Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

This time of year, many people set out nativity scenes that depict baby
Jesus in the manger to remind us of our Savior’s humble birth. My family’s
nativity set was made of sturdy wooden pieces so the…

When discussing Christmas with family or friends, I get a variety of
responses when I say these words: No cross, no cradle. Some reply with a
puzzled look, others have laughed saying the opposite is …

Christmas season is always something I look forward to. Excitement can be
seen and felt everywhere I turn: music is coming from shops, and people are
singing carols. The Christmas season brings to to…

In the book of Malachi, we see God’s chosen people imploring Him to be
gracious to them even while they keep disrespecting Him and showing
contempt for His commands.

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By God’s law, they are to make …

I cannot fight this darkness deep

I cannot find my way

Help me, O my God

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The faithful, godly people

Have vanished from the world

Help me, O my God

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The poor and needy gasp for help

That’s nowh…

As a teenager, one of the reasons I didn’t believe in God was because I
didn’t think God cared about my individual struggles. There were people in
far worse situations who needed God’s help, so I did…

One of my favorite Bible passages is Psalm 19. David, the psalmist,
illustrates how God is a master communicator. This psalm has three parts:

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1) God speaks through creation;

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2) God speaks through…

Isaiah 9:6-7 is part of an Old Testament promise of a Messiah: a Rescuer
and King for the whole world! This passage lists tons of names that are
ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. One of those names is W…

Maybe you’ve heard the saying: God will never give us more than we can
handle. I’d never thought much about that idea until I found myself in
Guatemala, begging God not to let both of my grandparents…

I need help right now

The waves are about to wash me away

God, I need you right now

This pain is too much for me to bear

The sooner you help

The sooner I can start to heal

The sooner you help

The eas…

Elisha is an Old Testament prophet, and God performed many mighty miracles
through him. He healed Naaman of leprosy (2 Kings 5), raised a dead boy
back to life (2 Kings 4), and stopped the Aramean ar…

It doesn’t matter when you pray. It can be early in the morning or the
middle of the night. It can be on a good day or a hard day. It doesn’t
matter when, God hears you no matter what.

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It doesn’t m…

A fragment. A shard. A useless bit of glass.
A piece among many. Split from the mass.
Silenced. Alone. No comfort in sight.
An endless abyss. As dark as the night.

A yearning. A desire. A never-endin…

Do you ever feel down when you see others doing big things? Do you feel
like you would never be able to serve like they do or make as big of an
impact?

Just because someone is better at something, or…

Imagine feeling so certain that if you did one simple thing, you’d have
your deepest desire fulfilled. What if that desire was to be healed from
years of suffering? And what if, after spending all yo…

Death feels so final and real. Death has been on my mind recently because I
have a family member who is not in good health. Once someone passes away,
we cannot get them back. But, death does not have…

Many people sought Jesus during His ministry on earth. Some went to Him to
get healed, and some longed to hear from Him and see His miracles. Jesus
said that He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 1…

Sometimes I struggle when I read the Bible. It sorts people into two
groups: the righteous and the wicked. It says God blesses the righteous and
punishes the wicked. That sounds kind of good, right? …

Are you hungry for justice?
Do you thirst for light in a dark world?
Are you desperate for a purpose to go on?

Are you searching for meaning in life?
Do you wish to be understood?
Are you longing to …

I held the paper in my hand, reading the message in surprise. A telegram! I
didn’t know anybody who sent (or received) telegrams, yet there I stood
with one of my own.

I’d competed at a local level …