Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

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 services in hopes that they could collect the duck and transport it to an animal rehabilitation facility. I stayed outside to keep an eye on the injured creature while I awaited help.

Animal Control arrived, but the duck couldn’t be found. I had attempted to follow it so I could point it out to the animal rescuer. But in panic and pain, the duck hid itself away—not realizing help was close by.

In a way, we do the same thing. When we put our trust in Jesus for forgiveness of our sins, we become God’s beloved children. In His lovingkindness we can experience, not just forgiveness of our sins, but also healing from hurts and bitterness. But, like the wounded duck ran from rescue, our own sin and brokenness may cause us to pull away from the love offered in our relationship with Jesus. Shame may convince us we’re beyond repair.

Adam and Eve did the same thing in Genesis 3. They hid from God “among the trees of the garden” after they’d sinned (verse 8). Their shame and regret kept them away from the only one who could provide healing and restoration. Like Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with flimsy leaves, we may seek to cover our sins, mistakes, and vulnerabilities, hoping to appear whole. But Jesus died and rose again to provide the way to wholeness. So now, instead of trying to convince ourselves, God, and others that we’re okay, or that we have all the resources we need to “fix” ourselves, we can turn in faith to the God who heals. • Allison Wilson Lee

• What parts of your past or present do you hesitate to share with others? Sometimes we find it difficult to believe God is trustworthy to heal those things. Why do you think that is? Consider taking some time to talk to God about whatever is on your mind.

• We don’t have to endure pain in isolation. God provides help in relationship with Himself, and with fellow Christians. Who are safe people in your life you could open up to about your hurts? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.)

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

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, notice the kind of tree Abraham plants is a tamarisk tree. A tamarisk tree in the Middle East can live for hundreds of years. Second, notice Abraham plants this tree in Beersheba. Several chapters earlier, God appeared to Abraham and promised that He would make Abraham into a great nation, give him a great name, give him many descendants, and give him a land to possess. Beersheba would have been a region included in the land God promised that Abraham would one day possess.

Once these pieces of the puzzle are put in place, we begin to see the significance of Abraham’s action. By planting this tree in Beersheba, he was communicating a message of belief and trust in God’s promises. He believed in God’s promise to give him the land he was currently sojourning in, and he trusted that future generations would enjoy the benefits of this tree!

It is in this context that we read: “Abraham…worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God” (Genesis 21:33). Abraham trusted that the God who promised to bless him would be faithful to those promises, not just in the present, but hundreds and even thousands of years in the future. And today, we can see how His promises to save His people from sin and death have ultimately been fulfilled in Jesus. He made the way for us to become part of God’s family and live with Him forever through His death and resurrection. God loves us, and we, like Abraham, can trust God to be faithful to His promises and His character—day after day, month after month, season after season, and year after year. After all, God is the Eternal God. • Jonathon Fuller

• Not only is God eternal, but if we know Jesus, He is eternally with us. He is also eternally loving, eternally good, and eternally faithful. He always keeps His promises. How can remembering that God is the Eternal God encourage us as we face challenges and trials in life?

• Today is Arbor Day! How can planting trees remind us of God’s faithfulness?

Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God. Genesis 21:33 (NLT)

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 us inside and out, and His love for us is undaunted!

A different part of this story caught my attention recently, though. The woman at the well spread the word to the people of her village, but verse 42 says that they believed because they heard Jesus for themselves—not just because of her testimony. Her story drew them in, but it was meeting Jesus, knowing Jesus, that led them to believe.

It’s the same for us. I grew up in church, so I heard stories of how God was moving all the timein other people’s lives. As I’ve grown and matured, though, I’ve often prayed, “God, if You are real, make Yourself real to me.” It isn’t enough to know about God. For our faith to blossom and flourish, we have to experience God in our own lives. We have to know Jesus for ourselves.

And most incredible of all, Jesus wants us to know Him. Isn’t that amazing? I know the Son of God, because He wants to know me! He isn’t like a celebrity shielding Himself from the paparazzi—if we seek Him, He will reveal Himself to us (Jeremiah 29:13). And the more we seek to follow Jesus, the more we will notice Him at work in our daily lives.

If you want to know Jesus better, He’s given us several ways to do so. First, dig deep into His Word—in church, by yourself, and with other believers. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell the story of Jesus’s life on earth, but every book of the Bible points to Jesus, including the Old Testament. Second, pray. Talk to Him. Ask Him to show Himself to you. Finally, connect with other believers. Listen to the stories of how they’ve seen God work in their lives. Then, keep your eyes wide open to see how He is working in your life! • Hannah Ruth Johnson

• What testimonies have you heard about God’s work in other people’s lives that have strengthened your belief or made you want to know Him better? (Psalm 9:10; Acts 17:27)

• How have you experienced God in your own life? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this.

Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:42 (NLT)

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 of His Son (John 3:16).

He gives us His beautiful creation, a marvelously massive globe to cultivate and enjoy—His Earth—and that is a wonderful gift. He gives us passions and abilities and talents—tremendous gifts we can praise Him with!

How humbling. How amazing. Jesus has given up His very life for us—and He has risen from the dead so that we can be with Him forever. In Jesus, we have life, breath, beauty, purpose, and fulfillment.

But sometimes we forget God’s great generosity. Often, we can only view the depth of these gifts when we shift our perspective to one of gratitude for all that our God has given us.

I have found that when I go out of my way to appreciate the little things—the small gems our Lord places in my path—a fresh gratitude begins to grow in my heart for the bigger things too. It is beautifully flooring to observe each tiny treasure He gives and to see every good thing as a gift from my Father. What a joy it is to know such a faithful God! • Chelsea Leigh

• The beginning of today’s devotion is written in the style of a psalm, thanking God for a variety of good gifts. What are some of the things you’re thankful for, in the world and in your own life?

• Today is Earth Day! This planet is one of the most amazing gifts God has given us to steward. What is one thing you can do to take care of it today?

• If you want to dig deeper, read Genesis 1:26-28; Psalms 63:3; 115:16; John 1:14; 10:10; Acts 17:28; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:10

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV)

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 both talk about horses, and they both talk about how God is mightier than anything on earth we put our trust in. At the time these verses were written, a horse and chariot were among the most powerful and intimidating war weapons. They struck fear into the enemy, and the army commander trusted in them to win the battle. But sooner or later, the horses failed. And sooner or later, everything we trust in will let us down. Everything, that is, except for God. He will never let you down, He will never fail, He will always be there for you. He is in the battle with you. Jesus is the mighty warrior who came to fight for us—ultimately saving us through His death and resurrection. We can trust Him with our lives because He is faithful and trustworthy. • Macy Walts

• Is there anything in your life right now that you might be trusting too much in? Whenever we look to a created thing (or being) to be what only the Creator can be, we get into trouble (Romans 1:25). This is called idolatry, and it’s something all Christians struggle with, even those who’ve been following Jesus for many years. Thankfully, God is patient and kind as He draws us to daily lay down our idols and trust in Him above all else (Romans 2:4). Consider taking a moment to confess any idols that come to mind and lay them at His feet. What are you hoping these created things will provide? How might God be wanting to provide for you instead?

• Trusting in Jesus, the one who loves us unconditionally, is what brings true peace and hope to our lives. Everything and everyone else will let us down, but Jesus will never break our trust, never falter, never fail (Psalm 147:10-11; Isaiah 40:28; Zephaniah 3:17). He did what no one else could do—He lived a sinless life and died for our sins so that we could live. If you’re interested in learning more about Jesus, and what it means to belong to Him, check out our "Know Jesus" page.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 (NIV)