Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

At the start of creation, insecurity was not a known struggle. Adam and Eve did not look into a mirror and wince at their reflection. Their eyes saw each other. They saw the glory of God’s creation, …

By grace alone, through faith alone.” Many believers describe the “how” of salvation in these terms (based on Ephesians 2:8-9). If a person places their faith in Jesus, that person receives forgive…

“Safe place.” “Shelter.” “Haven.” “Refuge.” These are some words we use to describe a place we go to in the middle of a storm or something else that disrupts the safety we have around us. You’ve prob…

Have you ever wondered how you can ever reach That One Person with the gospel? The one with a different political affiliation, religion, or otherwise different worldview? I have. I know I can’t move …

Have you ever wondered if God is listening to your prayers? Or felt like everyone else has had their prayers answered but you? You are not alone. In Luke 1, we meet Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, …

Within hours of King Ahaziah’s death, Athaliah, the queen mother, had seized absolute power. No one in Ahaziah’s line was strong enough to oppose her; after all, she had the royal bodyguard on her si…

Jesus enters my trial without stats or witnesses.

His scars are the proof to defend me today.

“Can’t you see I love her?” He asks Satan, the prosecutor.

“Don’t you know I chose her? Don’t yo…

One day, Jesus was walking away from the temple in Jerusalem. The disciples stopped him. They were admiring the magnificent Jewish temple Herod had built. Peter was looking at the huge foundation sto…

Jesus enters my trial without stats or witnesses. His scars are the proof to defend me today. “Can’t you see I love her?” He asks Satan, the prosecutor. “Don’t you know I chose her? Don’t you know…

I grit my teeth and hang on to the saddle horn with a stubbornness that matches that of the horse I am riding. She jerks the reins from my grip and bucks, threatening to send me flying. Again. By th…

What does it mean to bear someone’s burdens? Some people think it means to take everyone’s problems and put them all on your shoulders, trying to fix things. That mindset is a dangerous one because y…

Racism is alive and well in our world, in our hearts, and in the church. Let me be very clear: racism, at any and every level, is sin. It’s an evil lie Satan has been spreading for millennia to turn …

God’s Word, the Bible, is the source of all tRuth No matter what we’re feeling or facing, we can run to Scripture to find answers. Feeling unloved? Remember God sent His Son to die to save you (Joh…

Life is busy. We are busy. We are bombarded with school, emotions, family, church, and so many responsibilities. With our commitments and schedules, it’s very easy to blow through our lives without t…

Preparing for battle was an odious task, but, as a Christian, I had all the armor I needed. My “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” shoes kept my feet safe from shrapnel on the ground. “For I know …

When was the last time you lost something? I’m always losing something and frantically looking for it. I usually find what I’m looking for in peculiar places. I once found my driver’s license next to…

READ: EXODUS 20:17; PSALM 13; MARK 7:20-23

"You shall not covet...anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17) What does “covet” mean? Well, the Hebrew word used here literally means “de…

READ: EXODUS 20:16; MATTHEW 23:23-24; JOHN 18:37-40

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). When most of us hear the ninth commandment, we think, "Okay, God does…

READ: EXODUS 20:15; LEVITICUS 19:9-10; ACTS 4:32-35; EPHESIANS 4:28

At its heart, stealing is based in one question: “What if God is holding out on me?” This fear can make us stop trusting God to …

READ: EXODUS 20:14; MATTHEW 5:27-30; EPHESIANS 5:21-33

Adultery (sex between a married person and someone other than their spouse) causes a world of hurt. It breaks hearts, rips apart relationship…