Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families

Read: Genesis 1:1-3, 26-31; John 3:16

“Good morning, Amelia,” Heidi, Amelia’s stepmom, greeted her.

“Good morning.” Amelia rubbed her eyes. “What are you making?” she asked, noticing all the ingredients Heidi had out.

“Breakfast cookies!” Heidi smiled and held up a bag of raisins. “Would you like to help? I need some eggs cracked.”

“Sure,” Amelia replied, pulling over a stool. “My mom says I’m good at cracking eggs. I love cooking.”

“Then you’re the perfect person to help me make these cookies!” Heidi set the eggs on the counter. “You can crack two into that bowl.”

Amelia did as she was asked. “Done,” she announced.

“Now, let’s add some oats.” Heidi handed a measuring cup to Amelia, then leaned over her phone to say, “Open my Bible app.”

Amelia frowned as she measured the oats. “Why do you listen to that book so much?”

Heidi smiled. “Because it’s the best book in the world,” she replied as she added some chocolate chips to their mixture. “It’s about God and what He did for us through His Son, Jesus. Jesus saved me and changed my life.”

“What did God do in the book?” Amelia asked, turning on the mixer.

Heidi waited until the mixer was turned off. “Why do you like cooking?” she asked.

“Making things is fun.” Amelia shrugged and eyed the ingredients they were using. “It’s cool to mix things like flour and oats together and get cookies out of it.”

Heidi nodded. “One of the coolest things God did was make the world. And He didn’t start with flour or oats—He started with nothing. All He had to do was speak the entire world into existence.”

Amelia looked at her skeptically. “The entire world?”

“The entire world. He made us too, and He sent Jesus to save us from sin—our wrongs and everything that makes the world a broken place—so we could know and love God and live with Him forever. I enjoy reading the Bible because it teaches me about God and His love for us.” Heidi tapped on her tablet. “Do you want to hear the very first story in the Bible—the one where God created the world?”

“I’d like that,” Amelia agreed as the pair began to roll the dough into balls.

–Kimberly Brokish

How about you? What’s the coolest thing you’ve made? Maybe it was a craft, a sweat treat, or a game you came up with. We can make a lot of things, but we have to start with something. Only God is powerful enough to make something out of nothing. He made everything there is, including you—and He wants to have a relationship with you. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Praise God today because He made you and loves you.

Today's Key Verse: You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created. Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: God created the entire world

Read: Proverbs 16:19-24

“Milo, listen to me say this verse,” Joel said as he helped his little brother learn a memory verse for Sunday school. He recited each word slowly. “Okay, now see if you can repeat it.”

Milo tried to repeat the verse, but he stumbled over the unfamiliar words. Joel tried to help him, but eventually gave up. “You’re hopeless,” he said. “Go practice on your own. I have to finish my homework.”

Milo looked forlorn. “I’ll do better,” he said.

Joel rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right.”

As Milo got up from the table, Joel saw his mom standing in the doorway. She smiled at Milo. “Go work on your verse in your room, and I’ll be in to help you in a few minutes.”

After Milo left, Mom turned to Joel. “I’m disappointed in your attitude toward your brother. He struggles to learn things and needs help and encouragement.”

“Okay. Sorry,” Joel said, flipping open his math book.

Later that day, Joel’s dad put his tablet on the table and scrolled through some pictures. “These were taken before, during, and after the Harrison Hotel construction,” he said. “I need to choose photos to use in my article about the project.”

Joel pointed to a picture. “I like this one—it’s a good before shot. You can see the entire old building and the crane.” He looked at the dates in the file names of the pictures. “Wow! They tore the old building down in just a week. Didn’t it take over a year to build the new one?”

“Yes, it did,” replied Dad. “Unfortunately, it’s much easier to tear down than to build up—in most areas of life, not just construction.”

Mom nodded. “For example, we often find it easier to criticize people for what they do wrong than to praise and encourage them. But none of us is perfect, are we?” She looked at Joel. “That’s why Jesus died to save us. He took the punishment for our sins so we could have freedom and forgiveness in Him, and we need to show His love to others by encouraging them when they’re struggling.”

Joel sighed, remembering how impatient he had been with his brother. “I need to go find Milo,” he said, “and help him learn a verse.”

–Rose Ross Zediker

How about you? Do your words and attitude encourage others? If someone is struggling with something that’s not a problem for you, do you help them? If somebody does something well, do you say so? Trust Jesus to help you be an encourager. Use your words and attitude to show others His love by building them up instead of tearing them down.

Today's Key Verse: Encourage each other every day. Hebrews 3:13 (ERV)

Today's Key Thought: Use encouraging words

Read: Psalm 139:5-12

Tyler sat up in bed. What’s that noise? he wondered. He and his family had moved to a new house, and now he slept in a strange new room. Somehow he didn’t feel safe the way he had back in his old, familiar home. Tyler heard the noise again. I don’t like this room! I don’t want to sleep here! he thought. He jumped out of bed and bolted down the stairs to find his mom.

“Tyler!” Mom said when he rushed into the living room. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s that noise, Mom?” Tyler asked.

Mom listened for a moment. “There’s a bit of thunder in the distance,” she said. “It won’t hurt you.”

Tyler knew his mom was right. The noise did sound like thunder, and it wasn’t even close. There was nothing to be afraid of, but he was still scared. “I don’t like my new room,” he said.

Mom put her arm around him. “Sometimes it’s hard to get used to a new house.” She pointed to the little dog sitting at her feet. “I think Sprout still feels a little strange here too. Why don’t you take him to your room? He’ll keep you company.”

Tyler looked at the puppy. “Okay,” he said. “Come on, Sprout. I’ll take care of you.”

Mom went to tuck Tyler back into his bed. “When you feel afraid, remember that we didn’t move away from God,” she said. “Jesus is right here with you, just like He was at our old house—even when it’s dark and there’s a storm outside. You can trust Him to take care of you.”

When Tyler heard the sound of thunder again a little later, he pulled the blanket snugly around himself and Sprout. “You aren’t scared when you know I’m close—you know I’ll take care of you and keep you safe, don’t you?” he asked as he stroked the puppy’s head. “I’m not scared either, because I know Jesus is here with me. He’ll take care of me.” Then Tyler and Sprout closed their eyes and went to sleep.

–Karen Cogan

How about you? Do you have trouble getting to sleep when things seem scary or new? You may move to a new place, but you can never move away from Jesus. If you know Him as your Savior, He is with you everywhere, all the time. Trust Him to be with you when you need Him and to take care of you. Then close your eyes and enjoy the peaceful sleep and rest He has for you.

Today's Key Verse: In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:8 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Sleep well—Jesus is with you

Read: John 15:13-15

Cara took her cookie and a glass of milk into the utility room where Mom was folding laundry. “Mom, can I invite Amber over?” she asked. “She’s my new friend.” Cara dunked the cookie into her milk.

Mom added a towel to the stack on the dryer. “And you probably want to invite Jasmine too, right?”

Cara shook her head. “No, I don’t want her over. We had a fight. Anyway, Amber is much more popular.”

“Oh?” Mom frowned slightly as she handed Cara a stack of towels. “Take these to the bathroom, please.”

As Cara set her milk on the dryer, Mom asked, “Are Kenzie and Madison still your friends?”

Cara shrugged. “They’re okay, I guess, but Amber’s more fun.” She turned to leave. “Hey, Mom, can I—oops!” Cara’s arm bumped the glass of milk, and it poured down the side of the dryer. “Sorry!” Cara set the stack of towels down and picked up the one on top to wipe up the spilled milk.

“Don’t use that clean towel!” Mom said. She quickly pulled paper towels from the roll on the wall. “Here, use these.”

Cara sopped up the milk and threw the paper towels into the trash. Mom watched thoughtfully. “Paper towels are pretty handy,” she said. “They’re disposable. Just use them and toss them.”

Cara nodded. “That’s what’s good about them.”

“Yes, but what’s not good is that you’ve been treating your friends like paper towels,” said Mom. “You seem to think it’s okay to use them and throw them away. What if Jesus treated us like we were disposable? If He threw us out whenever we got smudged with sin? But He’ll never do that because we’re valuable to Him. He loves us and promises to clean us when we get dirty. And He wants you to treat your friends like they’re valuable too.” She pointed to the fluffy yellow towel on top of the stack. “When a friendship gets smudged, clean it with love and forgiveness.”

Cara thought about that as she picked up the stack of fresh, clean-smelling towels. “Can I invite Amber and Jasmine and Kenzie and Madison over?” she asked.

“All of them?” Mom laughed. “All right. Invite all of them. The more the merrier!”

–Barbara J. Westberg

How about you? Do you spend time repairing and maintaining your friendships? Or if a friendship gets smudged, do you just toss it and move on? Friends are among the many blessings God gives us. Friendships are so important that Jesus calls those who trust and obey Him His friends. So value your friends the way Jesus values His. Care for the friends you have, and make new ones too!

Today's Key Verse: Never abandon a friend. Proverbs 27:10 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Value your friends

Read: Zephaniah 3:14-17; Hebrews 13:5-6

Ding dong, chimed the doorbell. “Wyatt!” Mom called. “You have a package!”

Wyatt galloped down the stairs. “Who’s it from?” he asked.

Mom squinted at the return address on the package. “It looks like it’s from your Uncle Dale in Texas. I think it’s your birthday present,” she said, handing it to Wyatt.

“All right!” Wyatt ripped open the package. A few minutes later his bare feet were hidden in genuine cowboy boots.

“Very nice. Now all you need is a horse,” Mom said with a grin. “Why don’t you go show them to your brother?”

Wyatt clomped down the hallway and into his older brother’s room where Jared was packing for military boot camp.

“Hey, Jared,” Wyatt said, pointing to his new footwear. “Check it out—boot camp.”

Jared laughed. “Nice. From Uncle Dale?”

Wyatt nodded. “Yep,” he said as he climbed up on Jared’s bed and made himself comfortable. “What kinds of things will you do at boot camp?” he asked.

“It’s ten weeks of intense military training. They’ll teach us discipline and a new vocabulary. We’ll take orders without asking questions and learn to take care of our team members. I’ll also learn how to get ready to protect our country and keep its citizens safe—even if it means dying for them.”

“Wow. Are you scared, Jared?” Wyatt asked, wide-eyed. “I would be.”

“I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I said I wasn’t a little scared,” Jared confessed. “But I’ve been reading about men in the Bible like Joshua and David who depended on God to help them fight battles, and I can depend on God too. I know that because Jesus died to save me, I can trust Him to be with me in every situation—even in death. Remembering that gives me courage, even if my heart is beating like crazy.”

Staring at his shiny new boots, Wyatt had an idea. “While you’re gone,” he told Jared, “I’m going to wear my boots every day. And every time I put them on, I’m going to pray for you.”

“Thanks, little brother,” Jared said, ruffling Wyatt’s hair. “That means a lot.” He grinned. “Just don’t forget to wash your feet!”

–Kelly Hope

How about you? Do you ever feel scared or lonely? You may not be leaving home to fight for your country, but there may be something else in your life that’s making you feel alone and afraid—like a new school or a divorce in your family. Remember that Jesus is with you in every situation. Trust Him to give you courage, and pray for others who may be scared and lonely too.

Today's Key Verse: Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Don’t be afraid—God is with you