Today we will take some time for ourselves,

something we're often not very good at doing.

The reality is, God cares deeply for you,

before you can do anything for him.

And he wants that truth to settle deeply into our hearts today.

We will be exploring what it means to have vision for ourselves bolistically.

How do we set ourselves up for success, emotionally, physically, and spiritually?

The truth is, you matter,

and it's my prayer you are strengthened and encouraged today.

Welcome to the First 15 podcast. Our scripture for today comes from John 10, 10.

Scripture says,

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

For a long time,

I believed that all God wanted for me was more.

I feared he would lead me to more work, more giving, more sacrifice, and less fun.

I viewed fun and God as mutually exclusive, as if he was the great cosmic killjoy

who only wanted me to sing, fast, pray, and evangelize.

Wrapped up in all my misconceptions was a very me-centric point of view.

I thought if I didn't work my fingers to the bone day in and day out for the kingdom that God's will wasn't going to be

accomplished. It's as if I believed that I was a savior, the sole hope of the world. And all these

misconceptions led to a constant weight I couldn't seem to shake.

But Isaiah 55 verses 10 through 11 says,

...