Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

First Thessalonians 4:13-18 is my favorite passage in the Bible because it
gives me hope beyond the grave. It reminds me that my loved ones who have
died and were believers in Jesus Christ are not lo…

Thomas Cole (1801-1848) was a Christian painter and the founder of the
Hudson River School of landscape painting. His work is a testament to God’s
sacred touch in nature.

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When I paint the sky, I ma…

God’s grace is amazing. He gives us favor even though none of us deserve
it. God’s love is beautiful. None of us are worthy of His great love, but
He loves you so much that He became human to live an…

Have you had times in your life when things were so difficult that it felt
like you were going into a battle each day? Are you going through something
that feels like that right now? If so, did you k…

What will give us peace and satisfaction? We might think relationships
will, a good job will, a good home, family, marriage, children, work,
skill, talent, gifts, etc. All these things and many more …

Heavy footsteps sounded from behind Skyla, and she turned to see Captain
Solenar approaching. He gave her a nod, his jaw set in a grim line.

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All of our work Skyla’s voice cracked as she looked ou…

Practically every year, when spring weather rolls around I feel a burst of
energy. Living in an area that gets long, cold winters for more than half
the year, I always feel a sense of happiness when …

When I became a mental health counselor, I had no idea what to expect.
What unfolded was difficult to accept but forever changed the way I
viewed others. I learned firsthand that some people who mig…

Sometimes,

It feels like I’m swimming

In a river

Of my own thoughts.

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Sometimes,

It seems like

I’m overwhelmed

In a sea

That crushes me.

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Sometimes,

It feels like

I’m not swimming

I’m sinking

To th…

When the snow begins to melt away and the cold disappears from the air, we
know that a new season is here. Springtime comes with bright green buds on
the trees, blossoming flowers, and so many more s…

How terrible does it feel when you try to reach out but no one is available
or willing to listen to you? When you call up one friend and then another
but none of them answer? How lonely do you feel w…

Sometimes I forget to pray. And sometimes I forget to pray for a while.
Life gets busy, or I don’t find myself with quiet alone time and talking
to God gets pushed aside. But praying is so important…

I read an interesting Bible verse the other day: The end of a matter is
better than its beginning (Ecclesiastes 7:8, NIV). Another Bible
translation phrases it this way: Finishing is better than star…

Crawling into bed, I snuggled under the blankets as clouds filled my
mind. “Another day I’ve messed up,” I thought, tears filling my eyes. “When
will I ever get it right?” Despair filled my mind, mak…

Markus stumbled through the dense overgrowth, his breathing growing heavy.
The weight of the illness inside him grew heavier with each step, but he
knew he had to keep trekking his life depended on …

For a long time, people thought that Earth was the center of our solar
systemuntil the late 1500s and early 1600s, when scientific advancements
like the telescope proved that the sun is actually the …

God is infinitely wise. Romans 11:33 says, Oh, the depth of the riches of
the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his
paths beyond tracing out! The riches of God’s wisdom…

A few years ago, I visited Windsor Castle in England. It’s an old castle
that looks like a palace inside, with grand staircases, enormous
chandeliers, and antique furniture. The weekend I was there, …

God is everywhere.

When you’re sitting by a creek

bubbling in between rocks along the way.

When you wake up on an ordinary day.

When the sun is shining through your window at work or play.

When you…

Not worrying is easier said than done.

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I know that I can leave it all to God and that He is ultimately in control
of everything going on in my life, but I still want to control it. I still
want to …