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

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Two-Strike Hitter Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

When Maggie stepped into the batter’s box, she already had two strikes. One more would put her on the bench. She glanced at the stands. Her foster mom wasn’t there. Maggie sighed. Her team chanted, “Two-strike hitter, don’t be a quitter!” The pitch came in fast, and Maggie connected, sending the softball past the outfield.

Softball took her mind off everything. When she got back home, her social worker was out front holding a bag with all Maggie’s belongings. Oh no, I forgot! I’m moving today. She forced her feet to keep walking. Ever since Dad died, it was one foster home after another.

After several months in her new house, Maggie saw a Bible lying open on her foster mom’s desk. The words “I love the Lord because He hears my voice” jumped out at Maggie. “He doesn’t hear my voice,” she said out loud.

Alice, Maggie’s foster mom, came in and asked, “Who doesn’t hear you, honey?”

“Jesus doesn’t. When Mom left, Dad told me to pray. When Dad got sick, I prayed. Now they’re both gone.”

Alice put a soft hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “You play softball—I did too. Do you ever cheer, ‘Two-strike hitter…’”

“‘Don’t be a quitter!’” Maggie answered. “I’m a quitter at asking God for anything.”

Alice tapped the Bible. “Look at this psalm—Psalm 116. This man had pain and death all around him. He said he was brought low, but God heard him. Think—when your mom left, who was still with you?”

“Dad.” Maggie paused. “And Jesus. And when Dad was sick, he told me that because Jesus died for me, I could trust Him even in hard times.”

Alice nodded. “Psalm 27 says that even if your mother and father are gone, the Lord will care for you. The Lord is taking care of you, Maggie. He sent you here, and we love you. We prayed for you before you came—and we’re praying for your mom too. We don’t know what she’ll do. But we know what Jesus will do.”

“He’ll hear my voice?”

“Yes, He always hears you. Praying gives you a deeper friendship with God. When it comes to prayer, be that two-strike hitter, Maggie.”

Maggie grinned. “I won’t be a quitter.”

–Laura Roesler

How about you? Do you ever feel like you’re striking out with God when you pray? Don’t give up. Even when it seems like God isn’t listening, He hears your prayers. He cares about your tears and your worries. He wants to hear what you have to say. Even if other people leave you, Jesus never will. He died and rose again so you could have a relationship with Him forever. Keep praying—He’s listening.

Today's Key Verse Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (NLT) Psalm 116:2

Today's Key Thought The Lord hears you

God's Zoo Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Read: Matthew 7:7-12

"Why does she get to ride when I have to walk?” Caden whined. “It’s not fair!”

“Your sister is only two; her legs aren’t as long or as strong as yours,” Mom replied, parking the stroller in front of the two-toed sloth exhibit.

Caden continued to pout. “Emma gets all the attention too! You treat her better than you treat me. You must love her more!”

“Caden, that’s not true!” Mom sounded hurt. “You know I love you and your brothers and sister with all my heart.”

“Then why don’t you treat us the same?”

Mom pointed to the exhibit. “Do you see the zookeeper feeding the sloth?” Caden nodded. “What’s she feeding it?” asked Mom.

“Looks like fruit.”

Mom nodded. “What did the zookeeper at the penguin exhibit fed the penguins?”

“Fish, right?”

“That’s right. What would happen if this zookeeper tried to feed fish to the sloth?”

“Mom, sloths don’t eat fish. They live in trees!” Caden laughed.

“Right again.” Mom smiled. “Different animals eat different foods and live in different habitats because they have different needs. Good zookeepers treat all the animals differently because they care for all of them.”

Caden glanced at his little sister, who had fallen asleep. “Emma and I aren’t different kinds of animals.”

“No,” Mom replied, “but you are different people, and sometimes you have different needs. Emma needs help with things like holding her cup and turning a doorknob, but sometimes you need help with things like math homework and piano practice.”

Mom, Caden, and his brothers watched in fascination as the sloth munched languidly on an apple slice. “I think God is kind of like a zookeeper,” Mom said. “He knows exactly what each of His children needs. We may not always get what we ask for when we pray, but He always provides for our needs. He provided for our greatest need of all by sending Jesus to save us from sin, and we can trust Him to provide for each of our specific needs too.”

“Hey! Give that back!” Caden’s brother snatched the cap off his head and ran off with it, causing Emma to start crying.

“Sometimes I feel like a zookeeper too,” Mom mused as the family moved on to the next exhibit.

–Suzanne Felton

How about you? Do you think it’s unfair when you’re treated differently than your brothers, sisters, or classmates? Adults who care about you know that different people often have different needs, and it’s because they love you that they treat you differently. God knows us and loves us more than anyone else. Even when He answers His children’s prayers differently, He always gives us what we need.

Today's Key Verse And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (NIV) Philippians 4:19

Today's Key Thought God gives us what we need

Tick Talk Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Read: Proverbs 6:16-19; Romans 6:11-18

Be sure you check your arms and legs for ticks!” Jay’s mother called as he ran into the house. It was tick season, and the insects thrived in the woods where Jay played with friends. He obediently rolled up his sleeves, and sure enough, a tiny black bug had attached itself to his skin.

“Ugh. Got one, Mom. Can you take it off with your tweezers?” He went into the kitchen, and his mother pulled out a special tick removal tool from one of the drawers.

“Ticks glue themselves to your skin and burrow in,” she said. “That’s why it’s important not to try to brush them off.”

Jay nodded. “If the head stays in, it can give you Lyme disease, right? Like our neighbor has.”

“Yes, though not all ticks carry Lyme disease. But any tick that’s not fully removed can cause an infection, so we don’t want to take any chances.”

Jay’s mom carefully removed the tick, then dropped it into a cup of rubbing alcohol. She smiled at Jay. “You know, sin can be like a tick sometimes—like when a bad habit attaches itself to us and burrows in. The longer it’s there, the easier it can be to ignore—but like not properly removing a tick, ignoring sin is dangerous!”

“Because it’s infecting us?” asked Jay.

“Sin doesn’t make us sick the way a tick can,” said Mom. “We won’t get Lyme disease. But it can weaken our sense of right and wrong and make us lose our appetite for doing things that show others the love of Jesus. That’s why the Bible warns us about letting sin infect our minds and hearts.”

“Too bad there’s no such thing as sin tick removers!” Jay grinned, and his mother laughed.

“We have something even better!” Mom replied. “We have Jesus, who sacrificed His life to free us from sin. When we go to Him for help and confess our wrongs, He will forgive us and help us replace bad habits with good ones. The best thing we can do is faithfully check our attitude each day. If we ask Him to remove anything in our lives that shouldn’t be there, He will!”

–Deborah Meroff

How about you? Have you let sinful habits attach themselves to you? Like a tick imbedded in your skin, they are harmful and need to be removed right away. Check yourself daily, and when you notice a sinful habit in your life, confess it to Jesus. He paid a lot to save you from sin, and He promises to forgive you and help you live in a way that shows you belong to Him.

Today's Key Verse Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. (NIV) Romans 6:12

Today's Key Thought Don’t ignore sin

Homesick for Heaven Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Read: Hebrews 11:13-16

Kenzie snapped one last picture of the Eiffel Tower. “It’s so beautiful against the sunset!” She sighed. “I can’t believe this is our last night here.”

“I know,” Mom said. “Though I’m actually excited to be going home.”

“But this has been the best vacation ever,” said Kenzie’s sister, Aubrey. “I’m going to miss Paris.”

“All right, everyone,” Dad said. “It’s getting late. We’d better head back to the hotel to eat our last dinner here in France.”

Kenzie turned to follow him and accidentally bumped into a man with a touring cap and backpack. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” she said. The man glanced at her, said something in French, and moved past them. Kenzie giggled quietly. “You know what I’m looking forward to about going home? Being able to speak the language. I can’t understand what French people say—and they can’t understand me!”

“Yeah,” Aubrey said. “We really don’t fit in here, do we?”

“I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again,” Mom said.

“And not living out of a suitcase anymore,” Dad chimed in.

“Sounds like we all agree,” said Aubrey. “Paris is great, but it’s not home.”

When they reached their hotel, they got a table at the restaurant downstairs. ”You know what?” Dad said. “Our conversation earlier reminded me of something. Just like we’re visitors here in France, the Bible says that Christians are visitors in the world. Our real citizenship is in heaven, not here on earth.”

“That makes sense,” Aubrey said.

“We don’t always fit in here on earth because we’re living for a different world,” Dad went on. “We have different values and priorities because we’re citizens of God’s kingdom.”

“And someday He’ll bring us there, right?” asked Kenzie.

Dad nodded. “When Jesus returns and makes everything new, we’ll live with Him in His heavenly kingdom forever. But we’re also living as citizens of His kingdom now. Jesus saved us from sin and made us His people so we can experience the joy of knowing Him and let others know they can have an eternal home with Him too.”

Kenzie nodded. “I’m excited to go home to America, but I’m even more excited for my eternal home!”

–Lucy Alessio

How about you? Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in here in this world? Do you find the things that other people think are most important are not what bring joy and meaning to your life? The Bible tells us that, as Christians, we’re just travelers here on earth. Our citizenship—our true home—is with Jesus. Don’t be afraid to live differently in this world, knowing that heaven is where you truly belong.

Today's Key Verse But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) Philippians 3:20

Today's Key Thought Christians are citizens of heaven

New Life Mushrooms Jul 13, 2025

Show notes

Read: Romans 6:5-11

Evan and James were hunting for wild edible mushrooms with their family. “Got one!” Evan yelled.

“Wow, that one’s a whopper!” James said.

“Just make sure you know it’s the right type,” Dad warned. “You know the rule: One hundred percent sure, then take the treasure.”

They mushroom-hunted for a couple hours, driven by the hope of mushroom soup. “My mouth is already watering for mom’s delicious soup!” Evan said.

“Yeah!” James replied. “Mom is probably the best cook in town!”

“I don’t know about that,” Mom said. “There are lots of good cooks out there.”

“Well, you’re still a really good cook!” Evan and James said in unison, making the whole family laugh.

After heading home, the two boys stood outside the kitchen, breathing in the wonderful smells. When the soup was done, the boys raced to be the first to the table. After giving thanks, they gulped it down.

“This soup could be called new life soup,” Dad said. “The mushrooms in it grow on dead wood. Though the tree has died, the mushrooms come alive by feeding on the nutrients in the wood. They’re an example of death leading to new life.”

“Wow!” Evan said. “I didn’t know that mushrooms grow on dead things.”

“I know of something else that has new life too,” Mom said. “Can you guys guess what it is?”

“A caterpillar turning into a butterfly?” James guessed.

“Snakes getting new skin?” Evan added.

“Good guesses, but I was thinking of something else,” Mom replied. “Me!”

“You?” James asked. “How do you have new life?”

“You two can have it too!” said Mom. “It comes from Jesus, our Savior. The Bible says every one of us is a sinner. When we confess our sins and trust Jesus to save us, our old, sinful self dies, and He gives us new life with Him!”

“Wow!” James said. “That’s even cooler than mushrooms growing on dead logs.”

“Yeah,” Evan agreed. “I want to ask Jesus to give me new life right now!”

“Me too!” James said.

Mom smiled at them and said, “Let’s read some verses together and pray.”

–Elijah Goll

How about you? Are you excited when you fix a broken toy? Are you happy when you make an old thing new again? Let God make you new too! Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to give us new life. When we trust Him as our Savior, He frees us from sin and gives us a new life with Him. Begin your new life today by trusting in Him! (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews.)

Today's Key Verse Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT) 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today's Key Thought Jesus gives us new life

Get Me Off This Thing! Jul 12, 2025

Show notes

Read: Isaiah 41:8-10

"Oh no! No, no, no! Get me off this thing! Mom, make them stop!” Carrie squirmed nervously as the seat she was strapped into began to rise higher and higher into the air.

Mom laughed and grabbed Carrie’s hand. “Sorry, honey, but I think it’s too late to get off now. Believe me, you’re going to love it! It’s just a little scary right now.”

Carrie continued to whimper as the ride climbed higher, and she gave a little shriek as the seats bumped into place high up in the air.

“It’s okay,” Mom reassured her. “I’m right here with you. You’re going to be fine.”

“Okay,” Carrie said, squeezing Mom’s hand tight. She looked down at the park below them. “Hey, Mom, it’s actually kind of cool to see everything from up here. I can see—aaaaahhhh!” Carrie screamed as the ride suddenly dropped.

Mom screamed too, and then they were both laughing as the ride bounced back up and down a few more times before finally settling back down on the ground.

“Mom, that was so much fun! Can we go on it again?”

Mom laughed. “Are you sure? I thought you wanted to get off before.”

“Oh. Yeah, well, I did, but I just held on to your hand and tried not to be scared, and it was still pretty scary at first, but then it was really fun!” Carrie took a deep breath and grinned. “I want to go again.” As they waited in line, Mom said, “You know, Carrie, this ride made me think of you being nervous about starting a new school in a few weeks. It can help remind you that you don’t have to be afraid when you’re facing something scary in life. Jesus is right there with you, and it’s like He’s holding your hand. You don’t have to be afraid—and you might even find out that whatever you’re afraid of is really a great thing for you.”

Carrie nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll try to remember that, Mom.” She started walking as the attendant motioned them forward. “I know Jesus is with me, but will you still hold my hand during the ride?”

“Sure, honey. No problem.” Mom laughed and gave Carrie’s hand a quick squeeze.

–Robyn Mulder

How about you? Are you facing something scary in your life right now—something much bigger than a ride at an amusement park? No matter what it is you’re facing, Jesus is right there with you. He loves you so much He gave His life for you, and He promises to always be with those who trust in Him. He’ll be there to help you and comfort you, and He will never leave you.

Today's Key Verse Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you. (NIV) Deuteronomy 31:6

Today's Key Thought Jesus is always with you

An Important Position Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

Read: Romans 12:3-5

"I want to play first base this year, and Coach Nichols won’t let me!” said Quincy. “He says I’ll help the team more if I play right field.” He frowned. “The guys have a saying about right field. They say, ‘right field equals left out,’ because the ball never gets hit to that side of the outfield.”

“Now, hold on! That’s just not true!” said Dad. “A good right fielder often makes important plays—and I know you’ll be a good one.” But nothing Dad said could convince Quincy that right field was a good position for him.

The next day, Quincy helped his father plant geraniums in the front yard. “Maybe we could get some of those bushes with white flowers we saw when we hiked up Mount Major,” said Quincy. “They’d look nice here with the geraniums.”

Dad shook his head. “Those plants grow well in higher elevations, but I don’t think they’d do well down here. God didn’t intend for all plants to thrive in the same location. Each species has its own spot in the plant kingdom. That principle applies to people too. God has blessed every one of us with the talents we need to do the best job in the special spot He’s put us in.”

Dad smiled at Quincy. “For example, God gave you one of the strongest throwing arms on your baseball team. That’s important for a right fielder, so give it a chance. Perhaps God has a special lesson He wants you to learn by playing right field on your ball team.”

“What lesson could there be in that?” asked Quincy.

“Maybe God wants you to see that every person on a team is important,” said Dad. “That’s true for baseball, and it’s also true for another team you’re on—Jesus’s team of all those who trust in Him. God gave every Christian an important part to play in caring for other members of Christ’s team and sharing His love with those who don’t know Him. Without each person’s important role, the whole team suffers—just like your baseball team won’t do as well if you refuse to play right field.”

Quincy sighed. “Okay,” he said after a moment. “Right field, here I come!”

–Linda M. Magoon

How about you? Do you get upset when you don’t get the position you want—whether it’s on a sports team or within Christ’s team of believers? Jesus gave you the gifts and abilities He did so you could fill an important role and serve Him with other Christians. So no matter where He places you, be a team player and use your gifts to help the body of Christ share His love with the world.

Today's Key Verse Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. (NKJV) 1 Corinthians 12:22

Today's Key Thought Each team member is important

Helping Find the Lost Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

Read: Luke 15:4-10; Acts 1:8

"Mom, have you seen my other tennis shoe?” Piper ran from room to room with only one shoe on, desperately looking for the other one. She was supposed to be leaving to spend the night at her friend Aryanna’s house.

“No, but I can help you look. Do you remember where you saw it last?” Mom asked.

Piper shook her head, and the two frantically looked for the missing shoe. They looked under beds, in the closet, in the bathroom, and even in Piper’s brother’s room.

“Are you sure you didn’t pack it with your overnight things?” Mom asked.

Piper was about to say she would never do anything silly like that, but she knew Mom would just make her look anyway, so she began pulling out everything from her bag. The last thing she pulled out was her missing shoe. “Oops—here it is!” Piper said, a little embarrassed. “Well, I’m glad it’s been found.”

“Remember I’m going to pick you up for church tomorrow,” Mom said as they got in the car. “Did you invite Aryanna to come?” Piper shook her head. “Did you know that the Bible talks about Jesus wanting us to help Him find what’s lost?” Mom asked.

Piper shot her mom a puzzled look. “What could Jesus have lost that He would need our help finding? He’s God’s Son. He knows everything!”

“The Bible says Jesus wants us to help bring lost sinners to Him. We can do that by praying for them and sharing how He’s changed our lives—and even by inviting them to church.” Mom turned to look at Piper. “Do you remember how happy and relieved you felt when you found your missing shoe?” Piper nodded. “Well,” said Mom, “the Bible says all of heaven rejoices when one sinner is saved. That’s how happy God is when one lost person is found. And even though God is the only one who can change a person’s heart, He wants us to play a part by praying for others and pointing them to Him so we can rejoice with Him when they’re found.”

“Okay, Mom. I’ll see if Aryanna wants to come to church with us tomorrow,” Piper said as they pulled into Aryanna’s driveway. “And I’ll pray for her too.”

–Melissa Yeagle

How about you? Do you know people who don’t know Jesus? We can’t change people’s hearts, but we can play a role in bringing others to Jesus by praying for them, telling them what He did for us on the cross, and inviting them to learn more about Him. Trust God to help you point others to Jesus, and when one of them is found, you can rejoice with all of heaven!

Today's Key Verse There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (NKJV) Luke 15:10

Today's Key Thought Point others to Jesus

Old Fiona Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

Read: Ephesians 4:1-6

"There goes Old Faithful!” Corbin said as they watched hot water burst from the ground and shoot high into the air. He and his sister Fiona were showing their aunt a video Corbin had made on their vacation to Yellowstone National Park. “The park ranger said the rock deep underground is so hot it heats the spring water,” said Corbin.

“And then it reaches its boiling point and boils up and shoots out of the ground,” added Fiona.

After their aunt had left, Fiona and Corbin got out a game. “You lose!” Corbin said after they played a little while. “You’re not allowed to make that move!”

“I am too!” said Fiona. But Corbin wouldn’t agree, and the two started arguing. Finally, Fiona pushed back her chair. “You make me so mad!”

“What did I do?” Corbin asked.

“Tons of things!” Fiona’s voice grew louder. “You cheat, you used my bike without asking, you embarrassed me in front of my friends, and you spilled juice on my homework. I hate you!” She ran to her bedroom and slammed the door. Then she opened it and slammed it again.

Corbin followed Mom to Fiona’s room. “You know we don’t slam doors,” Mom said. “And that angry outburst was not pretty.”

“Yeah,” said Corbin. “You erupted with more force than Old Faithful.” He grinned. “Hey, I know! I’ll call you Old Fiona.”

“Corbin, go to your room,” said Mom. “I’ll talk to you later.” When he had left, she turned back to Fiona. “Corbin does have a point.”

“But he’s mean!” said Fiona. “He’d make anybody mad!”

“We all have feelings of anger at times,” said Mom. “We need to deal with them, not just let them build up and burst out. One way to deal with your anger is to talk to the person who made you angry and explain what’s bothering you. Don’t store up angry feelings and grudges. Make an effort to make peace and be friends.”

“I don’t think Corbin would listen, so why even bother?” asked Fiona.

“Give him a chance,” said Mom. “And be willing to forgive. Remember that Jesus has forgiven you for all your wrongs and will help you forgive and love others. A loving relationship with anyone is always worth the effort.”

–Nance E. Keyes

How about you? What do you do with your anger? Do you keep it inside and let it build up into bitterness and resentment? Does it erupt in angry words and hurtful actions? Don’t let it do that! Talk with the person who made you angry, and if necessary, tell an adult how you feel. Then trust God to help you deal with your anger and be willing to forgive.

Today's Key Verse “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (NIV) Ephesians 4:26

Today's Key Thought Don’t store up angry feelings

We Are Sheep (Part 2) Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Read: Psalm 23; John 10:1-12, 27-28

Evening descended swiftly on the French Alps. Chloe snuggled closer to her dad as the two of them and her dad’s friend Jules huddled around a fire for warmth. “Another good thing about being a sheep is all that wool to keep you warm,” Chloe said.

Jules nodded. “It’s almost time to put them in their pen for the night. If I wait until it gets too dark, the wolves come out.”

Chloe’s eyes widened. “Have you ever had to fight a wolf, Uncle Jules?”

He nodded solemnly. “Fortunately, I was able to save the lamb. The sheep know they are safe when they stay close to me, just like we are safe with Jesus, our shepherd.”

“That doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen to us,” Dad interjected. “Everyone goes through darkness and tough times. But our Good Shepherd promises to be with us through every dark valley we encounter.”

“So we don’t need to fear, just like David wrote in Psalm Twenty-Three,” Chloe said softly. “Uncle Jules, what about the verse where David talks about God anointing his head with oil? What does that have to do with sheep?”

Jules grinned. “Do you think Chloe can handle this, John?”

“It’s kind of gross, Chloe,” Dad warned.

“I can handle it!”

“We have different medicine now, but back in David’s day, shepherds used to pour oil over the sheep’s heads to protect them from bugs,” said Jules.

“That’s not so gross—kind of like giving pets flea medicine.”

“But these kinds of bugs would eventually make their way into the sheep’s brains and destroy them.”

“Ewww!” Chloe shuddered. “Good thing they have a shepherd to protect every part of them—even their brains.”

“God does the same thing for us,” Jules noted. “When we listen to the truth of His Word, it transforms and renews our minds and helps keep us from fixating on what might harm us. Instead of worry, we can feel His peace. That’s why reading and memorizing God’s Word is important.”

Chloe gazed at the sheep thoughtfully. “Uncle Jules, I’ve learned a lot this week. One thing’s for sure—I’m going to listen to my Good Shepherd.”

–Savannah Coleman

How about you? Do you follow Jesus as your shepherd? Jesus says He is the gate for the sheep—trusting Him to save you through His sacrifice on the cross is the only way to have eternal, abundant life. (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews.) As His sheep, we need to listen to Him. He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. Listen to your Good Shepherd so He can fill your thoughts with His peace.

Today's Key Verse My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. (NIV) John 10:27

Today's Key Thought Listen to your Good Shepherd

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