WEBVTT 00:04.435 --> 00:08.644 [SPEAKER_00]: In the middle of our week, looking at how God is after our hearts. 00:09.465 --> 00:14.896 [SPEAKER_00]: In today's devotional, we're going to focus on what it means to live with an open heart. 00:15.898 --> 00:21.229 [SPEAKER_00]: Every day, every moment is an opportunity to live with an open heart. 00:21.209 --> 00:24.473 [SPEAKER_00]: or to live with walls up around our hearts. 00:25.374 --> 00:34.045 [SPEAKER_00]: And God's pursuit of us, His steadfast love affords us a pathway to open ourselves with confidence and security. 00:34.946 --> 00:40.834 [SPEAKER_00]: May He fill us with courage and grace today as we experience His nearness together. 00:41.775 --> 00:44.078 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 00:58.570 --> 01:21.186 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 4, verse 23, Scripture says, 01:24.997 --> 01:33.015 [SPEAKER_00]: In order to experience all the fullness of life God has in store for us, we must live with an open heart. 01:34.458 --> 01:43.478 [SPEAKER_00]: Oftentimes, whether it be from wounds or simply bad teaching, we live closed off and self-focused. 01:43.458 --> 01:54.851 [SPEAKER_00]: We go throughout our days with walls up around our hearts and rarely allow ourselves to receive the reality of God's nearness moment to moment. 01:56.255 --> 01:58.682 [SPEAKER_00]: But God is calling us deeper. 01:58.662 --> 02:02.389 [SPEAKER_00]: He's calling us to a lifestyle of encountering him. 02:03.931 --> 02:15.692 [SPEAKER_00]: He's calling us to tear down the walls we've built up and trust that living openly and receptively will bear life, peace and joy. 02:17.123 --> 02:22.194 [SPEAKER_00]: John 15 forces, abide in me and I in you. 02:22.234 --> 02:28.107 [SPEAKER_00]: As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the fine. 02:28.969 --> 02:33.158 [SPEAKER_00]: Neither can you, unless you abide in me. 02:35.028 --> 02:36.930 [SPEAKER_00]: God longs to be with you. 02:38.251 --> 02:46.500 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to speak to you, guide you, pour out His love on you, and remain with you throughout your day. 02:46.540 --> 02:50.163 [SPEAKER_00]: He's not just a God of Sundays. 02:51.284 --> 02:57.651 [SPEAKER_00]: His presence isn't only available at conferences, worship services, or monasteries. 02:59.052 --> 03:01.134 [SPEAKER_00]: He is God of every moment. 03:02.215 --> 03:04.798 [SPEAKER_00]: He is the Lord of all 03:05.757 --> 03:09.802 [SPEAKER_00]: and he longs to give you good gifts all the time. 03:11.324 --> 03:15.109 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to bear wonderful life-giving fruit in you. 03:16.371 --> 03:19.535 [SPEAKER_00]: But you must be willing to abide in him. 03:20.677 --> 03:23.621 [SPEAKER_00]: You must receive all he has to give. 03:25.623 --> 03:34.515 [SPEAKER_00]: Proverbs 4 verse 23 says, Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life. 03:35.947 --> 03:40.177 [SPEAKER_00]: Life comes from the heart, both physically and spiritually. 03:41.560 --> 03:47.473 [SPEAKER_00]: Just as the heart pumps blood out to the rest of your body, your heart pumps out spiritual life. 03:48.716 --> 03:51.963 [SPEAKER_00]: Your heart is the place where God is constantly speaking. 03:53.086 --> 03:55.491 [SPEAKER_00]: Your heart is what he cares about. 03:56.483 --> 04:02.413 [SPEAKER_00]: It's not enough to just give him your mind for understanding or your hands for good works. 04:03.335 --> 04:05.419 [SPEAKER_00]: He wants you at your core. 04:06.621 --> 04:09.546 [SPEAKER_00]: He wants your life to be wrapped up in his. 04:11.550 --> 04:16.238 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time today to open your heart to your loving Heavenly Father. 04:17.640 --> 04:20.365 [SPEAKER_00]: Look for any walls you've built up around your heart. 04:21.442 --> 04:29.056 [SPEAKER_00]: Stop believing any lies or misconceptions that would keep you from experiencing God's love moment to moment. 04:30.719 --> 04:40.176 [SPEAKER_00]: May your time and guided prayer be filled with a new life as your heart is open and receptive to the freedom of God's presence. 05:07.763 --> 05:22.000 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the importance of having an open and receptive heart to God. 05:23.742 --> 05:32.472 [SPEAKER_00]: Proverbs 423 says, Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life. 06:10.454 --> 06:11.055 [SPEAKER_00]: next. 06:12.197 --> 06:15.143 [SPEAKER_00]: Do you have any walls up between you and God? 06:16.485 --> 06:19.471 [SPEAKER_00]: Are you living at times as if he isn't with you? 06:21.034 --> 06:25.763 [SPEAKER_00]: Are you fully open and receptive to the things of God throughout your day? 06:45.098 --> 06:47.717 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 07:06.901 --> 07:12.812 [SPEAKER_00]: Cast down any walls you've built up at the feet of Jesus and open your heart to Him. 07:14.475 --> 07:21.187 [SPEAKER_00]: Receive a revelation of His nearness and spend some time simply resting in His presence. 07:22.730 --> 07:27.458 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask Him to give you eyes to see all the good gifts He has given you today. 08:10.840 --> 08:13.022 [SPEAKER_00]: God is constantly blessing us. 08:14.043 --> 08:16.705 [SPEAKER_00]: He constantly has good gifts to give us. 08:18.447 --> 08:24.873 [SPEAKER_00]: James 117 says, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. 08:25.894 --> 08:32.420 [SPEAKER_00]: Coming down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 08:34.101 --> 08:40.307 [SPEAKER_00]: God longs to demonstrate His love to you by giving you good and perfect gifts. 08:41.789 --> 08:46.334 [SPEAKER_00]: Cultivate a lifestyle of noticing and receiving God's blessings. 08:47.755 --> 08:52.200 [SPEAKER_00]: Look for all the ways he is providing for you and give thanks to him. 08:53.922 --> 09:02.310 [SPEAKER_00]: Live your whole life in light of the reality of his nearness and experience all his goodness throughout your day. 09:03.892 --> 09:09.518 [SPEAKER_00]: May you be filled with abundant blessings as you seek to live with an open heart. 09:25.732 --> 09:27.203 [UNKNOWN]: you 09:33.899 --> 09:38.565 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with first 15, thanks for listening to today's devotional. 09:39.446 --> 09:44.512 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, try and take note of when you feel your heart closing up. 09:45.353 --> 09:49.298 [SPEAKER_00]: And when you notice it, take a moment to allow God to meet you there. 09:50.320 --> 09:59.451 [SPEAKER_00]: The more we can let God in, to say yes to His pursuit of our hearts, the more freely will be able to live in and through His presence. 10:00.241 --> 10:02.844 [SPEAKER_00]: If you have just a moment, I could really use your help. 10:03.225 --> 10:09.192 [SPEAKER_00]: If you are someone who loves the journal, would you be willing to take just two minutes to share your experience with me? 10:09.252 --> 10:17.483 [SPEAKER_00]: You can reach me at podcast at firstsisteen.org and tell me how God is using firstsisteen to impact your life. 10:18.264 --> 10:21.848 [SPEAKER_00]: And if you have any other feedback to share, I'd love to hear that as well. 10:22.689 --> 10:27.075 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you see Kim.