Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have been afforded an opportunity

to live an incredibly abundant life here on earth.

Our God is nearer, more tangible, and has a greater ability to make his presence known than we've yet realized.

He longs to make his children more in tune and aware of the depths of his love, guidance, empowerment, and nearness.

He longs for our days here on earth to be marked by unveiled communion with him.

As we look at what it is to live an abundant life here on earth,

I pray that your heart will be awakened to the reality of God's presence and affection in your life.

Welcome to the First 15 podcast.

Thank you. Welcome to the First 15 podcast. Our scripture for today comes from Matthew 6, verse 34.

Scripture says, therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.

Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I used to view my relationship with God as a straight line of spiritual progress.

My goal in spending time in the secret place with fellow believers at church and at work

was to try and make the movement across this line of spiritual growth as quickly and painlessly

as possible. I would get frustrated anytime I got hung up on some

issue or sin and couldn't experience freedom quickly enough. My time spent with Jesus was more about

how he could change me than how deeply he already loves me. We unfortunately live in a day

and age where speed and progress is everything. We lose our patience as soon as a waiter takes

too long to get us our check. A light takes us an extra 30 seconds than we want it to.

A driver holds us back five minutes from our destination.

Or a conversation interrupts the jam-packed schedule of our day.

And painfully, we have allowed our culture to shape our perspective of God's heart for us,

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