Podcast
Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens
Hosted by Keys for Kids Ministries · EN
Unlocked is a daily teen devotional, centered on God’s Word. Each day’s devotion—whether fiction, poetry, or essay—asks the question: How does Jesus and what He did affect today’s topic? With daily devotions read by our hosts, Natalie and Dylan, and questions designed to encourage discussion and a deeper walk with Christ, Unlocked invites teens to both engage with the Bible and to write and submit their own devotional pieces.
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Need Some Advice?
2d ago00:04:50Tap to summarizeREAD: 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 issue. And even if we use search engines or AI to gather information and suggestions on the exact struggles we face day in and day out, we have no guarantee these tools will steer us in a good direction. James offers a solution in the beginning of his letter to the church. He starts out by saying we all face hard times in this broken world. But he also tells us where to turn when we don’t know what to do. When we need wisdom in our lives, James gives us real hope and clarity by reminding us that God has the wisdom we need, and He gives it freely—without holding back or holding it against us. Jesus isn’t stingy with His help; He wants us to have what we need. To take hold of this wisdom, James explains that, as Christians, we simply need to go to Jesus and ask for it in faith. We can be proactive in seeking wisdom because we have confidence God will follow through. Because Jesus is faithful, we can trust Him to provide what we need as we spend time in His Word, in prayer, and with His people. When we seek God’s wisdom, we can seek it confidently. God has given us everything we need to live godly lives in the knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 1:3). And He fully equips us for life through His Word, the Bible, where He shows us the good news of Jesus and how it affects every facet of our lives (2 Timothy 3:14-17). • Phil Cox • When you need advice, where is the first place you tend to go? Why do you think God wants us to go to Him for wisdom first and foremost? • God provides wisdom and guidance through His Word and His Holy Spirit, and also through His people, the church. What are some of the benefits of seeking wisdom from real people we know in real life? • According to James 3:13-18, how can we recognize godly wisdom? What sets it apart from false wisdom? (If you want to dig deeper, read Genesis 41 and James 1–5.) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 (NIV)
Transcribe →What’s Next?
3d ago00:04:29Tap to summarizeREAD: 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. I don’t know “what’s next”! I was enjoying high school, but now I’m fixated on what comes after this. I find myself becoming discontent, no longer happy where I am. I start comparing myself to other people: They have so many things I don’t have. A nice car. A significant other. A cat. A dog. A plan! As I reflect on what others are doing, I can get so focused on things I might do in the future that I lose sight of what God is doing in me right now. When the Apostle Paul was in prison, I’m sure he would sometimes look around and think of all the other things he could be doing rather than sitting in a cell. But after having been in chains for quite some time, he says he has “learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). That doesn’t mean he wasn’t thinking about what could happen if he were released from prison, but it didn’t consume him. Paul was excited about the possibilities, but he was also content where he was. Notice Paul says he had to learn contentment (verses 11-12). It wasn’t like he flipped a switch and everything was suddenly sunshine and roses. No, learning contentment was a process. The Holy Spirit was working in Paul all along. Because he knew Jesus, Paul was able to rest in peace and joy, equipped to do the work God put before him…and even to dream about where God would call Him next. • Kristi Dennis • How do you feel when you hear questions like, “What’s next?” • Read Proverbs 3:5-6 and James 1:5. God invites us to dream about the future, holding our plans with open hands and relying on Him for wisdom and guidance all along the way. How could it encourage us to know that God wants to help us, and He is the one who can direct our steps? I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12 (NIV)
Transcribe →The Greatest Story Ever Told
4d ago00:04:41Tap to summarizeREAD: 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 fact that it has all the elements of the stories we love: action, romance, poetry, stirring speeches, and words that inspire us. But here’s the amazing part: the Bible is one, real story—all about Jesus. The Bible starts its true story at the very beginning, setting up the scene. Creation: a perfect world. But then conflict arises. We rebel against God, and the story takes a bad turn. But the moment this tragedy happens, a hero is promised. God has an incredible rescue plan from the start—a plan He continues to fulfill across generations, never giving up. Jesus is that perfect hero. He comes and lives among us, fully God and yet also fully human. In the climax, He faces evil by dying on the cross, and, when we think our hope is lost, He has ultimate victory against all odds by rising from the grave, ascending into heaven as the true King, and promising to continue the work He started…and to finish it when He returns. But, even though we are still living in unresolved conflict today—still struggling with sin and the brokenness it causes—we are living in the “declining action.” In plot terms, that means the end is written. It means we know who comes out victorious in the end: Jesus is returning to execute justice and make all things new (John 5:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 21:1-5). The best part: the Bible is a true story, and in Christ, we’re an important part of it. If your trust is in Jesus, you are a part of God’s final, eternal victory too. So when life seems boring, pointless, or difficult, you can trust God is writing something beautiful. And He invites you to be part of the good things He is doing! Remember, He has promised to work His good kingdom purposes through everything—and to always stay by your side (Romans 8:28-38). • Abby Ciona • What is one of your favorite stories? What do you love about it? • Have you ever thought of the Bible as an amazing, unified story? If you want to learn more about the true story of the Bible—and how you can be part of it—check out our "Know Jesus" page. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 (CSB)
Transcribe →Fully Known
5d ago00:03:44Tap to summarizeREAD: 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 though I thought I knew myself well, here was a fact I was totally oblivious to. The whole thing got me thinking though. However much my friends know about me, God knows so much more. God knows the things I know about myself—like how much I enjoy chocolate or that I love dogs (even though I’m allergic). But God also knows the things about me that I don’t know. He even knows things about me that only He—as my Creator and Savior—knows. He knows my victories and my failures better than myself or anyone else (Psalm 19:12; Romans 8:26-27). This knowing makes Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross all the more extraordinary. It wasn’t a sacrifice for a stranger. Jesus’s death and resurrection was for someone fully known. In His love, He died for me, even when I was still a sinner (Romans 5:8). Because I’ve put my trust in Him, I can rest in the truth that I am fully known and deeply loved. • Naomi Zylstra • How well do you think your friends and family know you? • When was the last time you learned something new about yourself? Did it change anything? • How might remembering that God knows us completely help us rest in the truth that He loves us completely? [Jesus said,] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep.” John 10:14 (NIV)
Transcribe →
Even More
6d ago00:04:48Tap to summarizeREAD: 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 until today, when I took the road deeper in, that the park is so much bigger, so much more than I could have ever imagined. This whole time, the park was just waiting for me to explore more, but I had been satisfied with the limited space I knew. I began to think about how similar this is to our relationship with God. In Christ, we have been given all His riches, all the fullness of His glory in Christ Jesus. In Paul’s letter to God’s faithful people in Ephesus, he begins by reminding them, along with all of us who know Jesus, of the blessings we have as children of God. We are lovingly chosen and adopted by God (Ephesians 1:4-6, 11). We have redemption through the blood of Jesus and forgiveness for our sins, according to the riches of His grace (verse 7). We have wisdom and understanding about the will of God in Christ (verse 8). We were created for the praise of His glory (verse 12, 14). We have the Holy Spirit as our helper and counselor as we wait for Christ’s return, reminding us that we belong to God (verse 13-14). This is what we have as children of God. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose again to save us, a whole new world is open to us! But how often are we, how often am I, satisfied with just a taste of life with Him? I could go so much deeper in my walk with God! I could experience His presence on infinitely deeper levels than I am now. Let’s dive into the depths of God and explore all these riches we have in Him, instead of being satisfied with just a glimpse. • Savannah Coleman • Can you think of a time you took a step deeper into your relationship with God? What was that like? • In what ways would you like to go even deeper in your walk with Jesus? Maybe you’d like to read the Bible more often, or understand more of its context, or pray more intimately, or serve more courageously. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can come alongside you on the journey? I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)
Transcribe →The Rescue
1w ago00:05:11Tap to summarizeREAD: 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 clipped his harness to the wire, hung upside down, and climbed hand over hand and foot over foot out to me. He snapped his clip onto mine and crawled to the next platform, dragging me to safety. Ziplining was great until suddenly I was dangling over a looming disaster. I wonder if that’s what Peter felt like when he tried walking on water. Things were fantastic until he took his eyes off Jesus, focused on the wind and waves, and found himself sinking. Has there been a time when you felt like you were about to fall or sink? When things are difficult, it’s easy to focus on our circumstances. But Jesus invites us to keep our eyes on Him. After all, the greatest rescue of all comes from Him. We have sinned and wandered far from God. But Jesus loves us so much that He lived, died, and was resurrected to make the way for us to be forgiven and enjoy eternal life with Him. When we receive His gift of forgiveness, we are made right in God’s eyes and rescued from condemnation. Now that’s a great rescue! Because of the Lord’s great love, He will always rescue us. It might be someone crawling along a zipline wire to bring you to safety. It could be a friend comforting you in a time of need. Jesus reached out and took Peter’s hand when he was sinking. He will hold firmly to us also. He will bring us safely into His kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18). We won’t fall. • Mary Schilling • Can you think of a time you felt like you were dangling above disaster? God can be trusted to save us from sin and death, and He can also be trusted to help us in difficult situations. His help might not be what we expect, but we can know that He is always with us and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Consider asking Him for help with whatever you need today. • Can you think of a time you struggled to trust God? This is perfectly normal, and we can talk to God about it anytime. He invites us to be totally honest with Him. In addition to talking to God, who is a trusted Christian you can talk to, such as a parent, pastor, youth leader, or friend? • If you want to dig deeper into how God rescues us, read Psalms 18:19; 37:39; Revelation 21:1-5. And if you want to know more about His ultimate rescue through Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page. The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22 (NIV)
Transcribe →More Than the Sparrows
1w ago00:04:46Tap to summarizeREAD: 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 around the corner. “What do you want, Laila?” Destiny said as she began clicking results. “Come and swing,” Laila said. “You’ve been on there all day.” Destiny paused, her fingers hovering above the keyboard. The thought of researching another college made her want to gag. She relented. “Let’s go.” Both girls darted from the house, bursting out the door and into the warm sunshine. Destiny followed Laila to the big oak tree with the homemade swing. Fresh air filled her lungs and washed the heated flush from her cheeks as she gave her little sister a shove. Laila soared into the air. Just then, a flutter at the base of the tree caught Destiny’s eye. She glanced down to see a featherless baby bird huddled in the grass. “Laila, look at this,” she said, crouching to take the tiny bird into her palm. “Oh.” Laila stopped swinging. “Is it lost?” Destiny spotted an empty nest in the branches above her. “Let’s get it home.” She slipped the baby bird into the pocket of her sweatshirt, then scrambled up the tree and placed the baby bird inside the nest. “Right where it belongs,” said Destiny as they watched the mother bird arrive, caring for her baby in a flutter of wings. If God cares for the birds, Destiny thought, He cares about what happens to me too. I’m not alone in all these decisions. Jesus will place me right where I belong. • Anita Seavey • Can you think of a time you felt worried about your future? God cares about everything we’re going through, and He invites us to ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5; 3:13-18). Consider taking a moment to talk to God about anything that’s weighing on you today—and maybe go outside too! • In addition to talking to God, who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you discern God’s guidance—people whose lives show the kind of wisdom described in James 3:13-18? [Jesus said,] “Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” Matthew 6:26 (CSB)
Transcribe →God Was There the Whole Time
1w ago00:04:04Tap to summarizeREAD: 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 from Numbers, I found myself slowing down. In Numbers 33, we’re given a list of all the places the Israelites camped after they left Egypt. They had many stops on their journey. And as I was reading through this list, I started thinking about the fact that God was with the Israelites at each camp. He was with them in each part of their journey. He saw them through their many stops. He paid attention to it all. Dealing with changes in our lives can be hard. Things like moving can be uncomfortable and even scary. Through it all, though, God sees what we’re facing. Like He saw the Israelites through each of their stops, He sees us through everything. You cannot move somewhere He will not go with you. You cannot hide from His loving gaze. You cannot experience so much change or hard stuff in your life that He will leave you. God is always there. How can we know? Because Jesus came to earth to die and rise again for us, not only to save us from sin and give us eternal life, but also to make the way for us to have a daily relationship with God. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know His presence is always with us, and I’m grateful He used Numbers 33 to remind me of that. • Emily Acker • Can you think of a time you felt like God was distant or maybe didn’t see you anymore? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about this, telling Him how you felt and asking Him to help you see how He was present with you in that difficult time. [Jesus said,] “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
Transcribe →Jesus: Brother and Friend
1w ago00:04:08Tap to summarizeREAD: 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). Jesus will never leave us in the dust. He loves us so much that He laid down His life for us. He took our sins upon Himself, even though He was sinless. He’d rather suffer and die on a cross than let us suffer an eternity without God—who is the Creator of the universe, the definition of good, and the source of life. Jesus not only laid down His life for us, He took it up again. Through dying on the cross and rising from the grave, He defeated sin—the very thing that separates us from Him. Because of His mercy and grace, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is a friend of God. Jesus is the truest and most extraordinary friend anyone could have. And, He is also our Brother. Jesus is God the Son, and He has made the way for us to become children of God the Father (John 1:12). Even though Jesus is fully God, He is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters, because He has cleansed us of sin (Hebrews 2:11). Since He has done all this for us, we can lean on Him, no matter what comes. • Aidan Mencer • Does anything surprise you in today’s devotion? • What questions do you have about Jesus being our Brother and Friend? Who are trusted Christians in your life who could help you dig into Scripture and search for answers? (If you’re looking for a place to start, read Deuteronomy 31:8; Matthew 28:20; Luke 15:1-10; John 10:11-17; 14:18; Romans 5:1-11; Colossians 1:15-22) • If you want to know more about what it means to belong to Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page. A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (WEB)
Transcribe →Peace Before You Know
2w ago00:04:30Tap to summarizeREAD: 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 everybody! You often hear people say, while awaiting their (potentially) difficult news, “I think I can handle what the news is. It’s just the waiting that is so hard!” One time, after undergoing many of these “waiting trials,” I had another wait in front of me. Friends were asking me, “Have you heard the results yet?” They were echoing my own questioning mind…which way would this go? Then I did something different than all the other times. I prayed a different prayer. I asked for “pre-peace.” I asked God for His peace before I knew the outcome. I prayed, Lord, you know all those times I endure those long days of waiting, until the answer finally arrives? Then, when I know the outcome, I give it over to You, and I have peace. But Your Word says that as I rejoice in You and commit my requests to You with thanksgiving, I will have peace. Can we just fast-forward this part? My request is known to You. Will You give me this peace, now, even before I know how this turns out? I focused on His presence, goodness, and love. And do you know what happened? His peace flooded my heart. My mind stopped whirling with all of the “what-ifs.” Just like it says in Philippians 4, His peace was beyond understanding. I still didn’t know the results. Yet I was super joyful and full of peace! His peace guarded my mind and heart. This is such a joyful way to face the waiting times. I hope you can enjoy God’s perfect peace, even before you know the answer. • Kristen Merrill • Have you ever experienced God’s peace in a season of waiting? Even if we don’t feel Jesus’s peace all the time, He is always with us through the Holy Spirit. He loves us, and He sits with us in the anxious waiting, inviting us to bring our struggles to Him in prayer. Where do you need to experience God’s peace today? Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (CSB)
Transcribe →