBVTT 00:04.823 --> 00:07.586 [SPEAKER_00]: this life is marked by a single choice. 00:08.367 --> 00:11.691 [SPEAKER_00]: Who or what will we center our lives around? 00:12.632 --> 00:24.546 [SPEAKER_00]: This choice takes each of us down a path of decisions that shape who we are, what we feel, who are what we value, and what we will have accomplished at the end of our days. 00:25.507 --> 00:32.535 [SPEAKER_00]: To center our lives around ourselves or the things of this world leads only to destruction. 00:32.515 --> 00:43.210 [SPEAKER_00]: But to center our lives around meeting with God fills each moment with the glorious abundance of God's love, provision, and transcendent peace. 00:44.211 --> 00:52.824 [SPEAKER_00]: May your life be marked by union with your creator as we explore what it means to center our lives around meeting with God this week. 00:53.565 --> 00:56.008 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:23.242 --> 01:45.884 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Ecclesiastes 12 verse 13, Scripture says, The end of the matter, all has been heard, fear God and keep His commandments. 01:46.544 --> 01:49.587 [SPEAKER_00]: For this is the whole duty of man. 01:53.380 --> 02:02.732 [SPEAKER_00]: What would our lives look like if we truly centered our time, energy, emotions and pursuits around meeting with God? 02:03.927 --> 02:08.593 [SPEAKER_00]: All of us choose to center our lives around something or someone. 02:09.835 --> 02:14.481 [SPEAKER_00]: Every decision is made through the filter of what we most value. 02:15.663 --> 02:19.148 [SPEAKER_00]: For some of us, we center our lives around ourselves. 02:20.069 --> 02:24.455 [SPEAKER_00]: For others, we center our lives around the opinions of others. 02:25.576 --> 02:33.327 [SPEAKER_00]: Still, others choose to center life around a notion or concept, believing it to be of 02:34.252 --> 02:49.425 [SPEAKER_00]: My prayer is that we as the body of Christ would begin to center our lives here on earth around meeting with our Creator because he's absolutely the most worthy recipient of our highest value. 02:49.979 --> 02:56.830 [SPEAKER_00]: To center our lives around meeting with God, is to place value on the absolute best thing. 02:58.312 --> 03:06.606 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 84 versus 10 through 12 says, for a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. 03:07.708 --> 03:14.198 [SPEAKER_00]: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tenth of wickedness. 03:14.684 --> 03:17.647 [SPEAKER_00]: For the Lord God is a son and shield. 03:18.629 --> 03:21.192 [SPEAKER_00]: The Lord bestows favor and honor. 03:22.313 --> 03:26.638 [SPEAKER_00]: No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 03:26.658 --> 03:31.624 [SPEAKER_00]: A Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you. 03:34.847 --> 03:43.898 [SPEAKER_00]: When we place our trust in value in God, we position ourselves to live in blissful communion with the Father who loves us. 03:45.380 --> 03:47.744 [SPEAKER_00]: Our God longs to meet with us. 03:48.806 --> 03:51.871 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for us to taste and see His goodness. 03:53.314 --> 04:03.912 [SPEAKER_00]: It's only in living for communion with our Creator, above all else, that we will experience the incredible abundant life God longs to give us. 04:05.360 --> 04:08.845 [SPEAKER_00]: For most of my life, I would have told you God was my center. 04:09.646 --> 04:19.941 [SPEAKER_00]: I would have said that Jesus was my highest value, but my actions, time, thoughts and emotions in no way reflected those statements. 04:21.103 --> 04:24.648 [SPEAKER_00]: You see, we spend time with those who we most love. 04:25.569 --> 04:34.202 [SPEAKER_00]: We center our emotions, actions, and thoughts around whatever person or thing we most value. 04:34.182 --> 04:39.731 [SPEAKER_00]: unless our lives truly reflect a posture of being centered around Jesus. 04:40.452 --> 04:46.742 [SPEAKER_00]: We must take an honest assessment of ourselves and ask God to help us make changes. 04:48.124 --> 04:59.262 [SPEAKER_00]: We must bring our brokenness and sin before God and ask for His perfect help in transforming us into children marked by His presence. 05:00.693 --> 05:07.941 [SPEAKER_00]: Centering our lives around anything but Jesus will only lead us to disappointment and dissatisfaction. 05:08.741 --> 05:11.024 [SPEAKER_00]: This world has nothing good to offer us. 05:12.545 --> 05:19.272 [SPEAKER_00]: To center our lives around ourselves will only increase the burdens and stresses of this world. 05:20.313 --> 05:29.603 [SPEAKER_00]: To center our lives around people will only lead to an emotional 05:30.511 --> 05:34.079 [SPEAKER_00]: into center our lives around an idea or concept. 05:34.620 --> 05:39.510 [SPEAKER_00]: We'll only store up treasure as lasting as this already passing world. 05:41.334 --> 05:45.904 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time today to look honestly at your heart in guided prayer. 05:46.542 --> 05:53.074 [SPEAKER_00]: allow the Holy Spirit to reveal any ways in which your life isn't centered around meeting with God. 05:54.356 --> 06:06.778 [SPEAKER_00]: Confess any worldly or selfish pursuits and seek to center your life around incredible boundless communion with your good and loving heavenly Father. 06:31.497 --> 06:38.223 [SPEAKER_00]: as we begin, meditate on the importance of centering your life around meeting with God. 06:39.704 --> 06:46.290 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow scripture to stir up your heart to place the highest value in communion with your Creator. 06:47.891 --> 07:01.183 [SPEAKER_00]: Lamentation's 325 says, the Lord is good to those who wait for Him to the soul who seeks Him. 07:07.964 --> 07:30.968 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you for watching. 07:36.398 --> 07:36.978 [SPEAKER_00]: and next. 07:38.079 --> 07:41.422 [SPEAKER_00]: Where is your life not centered around meeting with God? 07:42.723 --> 07:49.109 [SPEAKER_00]: Where have you been placing your value, energy, time and emotions other than Jesus? 07:50.810 --> 07:57.195 [SPEAKER_00]: Galatians 1, 10 says, for am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? 07:58.336 --> 08:06.203 [SPEAKER_00]: Or am I trying to please man? 08:08.258 --> 08:35.110 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much. 08:42.751 --> 08:53.591 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, ask the Holy Spirit to help you re-center your life today. 08:53.631 --> 09:00.423 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask him to show you what it looks like to truly center your life around meeting with God. 09:01.806 --> 09:06.514 [SPEAKER_00]: Make the decision to value relationship with God above all else. 09:07.878 --> 09:16.605 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 84 versus 10 through 12 says, for a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. 09:17.193 --> 09:23.581 [SPEAKER_00]: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 09:24.783 --> 09:27.626 [SPEAKER_00]: For the Lord God is a son and shield. 09:28.607 --> 09:31.191 [SPEAKER_00]: The Lord bestows favor and honor. 09:32.492 --> 09:36.637 [SPEAKER_00]: No good thing does he withhold from those who walk abriently. 09:37.859 --> 09:41.884 [SPEAKER_00]: O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you. 09:50.977 --> 10:18.385 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much. 10:22.904 --> 10:31.277 [SPEAKER_00]: to truly center our lives around God, is to free ourselves from the constraints of both the world and religion. 10:32.135 --> 10:35.520 [SPEAKER_00]: God does not desire legalism in meeting with Him. 10:36.461 --> 10:42.269 [SPEAKER_00]: He's not angry with you for spending time with friends, entertainment, or other things you enjoy. 10:42.289 --> 10:46.795 [SPEAKER_00]: He simply wants to be the chief longing of your heart. 10:47.856 --> 10:54.906 [SPEAKER_00]: He wants to be with you as you spend time with friends, family, entertainment, or anything else your heart desires. 10:56.247 --> 10:59.712 [SPEAKER_00]: Of course he wants you to meet with him in the secret place. 10:59.692 --> 11:04.457 [SPEAKER_00]: Of course, he wants you to follow his leadership if he guides you away from something. 11:05.418 --> 11:11.925 [SPEAKER_00]: But as your heart grows to be truly his, you will begin to want the things he wants. 11:12.746 --> 11:16.209 [SPEAKER_00]: You will begin to spend your time as it can best be spent. 11:17.411 --> 11:26.340 [SPEAKER_00]: And you will begin to truly center your life around the goodness you can only find in the presence of your Heavenly Father. 11:26.320 --> 11:44.903 [SPEAKER_00]: May your day today be marked by the simplicity and joy of communing with a good, near and loving God. 11:56.560 --> 11:59.223 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to today's podcast. 11:59.243 --> 12:05.431 [SPEAKER_00]: The first in our week-long series, focusing on centering our lives around meeting with God. 12:06.112 --> 12:07.914 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First15. 12:08.735 --> 12:14.743 [SPEAKER_00]: My hope and prayer is that life feels a lot simpler as the result of engaging with God this week. 12:15.444 --> 12:22.112 [SPEAKER_00]: And that the rest of your life falls more into place as you set your eyes fully on Jesus. 12:22.092 --> 12:26.685 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek him.