Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: DEUTERONOMY 7:7-8; PSALM 34; ROMANS 8

I twirled the marble beads on my bracelet, cool against my skin. Grey, grey, bright blue. The turquoise color had intricate swirls of sky blue, the resu…

READ: PSALM 23; PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13; HEBREWS 13:5

Growing up, I participated in a program at my church where I learned Bible stories and memorized Scripture. I remember memorizing Psalm 23 when I …

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 13:9-13; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-7

Have you gone through something really hard lately? Maybe there’s been sickness or a death in your family. Maybe your parents are separating, or yo…

READ: LAMENTATIONS 3:22-26; EPHESIANS 3:14-21; 1 JOHN 4:16

Ten or fifteen years ago, when I was a teenager and struggling through that often awkward and difficult phase of life, I wish I had known…

READ: GENESIS 32:24-32; HOSEA 12:3-5; EPHESIANS 4:22-24

When I was an RA (resident assistant) in college, I had this resident who used to tell me she and God had been “wrestling” about something. …

READ: PROVERBS 25:15; 1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-8; 1 PETER 3:15-16

Have you ever heard of ginseng? It’s a valuable plant used in a lot of health foods. And those who grow ginseng need to have a lot of pat…

READ: ACTS 2:40-47; GALATIANS 6:9-10; EPHESIANS 4:1-16

Have you ever heard Christians talk about “doing life together”? It can be hard to understand exactly what this looks like. But I got to expe…

READ: EXODUS 14:14; 33:22; ISAIAH 42:13; ZEPHANIAH 3:17

"Go to the boulder!” He did not yell over the noise of the battle, but Rhyn heard, and without even having to look for the rock he had sent …

READ: PSALM 46

I never thought I would have to let go and say, “It is well with my soul,” like the old hymn. I never thought I would have to learn to be okay with the storms in my life.

I praye…

READ: JOHN 13:1-17; EPHESIANS 5:1-2

Have you ever seen a child imitating an adult? It can be so cute to watch a small child try to mix pretend food in empty pots, imitate a parent’s expression, or…

READ: EXODUS 20:8-11; MARK 1:21-22, 32-38; EPHESIANS 2:4-10

Imagine this: Cars zoom by as you sit on the side of the road. You hope no one you know sees you stranded, your car out of gas. You can’…

READ: PSALM 103:1-5; REVELATION 21:1-6

When was the last time you had a cold? Maybe you have one right now. They can be so annoying, but the process of healing from a cold can point us to an amazi…

READ: MATTHEW 1:23; 28:20; MARK 6:45-54; EPHESIANS 4:2

As I stood at the lake’s edge, I was observing a genuine SOS moment. A young family member—I’ll call him Ford—had just received a kayak for h…

READ: PSALM 116; LUKE 17:11-19; REVELATION 4:6-11

Have you ever considered how much difference the words “thank you” can make? The Samaritan healed of leprosy in Luke 17 seemed to know the power o…

READ: LUKE 5:27-32; 18:9-17; ROMANS 5:6-11; 1 JOHN 2:1

The small chapel was an inconspicuous building tucked along a side street off of Main. The leaders on the mission trip hadn’t mentioned the l…

READ: PSALM 139; PROVERBS 3:1-6

When you feel like you don’t have a place in this world because you don’t think you’re as talented as others or you aren’t sure what to do with your life, remember …

READ: JOHN 14:12-21; 15:1-17

Let me understand when it’s You, God Telling me to go Speak loudly to me, God So that I can know Let me feel You with me, God As I simply live Knowing You are right be…

READ: PSALM 37:1-9; 1 PETER 2:19-25; 3:8-18

Have you ever seen someone do something wrong and, instead of getting in trouble, they end up reaping a reward for it? You may have heard the saying, “C…

READ: PROVERBS 3:5-6; 2 CORINTHIANS 3:5; EPHESIANS 2:8; 1 PETER 5:6-7

"UPDATE FAILED. VIRUS DETECTED.” Siren stared at the vile green letters on her monitor. There was one last thing she could try…

READ: 1 PETER 5:6-11

Each small worry can quickly become a big worry. It expands from the place inside of me where a little thought pops up. I start to think about it more and more. I consider all…