Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens
Unlocked is a daily teen devotional centered on God's Word. Each day's devotion—whether fiction, poetry, or essay—asks how Jesus and what He did affect today's topic. With devotions read by hosts Natalie and Dylan, and questions designed to encourage discussion and a deeper walk with Christ, Unlocked invites teens to engage with the Bible and submit their own devotional pieces.
Episodes
Our Responsibility Toward the Government
READ: PSALM 118:9, PROVERBS 29:2; 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4
Where I live in the United States, the 4th of July tends to be a holiday dominated by fireworks, parades, patriotic renditions of songs like “God Bless America,” and family picnics. It’s a time to commemorate our nation’s independence. However, it can also be a time when the divisiveness of politics i
For Good
READ: GENESIS 37:17-28; 50:15-21; PSALM 23:4-6
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. They sold him! I have younger siblings. And I admit there have been times I’ve thought this sounded like a good idea. But these guys actually did it! Can you imagine the betrayal Joseph must have felt? The outrage? The terror? Overnight, Joseph became a slave.
Popular
READ: JOHN 3:16-17; ROMANS 15:1-7; 1 PETER 2:22-24
Our need for love and appreciation is written deeply into our nature. We want to be seen and accepted by those around us. But, in this broken world, humans are selfish, and human attention is fickle. Popularity can tease those who don’t find it...and wreck those who do.
Jesus knows about popularit
Popular
READ: JOHN 3:16-17; ROMANS 15:1-7; 1 PETER 2:22-24
Our need for love and appreciation is written deeply into our nature. We want to be seen and accepted by those around us. But, in this broken world, humans are selfish, and human attention is fickle. Popularity can tease those who don’t find it...and wreck those who do.
Jesus knows about popularit
Heaven on Earth
READ: JOHN 14:1-6; PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21; REVELATION 21:1-5
Too often, Christians have a vague understanding of heaven as a cloudy, indistinct place where we’ll wear white bathrobes and strum on harps. No wonder so many people don’t want to go there! If we take a good look at what the Bible actually says about heaven, we’ll find that it sounds pretty g
Regret
READ: PSALM 103:12; ROMANS 3:21-26; 2 CORINTHIANS 7:10; EPHESIANS 2:8-10
Regret: everyone experiences it at some point. I recently sold my truck, before I really needed to, at a price that was too low. And, afterward, I was full of regret. I had no plan for what I was going to buy to replace it, which led me to spiral into fearful desperation. I knew
A Promised Way of Escape
READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13; 2 THESSALONIANS 3:3; 2 TIMOTHY 1:7; TITUS 2:12-14
During my senior year, my best friend invited me to her birthday party. Our entire circle of friends showed up, and the day seemed innocent enough. A few hours later, things took an unexpected turn. Out of nowhere, my high school best friend pulled out her parents’ bottle of
Busting Out of the Familiar
READ: JOHN 14:26; 20:31; 2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17; HEBREWS 4:12
How well do you know the streets around your home? As you drive by, you probably know by heart that there’s a gas station on the right and, up ahead, there’s an old blue van that’s been parked in the same spot since the beginning of time. But have you ever noticed something new on that familiar
Praying Continually
READ: PSALM 145:19; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-13; 1 JOHN 3:1; 5:14
My sister calls me every day around three o’clock. Sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. Sometimes a lot later. Could she be shopping? By four o’clock I start to worry. Perhaps she was in a car accident. Maybe she got hurt. I like to know she’s okay—especially since she lives al
Knowing
READ: PSALM 139; ROMANS 8:26-39; HEBREWS 11:1
I know what to do. I know how to act, how to look, how to speak. I can recite His words from memory. I know how to find Bible verses in thirty seconds flat. I go to church every week, and I take sermon notes. I can show everyone that I follow Him. I know what to do.
I know what I should do. I know I should r
God Can Handle the Outcome
READ: PROVERBS 24:29; ROMANS 8:28-39; 12:9-21
My family prioritized attending college after high school. So as my sister, who I’ll call Monique, prepared for college, she entered a scholarship competition. During the finale, I watched as other participants received cash awards to help pay for college. But Monique left with none.
Later, Monique con
Festering Wound
READ: EPHESIANS 4:20-32; 5:25-27; JAMES 1:16-27
Have you ever gotten a severe cut? I remember falling off my bike going down a steep hill too quickly. I got a deep gash in my knee, with blood soaking through the hole in my jeans. Right away, I hobbled on home to get it cleaned up and bandaged.
Over the next few days, we washed rocks and debris out
Masterpiece
READ: LUKE 15:11-32; ROMANS 3:10-18, 23-26; EPHESIANS 2:1-10
Jarrod clung to his steed, spurring it faster. Dust thrown by thundering hooves swarmed behind him. His pursuers closed in. Hair on the back of Jarrod’s neck stood on end. He breathed frantic gasps, gagged on raw fear.
“Bravo!” Jarrod said, pulling off the virtual reality headset and the
Jesus, Coequal with God
READ: JOHN 1:1-3; COLOSSIANS 1:15-20; HEBREWS 1:1-4
Every generation has catchphrases. There was a popular saying in the early church that went something like this, “There was a time when He was not.” In fact, it was so popular that people would go around chanting it in the streets! What did the phrase mean?
A pastor at the time by the name of Ari
Our Good Father
READ: PSALM 68:5-6; MATTHEW 7:9-11; LUKE 15:11-32; JOHN 10:27-30
What is a good father like? One who loves his children—not for what they do (or don’t do) but simply because they’re his. Who takes the time to simply be there to listen to his children, share in their dreams, and build them up with words of encouragement. Who is a safe place and a shel
I Want a Life Like That
READ: EPHESIANS 1:3-14; HEBREWS 13:5; 1 PETER 1:3-9; 5:7
Whoa…I want to live in a house like that. Whoa…I want a life like that. I want a family like that. I want to look like that. I want…
Do you ever find yourself comparing your life to someone else’s? I know I spend a lot of time on social media, just dreaming of what life would be like if I co
The Twelve
READ: MARK 3:13-19; LUKE 6:12-16; JOHN 6:66-71
Have you ever considered the twelve disciples? No, not the pale, scholarly figures from the picture books, but the real people described in the Bible.
Some of them were fishermen—sunburned and wind-leathered—with loud laughter and rough manners. Peter (also called Simon and Cephas) was one of these, e
With You in Your Pain
READ: PSALM 73; ROMANS 8:35-39
Throughout our lives, we all go through times when we feel depressed and discouraged. When we’re in pain, we may forget that we can talk with God, even if it’s just to be angry. Remember: nearly half of the psalms are complaints—also known as laments.
Psalm 73 is my favorite gripe. Asaph is angry and deeply discourag
Learning Through Studying the Bible
READ: PSALM 119:12-16; JOHN 20:31; 1 CORINTHIANS 2
It can be difficult to make time to read the Bible, and it can also be tough to understand some of the things the Bible has to say. But the good news is, God has not left us alone in studying His Word. Once we know Jesus, He provides us with the Holy Spirit to help deepen our understanding of the gos
God Still Speaks (Part 2)
READ: 2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17; HEBREWS 1:1-4; 4:14-16
Wouldn’t it be great to have God speak to you today as He did to Elijah in 1 Kings 19? Sometimes, when I have a particularly pressing concern, I just want God to speak audibly to me so I can know exactly what He wants me to do. A gigantic, neon sign—instead of earthquakes or fire—would suffice.
Altho
God Still Speaks (Part 1)
READ: 1 KINGS 19:1-18
Fear gripped Elijah’s heart as he made his way toward the mouth of the cave. Forty days of traveling to the mountain of God. Forty days ago, he had prayed to God that he might die. Forty days ago, Elijah had fled to the wilderness because King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were hunting him down to end his life, just as they had done wi
A Bronze Snake in the Wilderness
READ: NUMBERS 21:4-9; JOHN 3:13-18; ROMANS 3:25-28; EPHESIANS 2:4-8
On the surface, the Old Testament passage about the bronze snake might seem like an odd story. While the Israelites were in the wilderness, they complained about the lack of bread and meat. They complained A LOT. They were grumbling against the Lord instead of bringing their concerns
A Lifestyle of Worship
READ: 2 SAMUEL 12:19-20; PSALMS 51:4; 142:1-5; HEBREWS 13:8
David’s identity changed a lot over his lifetime—from shepherd to outlaw to king. Through it all, we see his heart in the psalms he wrote. Even when he hid from King Saul in a cave, even when remorse overwhelmed him after murdering Uriah, even as he grieved the death of his son, he could foc
Flames of Hope
READ: JOHN 8:12; EPHESIANS 2:12-13; COLOSSIANS 1:12-14
I was stuck in the darkness Didn’t know there was light Yet a flame in the darkness Was burning so bright
But I was blind to the fire Couldn’t see the bright flames Till a voice from the fire Called out my name
I didn’t want to believe it Or raise up false hope But the voice drew me closer And it ga
My Daily Habits for Dealing with Anxiety
READ: PSALM 73:23-26; 1 PETER 5:7
I struggle with anxiety every day. It’s not because I don’t know that God loves me and that He’ll take care of me—I do know this—but it’s simply something that I deal with. Maybe you struggle with anxiety too. There are some daily habits I’ve taken on that seem to help me live with a little more peace. These are not
Battling Intrusive Thoughts
READ: PSALM 139:1-12; MATTHEW 6:9-13; ROMANS 8:26-39
“What’s wrong with me?” I said to myself as unwelcome thoughts invaded my prayer time. Guilt consumed me. My desire to pray was spoiled by toxic thoughts. This was my special time with God, and I felt like I’d failed. “How can I call myself a Christian? I’ll have to quit praying.” Has this happened
Living in Community
READ: ACTS 2:41-47; 6:1-7; ROMANS 12:1-21; EPHESIANS 5:19
The lights flickered off, and a voice wavered over the intercom as rain began pelting the glass dome above my head. “The Atmospheric Observation Center has upgraded the oncoming macro to a category five. Please make your way to a designated safety location.”
The Center always rated the stor
The Shepherd's Voice
READ: JOHN 10:10-18, 27-28; 1 PETER 2:24-25
“The sheep are too close to the road!” I said to my husband. We were on our daily walk, which took us past a field where we frequently saw sheep grazing. But today, the green grass near the road enticed them into dangerous territory: the yard between the shepherd’s house and a busy road. We alerted the shep
Time and Closeness
READ: PSALM 34:1-8
I wish I had known sooner that the more time I spend with God, the closer He actually feels. As an adult—and especially over the course of the past few years—I have felt closer to God than I ever did before. I feel Him here with me. I have conversations with Him all throughout my day. I know that He’s there, and I trust Him. I beli
Scared to Death
READ: ROMANS 8:38-39; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-57; HEBREWS 2:14-15
What cause of death are you most afraid of? For me, it’s definitely getting eaten by a great white shark. (Yeah, and all those episodes of Shark Week have not helped me overcome my greatest fear!) We can think of all kinds of terrifying ways to die, but the truth is many people find death
The Gift of Serving Others
READ: ISAIAH 58:10; MATTHEW 25:31-40; 1 JOHN 4:19
In college, I worked part-time in a children’s ministry program. My tasks ranged from organizing outreach events to teaching elementary schoolers about Jesus. Though some moments were more glamorous than others (ahem, cleaning acrylic paint off a child’s sneakers), everything felt important. This was
Need Some Advice?
READ: HEBREWS 4:14-16; JAMES 1:1-8, 16-25; 3:13-18
Where do you turn when you need advice?
On our phones, we carry around more information in our pockets than most people throughout history have ever had access to. But here’s the thing: our lives aren’t filled with identical, cookie-cutter problems. No quick video can fix our every relationship is
What's Next?
READ: PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13
“What’s next?” It’s the ever-present question. It comes up every time you change schools, pick classes, or consider options for what to do after high school.
When I’m asked this question, I sometimes think it means I’m not good enough. Have you ever had similar thoughts? I haven’t “arrived” at where they think I should be
The Greatest Story Ever Told
READ: PSALM 78:1-4; JOHN 1:1-14
Have you ever read a book or watched a movie and been completely blown away? A story with characters who face the same struggles as you, a hero you can cheer for, and a rescue story that grips you from start to finish?
Sometimes we find it hard to see the Bible the way we see any other story. We lose sight of the fa
Fully Known
READ: PSALM 139; LUKE 12:6-7; ROMANS 5:6-11
Recently, a friend told me I walk really loudly. My other friends heartily agreed: they could always tell when it was me walking because my steps were so loud.
To be honest, I was caught off guard and a little embarrassed. I’d gone twenty-two years of my life without knowing about my noisy walk. Even tho
Even More
READ: LUKE 5:2-11; EPHESIANS 1:1-23; 3:14-21; 2 PETER 1:3
Once again, I was enjoying one of the several state parks near me. I had been coming here for the past ten years, and I always stopped at the front because the channel was so beautiful, the beach was gorgeous, people were paddle boarding on the lake…what more could you want? I didn’t realize u
The Rescue
READ: PSALMS 34:17-32; 91:1-16; MATTHEW 14:25-31
The zipline course extended across seven platforms high above the jungle of Mexico. Halfway between the fourth and fifth platforms, I slid to a halt. I looked down at the ground seventy feet below. I looked up to see that one of my two clips was broken. I dangled there until a worker on the platform cl
More Than the Sparrows
READ: MATTHEW 6:25-34; 1 PETER 5:7
What will you do after you graduate? If Destiny heard those words one more time…
She rubbed her forehead with tired fingertips. As the computer loaded yet another search for college options, Destiny groaned. If only she knew which way to choose.
“Dessi!” The back door slammed, and a set of pigtails peeked arou
God Was There the Whole Time
READ: NUMBERS 33:1-10; PSALM 139:1-12; HEBREWS 13:5
I have to admit, when I’m reading certain parts of the Bible, I sometimes hurry through what I’m reading without really paying attention. The book of Numbers is one of those books that I just try to get through when I’m completing a Bible reading plan. Last night, though, as I was reading a chapter
Jesus: Brother and Friend
READ: JOHN 15:13-15; ROMANS 8:28-39; HEBREWS 2:11
A true friend will be by your side through anything, good or bad. They won’t abandon you or just tell you what to do and then leave. They’ll be with you no matter what.
Jesus is our truest friend. He promises, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Je
Peace Before You Know
READ: PROVERBS 3:5-6; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-8; 1 PETER 5:7
Can you remember a time when you had to wait for news that really mattered? Like when the results could mean you made the cut for the team. Or that you got into your favorite college. Or they could mean another surgery. Or cancer. How do you find peace in the waiting?
That’s hard for just about
Blessed Memories
READ: DEUTERONOMY 4:9; PSALM 78:1-16
I was in middle school when I first took an interest in the Civil War, particularly the role that my third great grandfather, Michael Sallander, played in it. He was only a teen and a recent immigrant when war broke out, yet he still enlisted in his home state of Wisconsin, lying about his age to do so. All four o
Redeeming Language
READ: GENESIS 11:1-9; ACTS 2
Diversity in language is an important part of God’s creation! In fact, language is one of the many ways God shows how creative He is—and how He is redeeming all that He has made.
The creation of different languages happened at Babel. The people were guilty of being prideful and wanting to make a lasting name for themse
God of the Impossible
READ: LUKE 8:22-56
Who doesn’t love a good superhero movie? It’s fun to imagine someone “somewhere out there” who’s not bound by the laws of nature like we are—someone who comes to the rescue when weak earthlings find themselves in trouble they can’t escape. While many of us daydream of being a superhero, I think many of us also have a craving to be
Hannah: Anguished Prayers
READ: 1 SAMUEL 1:1-10; 2:1, 21
Recently, I had the opportunity to share with some friends about a woman from the Bible. As I started reading about Hannah in preparation to share her story, a few things stuck out to me. Hannah was seeking the Lord consistently as she prayed for a child. First Samuel 1:10 describes this prayer as marked by deep anguish
Unashamed
READ: PSALMS 1:1-6; 3:3; ISAIAH 61:10; LUKE 15:11-32
I was probably in high school when I started continuously reading the psalms. Whenever I get to Psalm 150, I start over again. But I usually don’t look forward to Psalm 1. Maybe it’s because, when I read these verses, I’m confronted with the reality that I don’t measure up.
But when I read Psalm
What Do I Still Lack?
READ: PSALM 23; MATTHEW 19:16-30
The rich young man approaches Jesus with one question on his mind: “What good must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). When Jesus tells him to obey the law given to Moses for all of Israel, the man is confident he has kept all the law. Yet he knows he’s still missing something, so he asks, “What do I still la
The Restorer
READ: PSALM 36:5-10; MATTHEW 11:25-30
“Oh God, where are you? I failed the audition. I feel so foolish. Please help me.” Ember prayed, gasping, tears falling. Trembling underneath the weeping willow tree, her quiet space, she shut her eyes tightly, blocking out the world, focusing on what her grandmother used to say.
Pray, darling. Jesus meets us
Tech Detox
READ: PSALMS 23; 139
As I pull up to one of my favorite hiking locations along the shores of Lake Michigan, I take a deep breath. Intentionally, I leave my phone in the car and head to the trail with only my car keys. Five minutes in, I feel the stress and demands of the week begin to lessen.
Soft green leaves rustling in the breeze. Sunlight dapp
Our Heavenly Father Knows Best
READ: ESTHER 4:5-17; ROMANS 8:18-39
You may have heard of the old TV show Father Knows Best. This 1950s American sitcom was about a father and his family. You may or may not enjoy old black and white sitcoms, but the title might stir up some questions. It would be naïve to say that earthly parents always know best—they’re flawed people. But it is tru
A Bad Plan
READ: GENESIS 3:1-11; 1 JOHN 1:9–2:2
“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 plan.”
Perhaps this is how the conversation went between Adam and Eve. Genesis 3 doesn’t tell us their exact d
Bringers of Good News
READ: ISAIAH 52:7-10; JOHN 3:16-17; ROMANS 10:5-15
In the United Arab Emirates, immigrants are not allowed to proselytize (attempt to convert) anyone from the local population. This makes it hard to share the good news that Jesus loves us so much that He died and rose again to make the way for us to be with Him forever. But that did not stop my paren
Even Better
READ: JOHN 14:15-31; 15:26; 16:5-15
What could be better than God with skin on, walking the planet, in the person of Jesus Christ? On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He told us. Jesus knew that He was going to die, be raised from the dead three days later, and after a short while, ascend into heaven. But first, He told His disciples, “When
Loving a Cheater
READ: HOSEA 1:1-11; 3:1-4; EPHESIANS 5:25-27
How much does God love you? The answer is: a lot!
But sometimes “a lot” can be hard to picture. To show us how faithful His love is, God gave us an analogy in the Old Testament: the story of Hosea and Gomer.
Hosea was a prophet, and God told him to marry a woman named Gomer. But Gomer was unfaithful
Not Finished Yet
READ: ROMANS 7:15–8:6; GALATIANS 5:13-25
Lying on my dorm room floor, I wiped tears from my eyes. Why did I keep doing things I knew grieved the heart of God? Perhaps it was growing up in a strict home? The countless rules just fueled my desire to live a little outside the lines. For me, that looked like a struggle to honor God in my romantic relatio
Confession
READ: EZEKIEL 36:26; JOHN 6:60-69; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11
The question is asked, “What do you believe?” I open my mouth to recite the familiar words: “I believe in God, the Father almighty.”
But do I believe? Can I claim this testimony? I close my mouth and wonder, Can I honestly profess these ancient words?
Then I remember The peace during the storms, T
Not Seeing but Still Believing
READ: DEUTERONOMY 31:6-8; LUKE 15:1-7; 19:10; 1 PETER 1:3-9
When I was eleven, I marched with a school group in our town’s Christmas parade. We started near the football stadium and then marched through town. After two miles or so, we finished at the end of Main Street. As my friend Meredith watched the thinning crowd, her face drooped as much as her
The Enemy's Deceit
READ: PSALM 119:105; ROMANS 8:33-39; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17; 1 PETER 5:8-9
As an old story goes, in the Old West, thieves trying to escape law enforcement would sometimes turn their horses’ shoes backwards. These “bank robber horseshoes” supposedly tricked investigators into assuming the criminals traveled on horseback in the opposite direction. With tra
Accepting Correction with Humility
READ: PROVERBS 15:31-33; HEBREWS 12:5-13
When we’ve done something wrong, and someone calls us out on it, what’s our response? Shrug it off? Refute their claims? Sink into shame or self-hatred? Or do we remind ourselves of our identity in Christ—as beloved, forgiven children of God—then take the time to think about what they’ve said and consider how
Even When I Fall
READ: EPHESIANS 6:10-20; JAMES 1:2-18
I have been riding horses for a while, and at first, I thought I would never fall. It was so simple in the beginning—just walking around with an adult guiding me the whole time.
Eventually, I decided I wanted to become a real rider. So my mom found some lessons for me to do once a week. I was so excited to can
Lament (Part 2)
READ: PSALM 13; MARK 14:32-36
Have you ever read a psalm and thought, Wow, they’re really mad at God. Are you even allowed to say that to Him? The short answer is, yes, and it’s called lament.
In fact, about a third of the psalms in the Bible are lament psalms or complaint psalms. A lament is when you bring your honest, unfiltered frustrations, an
Celebration (Part 1)
READ: 2 SAMUEL 6:12-23
Did you know God commands His people to party? Just skim through Leviticus 23 and count how many times God tells His people to celebrate. In fact, Jesus’s first miracle took place at a wedding celebration (John 2:1-12). And, as we can see in today’s Bible passage, sometimes holy festivities can look pretty wild.
Celebration
Disoriented
READ: MATTHEW 7:24-27; EPHESIANS 4:11-32; COLOSSIANS 2:6-10
The space weather alarm buzzed on my cruiser, Nova. I was halfway back to Earth after gathering medical supplies on Triton. Sensors indicated a dense solar wind heading my way—usually bringing a geomagnetic storm.
I routed extra power to shields, retracted stabilizers to prevent shearing,
My Centurion Guard
READ: PSALM 71:3; GALATIANS 6:1-10; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:8-11
Have you ever considered who you can count on when times get tough? For thirty years, I had an undetected brain tumor. While it wasn’t cancerous, it took over every part of my life and affected how I behaved and thought. Many people got scared of me and left me. However, my family and close fri
Rescuing Luigi
READ: ROMANS 8:1-4, 38-39; COLOSSIANS 1:13
We waited outside the pole barn on a brisk winter morning to meet our new foster dog. Cheryl, the head of the animal shelter, brought the little terrier out to us. Nearly furless, the dog cowered at the end of his leash.
“Poor thing,” Cheryl said. “He’s spent the last six years in a small pen outside with
Driving in the Slow Lane
READ: MATTHEW 6:25-34; PHILIPPIANS 1:4-6, 9-11; 4:4-13
As I was driving down a rural highway, I glanced in my rearview mirror and spotted a car very close behind me. Even though I was driving the speed limit, I worried this driver thought I was going too slow. So I stepped on the gas, then suddenly spotted a deer crossing the road, and slammed on the
Making the Grade
READ: ROMANS 6:15-23; GALATIANS 6:7-8; COLOSSIANS 1:22
As the end of the semester loomed, I scrambled to improve my grade. But I’d waited too long to turn things around in this class, and I would simply receive the grade on my report card I had earned.
My seventh grade English teacher, Ms. Tyson, taught our class with a stern focus on correct gram
Helen Cadbury: The Power of God's Word
READ: ROMANS 1:16-17; 10:1-15
Helen Cadbury was born in 1877 in Birmingham, England. Her father was Richard Cadbury—one of the founders of the Cadbury chocolate company. One night when she was 12 years old, Helen received Jesus Christ as her Savior at a church meeting. The next day, Helen told her best friend about it at school. This girl remarked sh
When I'm Overwhelmed
READ: PSALM 61:1-5; ISAIAH 41:10
What should I do? What if this doesn’t turn out? What will I do next?
These questions are overwhelming. It’s easy to start overthinking everything and become stressed out about the decisions we have to make, both big and small. It’s easy to be worried about the future and how each decision is going to affect our li
The Writing on the Wall
READ: MATTHEW 7:13-14; JOHN 10:7-10
Spelunking. The official yet admittedly odd term for cave-exploring. Fun to say, but not so fun when your spelunking gets you hopelessly lost in a complex cave system where the darkness is absolute and you doubt you’ll ever see the light of day again.
Which is exactly the point I’m at right now—hopeless and lost
True Friendship
READ: 1 SAMUEL 18:1-5; 20:1-42; MATTHEW 11:19; ROMANS 5:9-11
“My father tried to kill me yesterday,” the one in royal attire said. “You were right—he wants to kill you too. You must go.”
The other, armed with a sword, only nodded. They had sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, and this terrible turn of events could not change t
Wounded
READ: GENESIS 3:1-10; PSALM 34:5; LUKE 15
One day on a walk through my neighborhood, I spotted an injured duck. As I neared the lake behind a row of houses, other ducks flew away at my approach. Unable to fly, the wounded one hobbled around a tree trunk to hide. It seemed desperate to escape on only one functioning leg. I called Animal Control servic
The Eternal God
READ: GENESIS 21:22-34; ISAIAH 40:28
In the book of Genesis, the author uses several different names for God. One of those names is the “Eternal God.” And the context in which this name is first used may appear strange. Abraham calls upon the Eternal God...after he plants a tree!
There are a few essential things to notice about this passage. First
I Know Him!
READ: JOHN 4:1-30, 39-42; 17:3
Did you know the first time Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah was to a woman? Jewish Rabbis weren’t even supposed to speak to women, and especially not to Samaritans like the woman at the well (John 4). On top of that, Jesus knew all about her disreputable lifestyle, but He offered her everlasting life. Jesus knows
God's Gifts
READ: PSALM 136:1-9, 23-26; MATTHEW 6:28-33
Thanks be to God for His innumerable, indescribable gifts. God is wondrous! He continually provides more than enough; He sustains us. He is good.
He gives us many gifts: The tools to sustain our material needs. The support of people around us. The blessing of each new day. And, greatest of all, the gift
Trustworthy
READ: EXODUS 14:14; JUDGES 5:21-22; PSALM 20:7
O soul, march on in strength Fear not the pounding steeds Behold the King of Glory The fulfills your needs.
O soul march on in strength Though in horses some do trust Though chariots are mighty, The Lord will fight for us.
I love horses, and I wrote these stanzas based on Judges 5:21-22 and Psalm 20:7. They
Countering Chaos and Depletion
READ: 1 KINGS 19; MATTHEW 11:28-30
Elijah is arguably one of the fiercest, most epic prophets of the Old Testament. God worked through him in so many ways. Called fire out of the sky? Yep. Raised the dead? Yep. Repeatedly matched wits with the evilest king in the historical nation of Israel? You know it.
But after a particularly public—and victori
Truth and Tolerance
READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-10; 1 PETER 3:15
How do we speak the truth of the gospel when the world doesn’t always value truth? When I consider the changes my country has made in the name of tolerance toward various beliefs and ideas, fear casts a shadow over my heart. Can you be both truthful and tolerant at the same time? How do you show love, yet also
God Is Good (All the Time)
READ: NAHUM 1:7; ROMANS 8:28-39; JAMES 1:17
“God is good. All the time.” Have you ever heard Christians say this phrase to each other? Sometimes one person will say, “God is good.” And the other will respond, “All the time.” But what do these words really mean?
God’s goodness means He is both generous and merciful. The problem is, we don’t always
In-Between Times
READ: PSALMS 13:1-6; 46:1-11
Have you ever felt stuck between two phases of life? I know I have. The “in-between times,” as I like to call them, can be really difficult to navigate.
Maybe you’re moving from middle to high school. Maybe your parents are splitting up, and you have to live in two households. Maybe you’re moving between schools, churc
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