Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

There are times when it feels like God isn’t paying attention to the things that are going on here on earth. The author of Psalm 74 felt this way too and begged God to reach down and help those who w…

I love when God speaks to me in new ways. Have you ever been reading a passage of Scripture that you’ve read a number of times before, but something new stands out to you, and you feel like you’re re…

The builder surveyed the land eagerly. His arms were strong for the task, his mind sharp. Every builder knew a strong foundation was the most crucial element, and this house was no exception. Jars of…

“It’s over!” The shocking words crush you. “I’m breaking up with you.” Your emotions are in turmoil. What can you do? First of all, don’t bottle up the suffering, as this is damaging in the long te…

Joseph is only seventeen when his story begins—and he is having serious problems! Joseph is the youngest of eleven brothers and his father’s favorite. Even before their father has a colorful coat mad…

READ: PSALM 51; 2 CORINTHIANS 7:8-13

Guilt is hard. Sometimes, Satan will try to convince us that we are guilty of something terrible when we really aren’t. This “bad guilt” tells us the lie that …

There will always be people who bring you down, and you can choose one of two responses: revenge or love. Some people say hate your enemies, but Jesus calls us to love and pray for our enemies—like H…

Fleeing from my mind, My fractured soul How far I run I do not know. Attacking my heart, Emotions, burning Branding me within, Fear inside churning. Alone, I shout out, “LORD, HELP ME,” Fal…

Their opinion meant the world to me. Their acceptance was what I craved. Their attention was what I longed for. I was an outsider with the popular girls. They laughed at me, not with me. They talked …

I pulled the borrowed blue coat tighter around me and followed our guide. I hadn’t expected the weather in Iceland to feel so cold in May. After graduating from college, I’d ministered for a year in…

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, the devil started by challenging Jesus’s deity: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread” (Matthew 4:3). Because Jesus is God…

Before I entered middle school, I felt confident I’d join the school band. And I did, playing a trumpet that had belonged to my uncle. Performing with the county-wide honor band was a special memory …

I started following Jesus at age thirteen, and I constantly got comments such as, “I can’t believe you’re so young yet have a strong faith!” And yes, those comments are lovely, but they secretly str…

Oftentimes, we do not think before we speak. We can be quick to speak and slow to hear (James 1:19). We tease, tell jokes, and ramble on about things without thinking. And these things may be totally…

Thoughts waging war upon this tortured soul I want to be thankful, I long to have hope But some days the darkness won’t seem to end My eyes are bone dry, my faith feels thin Send forth Your truth to…

People can do good, but there is only one person who did good all His life, and that’s Jesus. Even though He is fully God, Jesus came to live among us. He interacted and celebrated with different kin…

“All that I’ve done all the people I’ve hurt there is no way I’m still worthy of being saved. Jesus might have died for some, but He definitely didn’t die for me.” She wiped at her eyes with a shak…

Have you ever found yourself desperately praying for someone in a situation that seems helpless? Perhaps it’s a parent who isn’t following Jesus, a sibling struggling with addiction, or a close frien…

I was a very shy kid and struggled to fit in at school. At home, my older brother teased me endlessly. Yet, I knew my family loved me. I also knew Jesus loved me and was always with me. By middle sch…

Have you ever tried to solve a Rubik’s Cube? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried and failed to unscramble this complicated mess of colors. It amazes me that there are people out there who can …