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

Read: Romans 6:11-14

James looked up from his job of pulling dandelions as his friend Alex pedaled his bike up the driveway. “Hey,” called Alex. “Let’s go to the splash pad at the park.”

“Can’t,” James replied. “My mom says she’s sick of seeing yellow dandelions instead of green grass, and I have to get rid of them.” He held up the tool he was using. “I work around the plant with this so I can pull out the whole root—and they sure go deep!” He wiped his brow with a dirty hand. “It’s really hot too.”

“Yeah,” said Alex. “Too hot to do it that way. Why not just cut the tops off? Here, I’ll help you. Then we can go cool off.”

“Okay,” James said. The boys soon finished the job and were off to the park.

Several times in the next few weeks, the dandelions sprouted back up and Mom sent James out to pull them again. Each time, he simply cut off the tops.

One day Mom came out to talk to him. “I didn’t understand why we kept getting so many dandelions, but now I see the problem. You aren’t pulling them up by the roots the way I showed you.”

“Oh,” said James, looking at the weeds in his hand. “I didn’t think it mattered as long as you couldn’t see them.”

“But it does matter,” said Mom. “If the roots are still in the ground, the dandelions grow right back. You have to get rid of the whole thing—roots and all.”

That evening, Dad heard about the returning dandelions. “That’s a good example of the way we sometimes treat sin in our lives,” he said. “If it isn’t seen by other people, we often think it doesn’t matter. But just because it isn’t visible to everyone else doesn’t mean it isn’t harmful. No matter how much we try to cover it up, it will keep popping back up in our lives, hurting us and others.” Dad looked at James. “Do you know how to root out sin instead of just trying to hide it?”

James nodded. “We need Jesus.”

“That’s right,” said Dad. “We need to confess any wrongs we’re trying to hide and remember that because Jesus has saved us and given us new life, sin has no power over us.”

–A. W. Smith

How about you? Is there a sin in your life you’re trying to keep covered so others won’t see it? No matter how you try to hide it, it will keep popping back up. It needs to be pulled up by the roots, and the only way to do that is to stop trying to hide it and remember that through Jesus you have the power to turn from sin. Trust Him to help you let go of sinful habits and live the new life He’s given you.

Today’s key verse: Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: Root out sin

Read: Psalm 34:15-17; 55:16-17

As Colin sat down to begin his homework, he heard his little sister whining in the kitchen. He began to study, but all the noise his sister was making distracted him. Then Colin heard his mother’s voice. “Kinsley, I want you to stop whining.” Colin returned to his homework, but soon he heard his sister again.

Colin got up and went to the kitchen. “What’s wrong with Kinsley?” he asked. “I have tons of homework, and her whining is driving me crazy!”

Kinsley made a face and threw a sock at Colin.

“She wants someone to put her socks on for her,” Mom said.

“But she knows how to do that herself,” said Colin. “Oh, well. I’ll help her just to make her be quiet!”

“Hang on, Colin,” Mom said. “Kinsley also knows how to ask nicely for things. So far all she’s done is whine and throw her socks.”

“Well, I don’t know if I can stand all the noise she’s making much longer,” Colin said.

“I wonder if God ever feels that way,” Mom said thoughtfully. “It seems like we often whine and complain about things instead of praying about them.”

Colin frowned. “You mean, instead of complaining, God wants me to pray about stuff like being bothered by the noise Kinsley’s been making?”

“I was actually thinking of a problem I’ve been dealing with at work, but yes, God wants us to tell Him what’s bothering us and pray about everything.” Mom smiled. “Why don’t we pray now?” Mom and Colin bowed their heads. “Dear Father,” Mom prayed, “thank You for caring about all the details of our lives, and thank You for sending Jesus to die for us and make us your children so we can come to you in prayer about anything. Right now we ask You to help Kinsley—and all of us—learn to ask for help instead of whining about our problems. Please help each of us remember that You love us and know what’s best for us. Thank You for always listening to us.”

After Mom finished praying, Kinsley walked up to her and held up her socks. “P’ease help me put my socks on, Mommy.” As Mom gave her a hug and knelt down to help her with her socks, Colin smiled and went back to his homework.

–Dawn Yrene

How about you? Do you pray about your problems? Or do you whine and complain instead of asking for help? God cares about you and wants you to talk to Him about what’s going on in your life. He may not always give quick solutions to your problems, but He’ll always help you and do what’s best. Tell Him what’s bothering you, and thank Him for the blessings He’s given you. He loves you and is always listening.

Today’s key verse: Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: Pray about everything

Read: John 1:1-9; Romans 8:38-39

Reid came to a stop, panting. He’d been playing tag with his cousins for the last twenty minutes. They were playing outside while they watched the solar eclipse. He took advantage of the pause in play to grab his cardboard glasses, adjust them to cover his eyes, and look up at the sky. The sun was now half-covered by the moon. Reid knew that eventually the moon would completely cover the sun. It was supposed to be dark. Reid really didn’t like the dark. He looked around and felt comforted knowing his cousins were close by.

The eclipse continued, and the sky grew steadily darker. As the eclipse approached totality, the time when the moon would completely cover the sun, Reid felt a chill run over his skin and realized the air was suddenly cooler. He felt the familiar fear of the dark, but then his cousins ran up and his aunt came outside, and he remembered he was not alone. He thought of something his Sunday school teacher had said—Jesus was with him in darkness.

When his aunt told him the eclipse had reached totality, Reid looked up at the sun. He was surprised by what he saw. The sun was completely blocked by the moon, but a bright ring shone around the moon’s edges. Reid suddenly remembered what his teacher told him the day before—the ring was the sun’s outer atmosphere, called the corona. The moon wasn’t big enough to block the corona! Reid looked around, realized that there was still enough light to play tag, and took off after his cousins.

That night, Reid told his dad about the eclipse. “I was surprised by the brightness of the corona that shone from behind the moon,” he said.

Dad looked at him thoughtfully. “It makes me think of the light of Jesus, which shines even in darkness.”

Reid smiled. “Dad, I felt Jesus with me today, even in the darkness!”

Dad squeezed Reid’s shoulder. “Satan tries his hardest to block out Jesus with the darkness of this world, but he just can’t do it. Like the sun with its corona, Jesus shines so bright that He always overcomes darkness. He came into the world to free us from sin and give us His light, and nothing can ever separate us from His love.”

–Chelsea Mohler

How about you? Did you know that no darkness in this world can block out Jesus’s light? If you’re facing a frightening situation, Jesus promises to be with you. If you’re struggling with sin and guilt, Jesus offers you forgiveness and gives you the power to turn from sin. If you’re feeling sad, He will comfort you. Remember that He is always with you, shining the light of His love into your life.

Today’s key verse: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Nothing can block Jesus’s light

Read: Proverbs 16:16-20

“Has anyone seen my math book?” asked Aria. “I can’t find it anywhere.” But no one had seen it, and Aria finally remembered she had left it at Zoe’s house. My perfect homework record will be ruined! she thought miserably. She always had her homework done at the beginning of class each day. Maybe if I stayed home sick tomorrow, I could make up the lesson.

So the next morning, she pretended to have a stomachache and went back to bed while her family got ready for school and work—except for Mom, who insisted on staying home with her.

That afternoon, Aria’s sister brought her math book home from school. “Zoe sent this,” she said. “She wondered if you were going to try to come to choir practice tonight. If you can’t, she’ll have to sing that solo part, and she doesn’t know it that well.”

Oh no! I forgot all about choir, Aria thought. I really do want to go, and I’m tired of lying in bed. So Aria announced that she felt better.

Mom wasn’t convinced. “If you were so sick that you had to miss school, you’d better stay home the rest of the day too.”

That evening, Mom found Aria sobbing into her pillow. “What’s wrong, Aria? Do you feel worse?”

Aria shook her head. “I wanted to go to choir practice. I’m not sick. I wasn’t sick this morning either,” she said through a sob. “I just didn’t want to ruin my perfect homework record.”

Mom sat down on the bed. “You may not be sick, but you sure took a fall. You wanted your homework record to be perfect so everyone would think highly of you, right?”

Aria sniffed. “I guess so.”

“That’s pride,” said Mom. “Your pride caused you to fall—to tell a lie rather than let others see you as less than perfect. Pride is harmful because it causes us to hide our flaws and our constant need for Jesus’s grace—from both ourselves and others.”

Aria hung her head. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

Mom gave her a hug. “I forgive you—and Jesus will forgive you too. Trust Him to help you let go of your pride so you can help others see how much we all need Him.”

–Agnes Livezey

How about you? Are you proud? Do you do things just to impress others? It’s okay to want to look your best or do well in school or sports, but when you’re willing to do anything—even something you know is wrong—to keep others from seeing your flaws, that’s pride. Ask Jesus to forgive you and to help you root out pride in your life. Then be honest about your shortcomings and your need for Him.

Today’s key verse: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Don’t be proud

Read: 1 Peter 5:6-11

The broom swished across the kitchen floor as Mom worked to gather the crumbs and dirt from under the table. Ethan, Evan, and Everett sat nearby watching.

“Wow, Mom,” Everett said. “That’s a lot of crumbs.”

Mom laughed. “That’s what happens when three hungry boys live here.” She swept everything into a little pile, then walked over to the wall. With a whoosh, the hidden vacuum inside the wall sucked every last crumb away.

“Whoa!” Evan’s eyes went wide. “Where did it all go?”

“It’s like a secret vacuum in the wall,” Mom explained. “When we built this house, Dad had it installed. All I have to do is sweep dirt close enough, and it’s gone.”

“That’s awesome,” Ethan said. “So…why do you still use the dustpan?”

Mom smiled. “Because sometimes I forget about the vacuum. I do all the work, scooping up dirt into the dustpan, when the vacuum is right here, ready to help.” Mom leaned on her broom. “You know,” she continued, “that reminds me of Jesus. He’s always with us, ready to take our sin, worries, and junk. But sometimes, I forget. I try to handle everything on my own, like using the dustpan when the vacuum is right there. Jesus is so much better at handling my mess than I am.”

“Do you have to keep asking Him to save you over and over?” Everett asked.

“No,” Mom said gently. “When you put your trust in Jesus, He saves you once and for always. But, like floors that keep getting dirty, our hearts pick up things every day—like bad attitudes, selfishness, or worries. I need to keep bringing those things to Him. Some struggles He takes away for good; others I bring to Him again and again. But He never gets tired of helping me, and He always forgives me when I confess my sins to Him.”

“So, like the vacuum in our wall, Jesus is always here and always ready to help us, and He’s way better at cleaning than we are,” said Ethan.

“Exactly,” Mom said with a grin. “We just have to remember He’s with us and bring Him our mess.”

The boys all nodded. “I like that,” Evan said. “And I really like the vacuum.”

Mom laughed again. “Me too, bub. Me too.”

–LaVerne Vest

How about you? Do you try to clean up life’s messes on your own? Or do you bring them to Jesus? Think about one “mess” you’ve carried this week—maybe you got angry with a sibling, struggled with your homework, or had an argument with a friend. Instead of holding it in or working hard to handle it on your own, talk to Jesus. Tell Him about your worries, struggles, and shortcomings. Then trust Him to forgive any wrongs and to help you with difficulties.

Today’s key verse: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: Jesus takes your mess