Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

What does Jesus want me to do with my life? Have you ever asked that question? I know I have. There’s so much pressure to know what you’re going to do before you even leave home. And at the same time…

I had finished my six-month dental checkup and was walking back to the waiting room at the dentist’s office. To pass the time before my appointment, I had brought my Rubik’s cube. I’d been practicing…

You might have been told by people in church to try your best and forget about “earthly things” (i.e., anything that is fun or enjoyable) and focus your attention on “heavenly things” (stuff like s…

A warm wind blows through the trees And stirs the face of the water. Wandering about the garden free— Echoes of songs and laughter. A soul, a smile, A song to be sung; The start of a fire, His w…

What does it mean to repent? Often we think of repentance as turning away from the wrong things we do every day. And this can be a result of repentance. But repentance in the biblical sense is less …

The term slumber party has always amused me. You all get into your pajamas, go to your friend’s house, and spend the night eating, watching a movie, and sharing stories with each other. You do everyt…

Your friend beat you out for the role you wanted. Maybe it was a spot on the varsity soccer team, the lead in the musical, or the job you applied for. It’s so difficult not to let bitterness fester a…

Of all the conversion stories in the Bible, none is more dramatic than that of the Apostle Paul. Before knowing Jesus, Paul—also called Saul—was one of the most vicious, violent persecutors of the ea…

Bullying. It’s painful to experience. But here’s the thing: I don’t know bullying’s pain because I’ve been bullied. I know its pain because I have been the bully. I’ve made fun of people. I’ve gossi…

We are the people of Abraham. We don’t come from the same families or nations or ethnicities. We don’t have the same color skin or eyes. We don’t have the same cultures or backgrounds. The people of …

The Holy Spirit prays to God the Father for us. What a comforting promise! All those words we cannot form out of the depths of our pain and sorrow, all the times when we can do no more than whisper, …

The offering plate passes by, and you watch others put in change and envelopes. Your school asks for volunteers to serve as tutors to the younger grades, and nobody raises their hands. A friend comes…

Do you like campfires? To me, there’s nothing more relaxing than sitting around a campfire talking with a group of friends or family. But fire can be dangerous too. In today’s Bible passage, Shadrac…

Life digs a pit and throws me, kicking and flailing, inside. I hit the bottom hard. There’s no escape, so I call out, “Lord, save me! I’m not meant to exist in this pit. I know Your plan is good!” …

In a story, the truth is what separates heroes from villains. Both might hold beliefs and convictions very tightly, but the villain is believing a lie and the hero is believing the tRuth The Apostl…

We’ve all done it. We’ve posted that picture or tweeted that thought and then waited for the likes to roll in. We go back and check. And check. And check again. And when our posts don’t get the likes…

Every week, Anna’s youth group offered volunteer opportunities. She watched her friends sign up to visit the nursing home or bake treats for a church fundraiser. Could I really help? she thought. She…

“Well, that was a bad decision.” “I can’t believe we did that.” “So, now what? You know He’ll find out.” “Hmmm. I have an idea. See all those bushes and trees over there? Let’s hide.” “Good …

Maybe you’re like me. If you grew up in the church, it might be second nature to pray about everything. After all, you want to share whatever is going on in your life with Jesus, your Best Friend. S…