Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: RUTH 2:12; PSALMS 46:1; 57:1 In the summer, she knew God. Basking under burning sunrises, she knew His warmth. Dreaming in fields of wildflowers, she knew His freedom. Walking through forests while sunlight danced around her, she knew His joy. She reveled in her God of summer, who breathed life from His lungs and bled beauty from His veins. But autumn came, and she could not find Him. Leaves burned bright as fire, just to curl and shrivel into heaps on the forest floor. Wildflowers blew away like memories on the wind. The grass stopped growing. She walked through colorless fields, brown leaves catching at her ankles as she looked for the God she’d known. When black clouds formed over distant treetops and an icy wind howled, fear filled her. She ran alone through forests and fields that now felt foreign to her. But she could not outrun the storm. The clouds surrounded her like a trap. Exhausted and shaking, she curled between the roots of a tree as snow fell like blindness around her. Where are you? She asked her God of summer. Branches above her cracked and snapped like thunder. She looked up to see the shadow of a huge bird descending toward her through the trees. She cowered, covering her eyes. When nothing happened, she opened them again. A great bird stood before her, staring at her with fathomless black eyes. It opened its beak and cawed into the swirling snow. God of summer, she said, recognizing His voice, come to save me from the cold. But as she reached out to Him, He shook His head. He hadn’t come to carry her away. Winter was coming, and there was no escape. Hopelessness blurred her vision, and she turned away from the great bird. With the last of her strength, she tried to run again. But her foot caught on a root, and she fell. She lay there, staring up at the bare branches reaching endlessly toward the sky and the snow falling all around her. But when she turned her head, the great bird still stood there, wings outstretched toward her. He looked at her, and she at Him, till finally she went to Him and curled up under the blanket of His wings. The storm howled like wolves as day slowly turned to night. But she stayed safe and warm, wrapped in the arms of her God. When the storm finally ended, she crawled out from under His wings. All around her the world stood cold and barren, buried beneath piles of snow. But the great bird still stood beside her, tall and unmoving. And she realized that He had been there for her all along, just waiting for her to call to Him. Now, as He cawed into the rising sun, she found she was not afraid anymore. He may not save her from the coming storms, but He would stay with her through them, for her God of summer was the God of winter too. • Margaret Bellers • Today’s allegorical story echoes the heart of Jesus. In Matthew 23:37, He said He longs to gather us beneath His wings as a mother hen protects her chicks. Throughout the psalms, we find similar verses that all point ahead to Jesus. Because He died on the cross and rose from the grave to save us, we can rest in His promises to be with us through everything, and to one day make all things new. Then fear and suffering will be gone forever. (Matthew 28:20; Revelation 21:1-5) • Think back to a season in your life that was difficult for you. What were some ways God showed up for you during that time? Were there any ways He reminded you of His presence, comforted you, or gave you hope? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. • As summer fades to winter, what are some changes in your life that you find yourself dreading? How could knowing that God will be present during those ti...

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-9 When I was in middle school, I made friends with a girl name Mackenzie. We were complete opposites—I was pretty reserved and she was super outgoing—but we were immediate friends. We were in most of the same classes and extracurriculars together, and we hung out a lot. We were besties. But there was one thing that bothered me in our friendship: Mackenzie wasn’t a Christian. I desperately wanted her to know the love of Jesus. Especially because she had a tough life at home. Her parents were divorced, and her dad previously abused her. I wanted her to experience the life-changing love that can only be found in Jesus. So, I began to plant seeds by talking about my faith a lot. I’m sure I was even annoying about it at times! Mackenzie kindly listened to everything I said (and even came with me to girls’ small group on occasion), but she never decided to follow Jesus. I was disappointed, feeling like I must not have explained the Bible well enough or described who Jesus is correctly. I put so much pressure on myself to be the reason Mackenzie would trust in Jesus. Mackenzie and I naturally drifted apart when we got older and went to different colleges. But we remained friends and occasionally checked in on each other. I continued praying for Mackenzie, and a few years ago, she decided to follow Jesus! Maybe you’re like me—you put too much pressure on yourself to do what only God can do. You and I can’t change hearts; only God can. While we can (and should!) plant seeds of the gospel by sharing about our faith in Jesus— and how He died and rose again to save us—ultimately, God is the one who causes those seeds to grow. It’s all Him. In the meantime, we can continue to boldly share our faith and pray that God will grow the seeds we faithfully planted. • Rachel Wierenga • God calls us to plant seeds of the gospel, and also to water the seeds others have planted. What does it look like to do this well? Have you seen God grow any seeds you’ve planted? • When it comes to sharing your faith, are there any places you’re putting too much pressure on yourself? How could it be freeing to remember that God invites us to plant seeds, knowing we’ll plant imperfectly, and He is earnestly pursuing people with His steadfast love and kindness? • If you want to dig deeper, read Luke 15; Romans 2:1-4; Galatians 6:1-10; Ephesians 6:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; 1 Peter 3:15-16. I [Paul] planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT) 

READ: PSALMS 19:1-14; 119:11-16 How many times have you been told to read the Bible? Imagine sitting down in church and hearing the pastor say, “Don’t you dare read the Bible! Unless you’re a church leader, you are unworthy to study God’s Word.” And what if, on top of that, the only copies of the Bible you could find were written in a language you didn’t understand? That was the world John Wycliffe was born into in the early 1300s in England. He loved Jesus, and he knew that, in the Bible, Jesus spoke to people in their own languages. Jesus didn’t force His disciples to learn a foreign language in order to get to know Him. He wanted everybody to have free access to Himself, so much so that He died on the cross and rose from the dead to make it possible for people to have a relationship with Him. Does that sound like somebody who would want to keep people away? John Wycliffe, fueled by this love for Jesus and the gospel, fought with some corrupt church leaders (literally and metaphorically) and assembled a team to start translating the Latin Bible into English. Since the printing press hadn’t been invented yet, they had to write everything out by hand. Sadly, Wycliffe died before the translation was complete, but his team finished the job and published their English Bible after his death. Wycliffe’s translation planted the seeds of the Reformation, and it was so influential that, after Wycliffe had been dead for decades, corrupt church leaders had his body dug up and burned at the stake for heresy. John Wycliffe knew that it was wrong to keep the truth of God’s Word hidden. God wants us to know His Word so we can experience His love—and then share it with others. What a wonderful God we serve! • Taylor Eising • Why is it important for us to be able to read the Bible for ourselves, in our own language? • Jesus is the point of the whole Bible. By coming to live among us, dying on the cross for our sins, and rising from the grave, Jesus reveals God’s unwavering love for us (Romans 5:8). In what ways might God be inviting you to help give other people the chance to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus? (If you want to know more about this good news, check out our "Know Jesus" page.) From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:15-16 (WEB) 

READ: COLOSSIANS 3:1-3, 16-17 Few Christians throughout history have taken Jesus’s call to drop everything and follow Him as literally as St. Francis of Assisi. His faithful service to God was so influential that his way of living is still followed by one order of monks, the Franciscans, almost 800 years after his death. St. Francis was born in Italy around 1181 AD. The son of a wealthy merchant, Francis did not know God as a teen. He threw wild parties and dreamed of becoming a famous, wealthy knight. But, in his very first war, he was taken captive and was imprisoned for a year—where he started hearing God’s voice. God spoke to Francis several times. Everything finally clicked for Francis when he was praying in a broken-down church, and he believed he heard God say, “Francis, repair My church.” At the time, Francis thought God meant the building around him, so he stole some cloth from his father, sold it (along with his horse), and tried to use the money to fix the church. His father sued him, so Francis gave his father the money and the clothes off his back, and then he gave up his inheritance. He walked away in rough clothes given to him by a priest and dedicated his life to living like Jesus. But why would Francis do this? Because of the gospel—or good news—of Jesus Christ. Because of God’s great love, Jesus died and rose again so that all who trust in Him could become God’s children. With His life, He purchased our freedom from sin and death. Since Francis knew that love and freedom, he could not stop telling others about it. For him, that involved living a life of voluntary poverty and caring for the poor, all while preaching God’s Word. And, because many church leaders at the time were obsessed with wealth, Francis even refused money in an effort to make the good news of Jesus clearer to those he ministered to. Instead, he worked for food and slept on the street, focusing his efforts on sharing the gospel and tending to creation. St. Francis recognized that Jesus loves His people with a crazy love, and he wanted to share that love with everyone he met. His methods may have been wild and sometimes too extreme, yet God worked through him powerfully to spread the good news of Jesus. • Taylor Eising • In your own life, what opportunities has God given you to spread the good news of Jesus? • How does caring for people who are poor and for creation show Jesus’s love? Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 (NLT) 

READ: GENESIS 1; MATTHEW 6:26-33 As the trees start to change colors each year, I am in awe of all that God has created. Why did He choose to make the leaves turn different shades of orange, yellow, and red? Why didn’t He just make all of them turn a single color? Why did He choose to make maple trees, oaks, and palm? Why not just make a single type of tree? I think of old-school video games where you see the same tree repeated over and over again without a single change; God could have made the world simple like that, but He didn’t. As we experience different types of weather, I think about the creativity of God and the gifts He’s given us here on earth. For some, cooler weather is a welcome relief from the heat of summer. For me, I’m always extremely grateful when we get a surprisingly warm day in the middle of the winter. God gave us an earth that is truly beautiful and truly special. He could have kept things simple, but that’s not the way He likes to work. He delights in variety—He is an infinitely creative God! I look around at all that He has created, and I am in awe. We can trust this God, who made such a wonderful place for us to live, to take care of us each day and to prepare an even more wonderful home for us in the new creation. • Emily Acker • What is one part of nature that you really appreciate? What do you see around you today that leaves you in awe of God and all He’s done? Consider taking a moment to praise Him for this! • Even though we can see the effects of sin in the world, we can still see so many glimpses of God’s goodness. And just think about what it will be like when Jesus returns and renews the earth, healing all the brokenness caused by sin! Everyone who has put their trust in Jesus has this eternal home to look forward to. What do you imagine it will be like to live with Jesus forever in the new creation? (If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 11:6-9.) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (NIV) 

READ: LUKE 11:1-13; ROMANS 8:26-27; EPHESIANS 3:14-21 Have you ever tried to pray, but couldn’t seem to find the right words? Perhaps a friend was hurting, or you were going through a difficult season, or maybe you wanted to thank God—but for some reason, you couldn’t figure out how to express what you wanted to say. Prayer is essential in our walk with God. He calls us to pray at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). However, God understands that sometimes we aren’t sure what to say or how to pray, and He hasn’t left us alone to figure it out. Scripture says He already knows what we’re thinking and feeling (Psalm 139:1-4) and He knows what we need before we ask (Matthew 6:7-8), so we don’t have to worry about having all the right words. Those who have trusted Jesus for salvation also have the Holy Spirit, who speaks to God for us (Romans 8:26-27). In addition, God has given us the Bible—full of stories and prayers of real people just like us. When I’m struggling to talk to God, I will often simply pray through a relevant passage of Scripture. I’ve even memorized a few that are especially meaningful to me, and I use them frequently. Unsure how to pray for a friend? Check out one of Paul’s prayers for his friends in Ephesians 3:14-19. Going through a hard time? So did David, and his raw, honest prayers are recorded in the book of Psalms—which is also a great place to find prayers praising God. We even have several of Jesus’s prayers recorded in passages like Matthew 6:9-13 and John 17. In short, we all experience times when prayer doesn’t come naturally—and that’s okay. You can go to God with your messy thoughts and questions and requests, and you can let Scripture guide your prayers, trusting that God already knows your heart and is working on your behalf. • Faith Lewis • Can you think of a time you tried to pray, but you struggled to put your thoughts and needs into words? How does it make you feel to know that God already sees your heart, and yet He still wants to hear from you? • Did any of the verses mentioned in today’s devotion stick out to you? Are there any you’d like to use (and maybe even have memorized) when you’re not sure what to pray? • What do you think about the idea that the Holy Spirit prays for you? This is just one of the many blessings available to those who have put their faith in Jesus. (Find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 139:1-12; MATTHEW 1:23; 28:20 Ava sat in her room all alone. She tried to ignore the voices from the party downstairs. No one had sent Ava to her room, but the room called to her. She felt too worn out to deal with everyone tonight. Then her dad opened her bedroom door. “Aren’t you going to come downstairs? Your grandpa’s asking about you.” “I’m tired,” Ava said. “I think I’ll just stay up here.” Ava loved spending time with her grandfather. But she had so little energy tonight. Her dad hesitated before giving a nod. “Okay. I’ll let him know.” When she was alone again, Ava’s eyes filled. Why can’t I be like everyone else? Why can’t I enjoy the party? What’s wrong with me? A quiet knock came at her bedroom door. “Can I come in, Ava?” Her grandfather’s soft voice came from the hallway. As soon as she opened the door, Ava found herself engulfed in her grandfather’s arms. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?” he asked. “I don’t know what’s going on. I just feel like being alone.” “Sometimes we push people away when we really need them around.” “I know,” Ava sighed. “I just can’t imagine being a part of the party right now.” “I understand,” her grandfather said. “I need time to be alone sometimes too.” He looked her in the eyes. “You’re feeling lonely?” Ava nodded. “Even when you’re up here all alone, you know that God’s with you, right?” Her grandfather spoke in a low voice. “Even if you don’t feel up to being with people, Jesus is right here with you.” Ava nodded again. Slowly this time. As she leaned in for another hug, she prayed silently, Thank You, God, for being with me. Please help me know that you are with me. • Emily Acker • We all have times when we just want to push the world away and be alone, yet we might also feel lonely in the same moment. Thankfully, Jesus understands exactly how we’re feeling, and He has promised to be with us. In fact, He wants to be with us, and He seeks us out (Luke 15:1-32; 19:10). Have you ever tried talking with Him when you felt lonely? What was that like? “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 46:10; MATTHEW 11:28-29; PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7   Anxiety A tidal wave Pain showing through the cracks of my heart Can’t think, can’t breathe yet breathing too much Can’t speak, yet speaking incessantly Grasping for sanity, for peace, for air My heart pounding like a bass drum Can’t catch my breath, fix myself, calm these nerves Yet through the chaos, tears, torrential fear, He whispers: BE STILL Fear not, My beloved, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine This moment will pass, A breath in light of eternity Though you can’t see, the end is coming I will calm your clenched fists, your clenched heart Cling to Me, and I will give your soul rest Rest • Amanda Rose   • We all feel anxious from time to time. Thankfully, Jesus knows how we feel because He experienced anxiety too, and He wants to help us (Hebrews 4:14-16). In fact, He loves us so much that He died and rose again to save us, and He promises that one day anxiety will be gone for good. Do you have any favorite Bible verses that help you when you feel anxious? • God wants to help us in lots of ways, not only through prayer and Scripture, but also through other people, such as friends, parents, pastors, and medical and mental health professionals. When you find yourself feeling anxious, who is a trusted adult you could talk to? • If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (CSB) 

READ: PSALM 139; MATTHEW 28:20; COLOSSIANS 1:22-23 Every Christian has a different testimony, or story of how they came to put their trust in Jesus. For some people, it could be really dramatic. For others, it may be really simple. Yet God works in each and every person’s life. This is the personal story of how God worked in my life. My parents were missionaries in Japan, so I grew up learning about God both directly from them and by hearing them teach others. My mom is Japanese, and my dad is from America, so I don’t fit in well. In Japanese culture, no one tries to stand out. It’s very different from Western culture where being unique is celebrated. So, as a half-Japanese homeschooler Christian, I never fit in, except with other missionary kids or at church. In those places, everyone accepted me for who I was. They didn’t look at me weird when I didn’t act fully Japanese or fully American. These places gave me a picture of how Christ loves all of us. God created each of us differently. It’s comforting for me to know that He made me the way I am for a reason. But when I was growing up, I had many insecurities. I was always unsure of my place in the world, worried about how others saw me, and afraid of not having people who liked me. I felt that I had to be good enough at something for people to value me or see past my being different. I ended up measuring my worth in what I could achieve. But the amazing thing about the gospel is that we come to Jesus the way we are. I don’t have to feel like I’m perfect to have salvation. He is the one who will reconcile me to Himself and make me holy and perfect in His sight (Colossians 1:22). I didn’t realize how much I was holding on to the lie that I needed to be a certain way, or that I needed to fit in. Instead, I needed to surrender that to the Lord. I’m not the one in control, He is. I’ve since come to find a sense of security in my differences. And it’s because I’ve been on a journey with God. I’ve had my ups and downs for sure, but God has stayed by me even when I haven’t made Him the most important thing in my life. Know that even on your darkest days, Jesus is with you (Matthew 28:20). He is the person who makes you perfect in His sight. He has a plan for you, and He will be with you every step of the way. • Sophia Muhling • When have you struggled to fit in? How can it be helpful to remember how Jesus sees us? I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 9:9-13; LUKE 7:34-50; 1 PETER 3:15-16 Have you ever noticed how Jesus often spent time with people who were doing some pretty bad stuff? You may have wondered, “If that’s how Jesus acted, what should I do—especially if I’m supposed to avoid sin?” Sometimes Christians even ask, “Can I be friends with non-Christians?” The answer is, “Of course!” In fact, one of the ways people come to know Jesus is through friendship. God will help you show His love and truth to all your friends, whether they’re Christians or not. As you interact with your friends, remember these five things: 1. If you have a friend who isn’t a Christian, don’t expect them to act like one. But keep in mind, even as a Christian, you don’t always act like one either. We’re all sinners who need Jesus. 2. Don’t encourage friends to sin or participate with them in doing things that are wrong. 3. Learn what your friends believe so you can understand them better. 4. Talk to your friends about what Jesus has done in your life. Be honest about your own struggles and your ongoing need for Jesus. Be bold and kind! 5. If a friend shares a difficulty or hardship with you, show empathy and offer to pray with them. They may take you up on it; don’t force them though. Either way, pray for them on your own. Then, check back later to see how they’re doing and if there’s any other way you can help. And if they offer to help you with something you need, don’t be afraid to receive help too! Ultimately, our friendships with others always point back to the most important friendship of all: God’s friendship with us. We can invite all our friends into deeper and deeper relationship with God by showing them who He is. And we can be free to be ourselves, imperfect as we are, trusting that the Holy Spirit is at work in and through us. So, ask God who you can share Jesus’s amazing love with today. You can trust Him to guide you in what to say and do. Remember, because Jesus first loved us and invited us into friendship, we can show His love and friendship to others (1 John 4:19). • A. W. Smith • Can you think of a time someone was a good friend to you? What did they say or do? • As Christians, we don’t need to be afraid of being friends with non-Christians. But if you’re finding it difficult to follow Jesus because of your friendships, who are trusted Christian adults in your life who could help you navigate these relationships, such as a pastor, parent, or counselor? Many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. Matthew 9:10 (CSB) 

READ: JOHN 15:9-17; ROMANS 5:6-11; 1 JOHN 4:11 Relationships of any kind—with family or friends—are important to God. From the beginning, God made us to live in community. Shortly after He created Adam, the first human, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him” (Genesis 2:18). So God made Eve, Adam’s wife and the first human friend in history. Besides Adam and Eve, there are lots of friendships in the Bible. David and Jonathan, King Saul’s son, were best friends and took care of each other when they faced tough times (1 Samuel 18:1-4; 20:1-42). Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, were very loyal to each other, even when they both lost their husbands and faced poverty (Ruth 1–4). Jesus had friends too—He had twelve followers called disciples who were especially close to Him. Jesus even called Judas “friend” when this disciple came to betray Him (Matthew 26:50). The next day, when Jesus hung on the cross, Luke 23:49 says, “Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.” Jesus was willing to go to the cross and die that terrible death—for us. He knew that we all would betray Him through our sin, but He still wants to be friends with us. And the amazing thing is, if you know Jesus, God is friends with you (John 15:15; James 2:23). That’s because Jesus is God the Son, and the Father sent Him to make the way for you to be close to Him. By dying on the cross and rising from the grave, Jesus took the penalty for your sins (John 14:6). If you know Jesus, not only are you God’s friend, but you also have a whole family of friends—other Christians! All those who trust in Jesus are adopted by God and are brothers and sisters in Christ. They make up God’s family. Throughout the Bible, God encourages His people to love and care for one another as He loves and cares for us, and to tell others how they can become friends of God too. Because, ultimately, friendship with God is what we were created for. And once we’ve experienced His friendship, there’s nothing better! • A. W. Smith • What does it mean for God to be friends with you? (You can find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) • Can you think of any ways you’ve seen Christians around you act as a family of friends? What does it look like to act like a brother or sister toward our fellow friends of God? So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:11 (NLT) 

READ: LUKE 22:52-62; JOHN 21:15-19 The man sitting across the table from me makes me uneasy. His failures bear resemblance to mine. Yet, even with his failures, he has been with Jesus. Jesus loved this man. I eye him suspiciously, wondering if he’s lying about knowing Jesus and being chosen by Him. “How can I know you’re telling the truth?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. I feel my face flush but continue speaking anyway: “Why would Jesus want you after the way you failed and betrayed Him?” I wince at my judgmental tone, but Peter smiles, neither surprised nor put off by my blunt questions. “I don’t know,” he says, “Jesus certainly shouldn’t have chosen me.” I’m struck by the calmness with which this man states that God shouldn’t have chosen him. Where is Peter’s confidence in his abilities? Where is his refutation of my claim that Jesus shouldn’t have chosen him? “I know Jesus didn’t choose me because of who I am,” Peter continues, “He chose me because of who He is, despite my failures.” This man must be crazy. No one, especially the God of the universe, would choose someone who failed them, right? I look around, eager for an excuse to leave this conversation. But as he continues talking, I become wrapped up in Peter’s words as he recounts his time with Jesus and speaks of His great mercy. “He called me by name,” Peter tells me with tears in his eyes. “He called me by name and just asked me if I loved Him. I said I did love Him, and, in the midst of my failures, He chose me.” My skepticism falters. Though it seems crazy, I can’t help but believe it might be true. I can’t keep my lips from pulling upward into a smile that mirrors Peter’s. I thank him for his time and leave. Could it be true? I wonder. Could I be chosen to follow Jesus? I begin to pray, “I love You, Jesus. I want to follow You.” • Julia Frontz • Today’s fictional story is how one author imagines what it would be like to interview Peter (also known as Simon or Cephas), one of Jesus’s twelve disciples. If you want to dig deeper, you can read more about Peter’s failures and Jesus’s responses in Matthew 14:22-33; 16:21-23; 26:31-35; Luke 22:49-51, 54-62; John 18:10-11; 21:1-25; Galatians 2:11-21. • Does God value us because of anything we do or don’t do? Is anyone more or less worthy of God’s love than anyone else? (Hint: read Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5) • Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” What might it look like for you to live in light of this reality—that God has chosen you because He loves you and wants to be with you? You can find out more about what it means to know Jesus on our "Know Jesus" page. [Jesus said,] “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” John 15:16 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 4:4; 1 PETER 1:22–2:3 Have you ever been hit by a sudden, bizarre craving? It might be in the middle of the night, when all the stores are closed and the pantry is empty, but there’s nothing in the world you want more than…potato chips. While cravings seem to be more or less random, our bodies feel and function their best when we take care in planning and preparing what we eat and follow a healthy, balanced diet. In some ways, we are what we eat. The nutrients and vitamins in the food we eat are what makes our bodies grow and maintain health. And it doesn’t take long for a body deprived of nutrients to get sick. In today’s passage Peter exhorts Christians to crave the pure, spiritual milk of God’s Word. It is through the Word that we are born again, and it is through the Word that we grow, like how newborn babies grow from drinking their mother’s milk. Peter wants us to have a holy craving for the Word of God, because it is through the Word that we learn how God loves us so much that Jesus died and rose again to save us. And, through the Holy Spirit, He uses the Word to help us grow in our sanctification—the process by which we become more and more like Jesus. In my life, I’ve eaten a lot of good food. But when I really try to think about it, only a handful of meals come to mind that I specifically remember. And yet, even on days when I can’t recall what I had for breakfast, all that food has sustained me and helped my body grow. In the same way, God uses His Word to grow us. Even if you can’t remember any specific lessons, you are who you are today because of the things God has shown you in His Word. Jesus wants to satisfy your deepest hunger with the pure nourishment of His Word—so keep reading! • Jacob Bier • When we experience a craving to know God more, it’s because He is already reaching out to us in love. And He delights in fulfilling our desire through His Word (the Bible), His Holy Spirit, and His people (the church). Have you ever experienced something like this? What was that like? • In our walk with Jesus, there will be times when we intensely crave His presence, and there will be times when following Him feels repetitive, boring, or uncomfortable. But even in those seasons, we need to be sustained daily by the food of His Word and His presence. What kind of season are you in right now? Consider taking some time to talk to Jesus about this in prayer. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalm 34:8 (NLT) 

READ: ISAIAH 43:1-13; JOHN 10:3-4, 27-30; HEBREWS 12:1-3 Have you ever been in the middle of competing in an intense sporting event, tired and discouraged, when someone called out your name to cheer you on? During my days playing high school soccer, I’d be racing toward the ball, exhausted and ready to quit, then I’d hear a familiar voice call out my name. I could hear it above all the noise of the fans. It was all I needed to dig in, keep fighting, and run with endurance. Someone knew me by name. They were watching. They cared. I wasn’t just a player on the field. I was their player. We have a heavenly Father who knows us and calls us by name. We are His. We hear His voice, and we follow Him. We are seen, known, and loved. At times we can feel lonely, tired, lost, or fearful. We can feel as if no one really knows us or sees us. We can tell ourselves we are just a player on the field, lost in the race. But it’s not true. We serve a God who cares so intimately for us that He calls us by name. In Isaiah 43, God tells the Israelites to remember that He chose them, He formed them, He redeemed them. Therefore, they need not fear. They are not alone. And God tells us the same. Listen for His voice calling your name when you’re tired and ready to quit, when you feel lonely and wonder if anyone sees you, when you’re scared and can’t see the road ahead. He is calling your name. Listen for His voice and follow Him. He sees you. He knows you. He loves you. • Renee Robinson • How does it make you feel when someone uses your name? Is it a good feeling or a bad feeling? • Take a moment to imagine God calling your name. What kind of tone of voice does He use? What might this tell you about how you perceive God? • Why does it matter that God knows us by name? Through Jesus, God ran the race before us. He became human and lived a perfect, sinless life—ultimately dying on the cross and rising from the grave to make the way for us to be forgiven and live with Him forever. So now, as people who have been called by name and put our trust in Jesus, we can “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2). As we remember Jesus’s loving sacrifice for us and look forward to His return, we can know that He’s always with us, calling us by name, cheering us on, and reminding us who we are in Him. But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (NIV) 

READ: HEBREWS 11 Hebrews 11 is full of examples of people who trusted God even when it seemed foolish. Abel burned up some of his best livestock as a sacrifice to God (Genesis 4:1-11). If he hadn’t had faith, it would have seemed like a waste of food or income. Enoch’s deeds are not mentioned specifically, but his faith pleased God, and God “took him away” to be with Him without dying (Genesis 5:21-24). That sounds impossible, but nothing is impossible for God (Matthew 19:26). It’s encouraging to read Old Testament accounts of God’s faithfulness. When people put their lives at risk to obey God, He often showed His faithfulness by physically protecting those people in their particular situations—like He did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, keeping them alive when they were thrown into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3). Other times, people suffered or even died for their faith, like Stephen (Acts 6–7). God was faithful to those people too. Although we may endure situations where it might seem hopeless or unrewarding to follow God, faith allows us to recognize that God has a plan and will take care of us. He has given us promises to lean on whenever we endure difficult times. And every single one of those promises is fulfilled in Jesus. Because Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave, we can be restored to relationship with God. In Hebrews 13:5, He promises never to leave or forsake us. In Matthew 21:22, He promises to answer prayers asked in faith—those answers may not be what we expect, but we can trust that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28-29). And in John 3:15, He promises that those who believe in Jesus will have everlasting life. Like the people in the Bible who acted in faith, we all have times when obedience to God leads to uncertainty about our futures. They knew that God is trustworthy, so they believed God’s promises and acted on them. God fulfilled His promises to them, and He will fulfill His promises to us. • Karen Niewoehner • What are some ways God has been faithful to you in your life? • Who are some people you know who walk in faithful obedience to God? What about their faith in Jesus do you admire? • If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living in you. How does the Holy Spirit empower us to act in faithful obedience to God? (Romans 15:13; Philippians 2:13) For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 23 Sometimes when I think about death and dying, it scares me. I know this is the case for a lot of people. I also know that, unless Jesus comes back during our lifetimes, we will all experience death one day. But personally, I don’t want to think about it. However, when I was reading Psalm 23 last night, I was struck by the hope it gives us regarding death, dying, and what comes after. Many people read Psalm 23 when they want to feel God’s presence and be reminded that He is with us in the difficult times. Last night, it really hit me in a new way. Verse 4 tells us that God will be with us when we’re in “the shadow of death,” and verse 6 says we have an eternal home in the house of the Lord. I don’t have to fear any situation that God has promised to enter with me. If I were to get sick today, and the doctors told me that I had just days to live, I could trust that God would stay beside me and everything would be okay. I don’t have to be concerned about the particulars surrounding my eventual death; God will be with me, comforting me, no matter how things work out. God will stay beside us even when we’re getting close to death; He’ll be with us to comfort us, and He’ll lead us through that time and into His home. • Emily Acker • What is the scariest thing about death for you personally? • As Christians, how could knowing that God is always with us—and always will be with us—affect the way we think about death? (Romans 8:35-39) • Psalm 23 describes God as a shepherd, and this whole psalm points forward to Jesus—He is the Good Shepherd who “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). If we know Jesus, we not only have confidence that He will be with us in “the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4), but also that He has already gone through this valley before us, on our behalf. He went to the cross to save us, so He knows what it’s like to die. He even experienced the anxiety and anguish of knowing that His death was near (Mark 14:33-34; Luke 22:44). But, glory be to God, He also rose from the grave, and He promises that when He returns, everyone who has put their trust in Him will be raised to live with Him forever on the new heavens and new earth (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:1-5). As we think about death and dying, how could these truths give us hope? Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.” John 11:25 (WEB) 

READ: MATTHEW 7:24-27; ROMANS 8:35-39 I’ll never forget the first time I saw it: the foreclosure notice tacked to the front door. At fifteen, I was old enough to understand its meaning. The bank was coming to take our house away. I’d experienced enough under its roof to know this outcome was inevitable. We were already living without heat or hot water. Our house was falling into disrepair. My father had a great job, but my mother had squandered everything and then some, and now there was nothing left. It would be another ten years before the house was finally gone, but that notice was the perfect example of just how unstable my home life was. Perhaps you can relate. Maybe your parents are divorced, and you move back and forth between homes. Maybe you’re in foster care, and your home is ever changing. Maybe you experience poverty, home insecurity, or abuse. Or maybe it’s something else. Safe, secure homes are good, good things. God created us with needs, and it’s right to desire to have them met. During His earthly ministry, Jesus provided for people through things like food, bodily healing, and stable community—as well as through sharing the good, hope-filled news of His kingdom with them. We are called to serve others who are struggling and marginalized just as He did. And as we do, we can share the good news of how Jesus died and rose again to bring us into His family and give us an eternal home with Him. Because, if we put our ultimate hope in anything other than Jesus, we will always come up empty. Home is supposed to be a place of refuge, and when it’s not, it can make you feel isolated, embarrassed, and lost. Thankfully, the Bible tells us that even when our home is uncertain, broken, or nonexistent, we can find hope and comfort in Jesus. He offers us the kind of security that no earthly dwelling can. When we build our lives upon His foundation, we have something more certain than anything this world can provide. • Alissa Griffin • We all experience times when our home lives are not as they should be. How could it be comforting to remember that Jesus is always with us, holding us in His love, and that He promises we will live in restored creation with Him someday? (Revelation 21:1-5) • God cares about all our needs, and one of the ways He provides for His people, is through His people. If you or someone you know is experiencing home insecurity or family instability, who is a trusted adult you could talk to about it today? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (CSB)

READ: EPHESIANS 6:10-20; COLOSSIANS 1:9-14; 1 JOHN 1:1–2:2 Miles later, we reached a rocky cliff face. I pressed my back to the rock while tears cascaded down my cheeks. I almost took that fruit. How could I? When was the last time I was this exhausted? Snowdrop gave me a whiskery horse kiss and nudged my satchel. After wiping horse foam off my face, I took the hint and pulled my faded, dog-eared copy of the Word out of my satchel. As I read, the words from the King of Light comforted me. I remember I am Ashva, knight of the Kingdom of Light. What else do I need to remember? My checkered bracelet clinked against the metal of my armor. This was another reminder, a collection of prayers. I opened the first square and read a prayer from my mother, asking the King to give me the knowledge of His will. As I took out another square, I could almost hear my grandfather’s voice, remembering how he prayed that I would live a life worthy of the King of Light—the one who loved me so much that He gave His life for me. A dear friend prayed for me to grow in endurance and patience, resting in the King who patiently withheld judgement for our wrongs and endured a gruesome death to pay our debt for us. Finally, an elder from my village prayed for the eyes of my heart to be opened to the hope of the King who conquered death, and for my inner being to be strengthened to know His love more deeply. Suddenly, sooty gloves gripped the cliff edge before me. Before I could even unsheathe my weapon, a dark rook pulled himself onto my ledge. Although I felt a small fissure of fear, I remembered that I belonged to the King of Light. I knew I could stand my ground because He stands against the enemy for me, and I can stand on Him. A wide smile split my face. “I am Ashva, knight of the Kingdom of Light!” I pulled my sword free, and light illuminated the night around me, stunning the dark rook. “And my King has already declared checkmate. Redemption is mine by the blood of the King!” • Savannah Coleman • As children of God, we still experience temptation, exhaustion, failure, and doubts. Thankfully, Jesus empathizes with us and offers unending forgiveness. Because His blood was shed for our sins, we have the confidence to come to His throne for help when we’re tempted, and also for forgiveness after we’ve ignored Him and given in to temptation (Hebrews 4:14-16). He has generously given us His Holy Spirit and His Word, the Bible, to help us. We also have the prayers of God’s people surrounding us. Who could you pray Colossians 1:9-14 over today? But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NIV) 

READ: JOHN 1:1-18; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13; EPHESIANS 5:8-20 I am Ashva, knight of the Kingdom of Light! Although weak from my journey, I repeated the truth aloud to bolster my strength. The King had sent me to deliver a message to the bishop of the north. Then I was to travel on to the castle of the nearby rook and await further orders. But the mountain road was long and treacherous. My horse’s muscles quivered beneath me, and I knew it was time to rest. I scanned the valley’s perimeter for enemies of the Light before dismounting. Snowdrop’s coat shimmered with sweat as she drank from the brook we rested by. I patted her neck and whispered soothing words. Suddenly, a reflection of something dark appeared on the surface of the water. Snowdrop snorted in alarm at the horse and rider standing across the brook. The gaunt horse was but a skeleton of itself, and smoke furled around the rider, creating a ghostly cloak. A knight from the Kingdom of Darkness. I knew I should flee, but I stood frozen, watching the knight move cautiously through the water toward me. What is in his hand? Some kind of new weapon— no, it’s only a piece of fruit! Relief flooded through me and a gasp of laughter escaped my lips. All he did when he reached my side of the brook was hold out the fruit like a peace offering. My mouth watered as I imagined biting into the flesh, juices cascading down my throat, satisfying my hunger… Snowdrop nudged my shoulder with a grunt of protest. Startled out of my reverie, I looked closer at the fruit. It was unlike any I’d seen in the Kingdom of Light. It is from the darkness, I realized. And I don’t belong to the darkness anymore. I am Ashva, knight of the Kingdom of Light! Our fruit consists of all that is good, right, and true. This is a trap. Whirling around, I jumped onto Snowdrop’s back, and we fled into the setting sun. • Savannah Coleman • Today’s story is an allegory for the spiritual battle we’re waging against the powers of darkness. Like in the game of chess, our enemy is plotting to trick us (2 Corinthians 2:11). However, unlike in chess, our King is by far the most powerful player on the board. And there’s no question that He will win, because Jesus died on the cross and rose again, taking the punishment for our sin and triumphing over the devil and all his forces (Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:9-23). If we know Jesus, we are part of the Kingdom of Light, no longer bound to the sin and death of the darkness. How can remembering our identity—that we are forgiven, beloved, and made righteous by King Jesus—help us resist temptation, and repent after we sin? For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth). Ephesians 5:8-9 (NIV) 

READ: ISAIAH 30:15-18; MATTHEW 12:15-21; ROMANS 10:9-13 I was struggling and needed advice. I thought my camp counselor from summer youth group camp might be the person to ask. So I wrote to the counselor, who I’ll call Libby, and explained my dilemma. Years before, I had put my faith in Jesus for forgiveness, trusting Him to pay the price for my sins and make me pure before God. I believed Jesus had paid for the punishment I deserved. I believed He had risen from the dead. But I just couldn’t trust I had “done it right.” Did I ask Jesus in the right way to forgive me and lead my life? When I asked Jesus to wipe away my guilt before God, did I ask correctly? I felt I couldn’t be sure. Here was Libby’s answer: Write it in a book. She suggested I pray and ask Jesus once more to rescue me from my sins and make me God’s child. I had done this already—several times. But I took Libby’s advice, told God again that I wanted Jesus to be my Savior, and wrote the date in a notebook. It didn’t help! I still anxiously wondered—Did I do it right? Libby intended to guide me. However, what I’ve learned since then has brou...