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

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Tent Pegs Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

Read: Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11; Romans 8:35-39

Ryan helped his dad straighten the canvas of the tent that lay on the ground. “I love camping,” he said. “Sleeping in a tent is so cool!”

Dad smiled. “I think so too. Okay, help me get the pegs through these tent loops. We’ll pound the pegs in about halfway at first and then secure them when they’re all in place.”

Dad took one of the pegs and stuck it through a loop on the side of the tent. Ryan pounded it with the hammer. As Dad continued putting each peg in place, Ryan pounded it down. Then they put the poles together and raised the tent. “I can’t wait to go inside and get my sleeping bag rolled out!” said Ryan.

“Well, don’t try going in yet,” said Dad. “It could collapse on you. We need to pound the pegs deeper into the ground first, remember?”

Ryan nodded, and they got to work. When the tent was finally secured, they put their sleeping bags inside. Then they grabbed their fishing poles and headed for the river.

Around midnight, Ryan woke to the sound of distant thunder. He saw that Dad was awake too. “Our tent won’t blow down, will it?” Ryan asked.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” said Dad. “The wind is pretty gusty, but I don’t think it will get strong enough tonight to blow the tent away. The pegs will hold it in place.”

He was right. The wind soon died down and the storm passed, and Ryan and Dad went back to sleep.

“I’m glad we pounded those tent pegs in good and tight,” said Ryan as they enjoyed a campfire breakfast the next morning.

“Me too,” said Dad. “They kept our tent in place during the storm.” He smiled at Ryan. “Do you know who holds us steady through the storms of life?”

“Jesus does,” said Ryan. “If the wind got strong enough, the tent pegs might have let go, but nothing could ever make Jesus let go of us, could it?”

“No way,” said Dad. “He died for our sins and rose again so we could spend eternity with Him. No matter how many difficult things come into our lives, we can always count on Jesus to hold us steady and help us through them.”

–Pauline Youd

How about you? Has your life been shaken up by something difficult—divorce, a death in the family, crime, or the loss of a friend? Things like that can sometimes make life seem very dark and stormy. That’s when you need to remember that Jesus is still with you. He loves you and promises to help you through all of life’s storms. No matter what difficult circumstances you face, He will never let you go.

Today's Key Verse: For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (NLT) Hebrews 13:5

Today's Key Thought: Jesus will always help you

Special Fruit Salad Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Read: Galatians 5:22-25

"Mom, can we have fruit salad for lunch?” asked Brynlee.

“Good idea,” said Mom. “You can help me make it. We have lots of different kinds of fruit we can use today.” As they began putting the fruit together, Mom had an idea. “Maybe we can put nine different kinds of fruit in our salad and pretend we’re putting in the fruit of the Spirit,” she said. “We learned about them in church last week, remember?”

“Yeah,” said Brynlee. “I’ll name them as we put them in.” She put orange pieces into a big bowl. “I’ll call these love,” she said. Then she opened a can and added pineapple chunks. “These will be joy. What else do we have?”

“I have some fresh peach wedges ready,” said Mom. “And here’s a cantaloupe we can cut up.”

Brynlee put in the peaches, calling them peace. She decided on patience for the cantaloupe. “The apples will be kindness, and the pears will be goodness,” she said. “I’ll slice some bananas and call them faithfulness.”

“Okay, and you can add some of these grapes,” said Mom. Brynlee called the grapes gentleness.

“We still need a fruit for self-control,” said Brynlee. “But we don’t have anything else, do we?”

Mom shook her head. “No, I don’t think so,” she said. “Unless…” She opened a cupboard door. “How about some dried cranberries?”

“All right!” said Brynlee. “Now we have something for each fruit of the Spirit.”

“Good,” said Mom. “You did a great job remembering them. You got them all!”

At lunchtime, everyone enjoyed the salad. “Good to the last bite,” said Dad, popping the last piece of pineapple into his mouth.

“And now our fruit of the Spirit is all gone,” said Brynlee.

“I hope not!” said Mom. “Spiritual fruit will always be a part of our lives as Christians. As we rely on the Holy Spirit to fill us with love and become more like Jesus, others will be able to see the fruit of God’s love in us.”

Dad nodded. “I pray that the fruit God produces in our lives will show people we belong to Him.”

–Linda Weddle

How about you? Can others see the fruit of the Spirit in your life? People aren’t able to see when you’ve had apples or peaches or other kinds of fruit for lunch, but the fruit of the Spirit should be visible in the life of every Christian. Are you letting others see the fruit of the love God has planted in your heart? Trust Him to help you let your words and actions show others you know Jesus.

Today's Key Verse: The fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (ERV) Galatians 5:22-23

Today's Key Thought: Display the fruit of the Spirit

Like a Father Jun 15, 2025

Show notes

Read: Psalm 103:11-13; Isaiah 64:8; Hosea 11:1-4

"Good job!” Dad shouted to Ellery. He was holding on to her by a towel looped under her armpits as she practiced riding her two-wheel bike. Her tongue stuck out of her mouth in deep concentration as she tried to maintain her balance even with Dad’s support.

“Whoa!” she exclaimed, her eyes going wide. She started wobbling, but Dad held her upright as the bike went down to the ground. He hauled Ellery to her feet and smiled down at her. Ellery looked up at Dad and asked, “Again?”

Ellery practiced her biking skills for a while longer before they returned to the campsite just in time to grill some burgers over the fire. Meredith, her older sister, and Mom were just finishing up their quiet time when they arrived. Dad helped Ellery assemble her dinner just the way she liked it—two slices of cheese, three squirts of mustard, and four pickles.

“I read something interesting in my Bible today,” Meredith said as Ellery dove into her food.

Ellery made a strange gurgling sound that resembled the words, “What, what?”

“Manners,” both Mom and Dad said in unison.

Meredith looked at her sister and shook her head before continuing. “I read that God is our Father. I think it’s cool there are so many different words in the Bible that describe who God is.”

“Do you know why God calls Himself our Father?” Mom asked.

“Because He made us!” Ellery jumped in, now having swallowed her delicious bite.

“You’re right,” Dad said. “And when we trust in Jesus, we become part of God’s family. The Bible also describes what kind of Father God is. He teaches us, encourages us, and is always with us.”

“Like how you helped me on my bike today!”

“Or how you helped me with my jump shot in basketball,” Meredith added.

Dad smiled at them. “Yes, but us human dads aren’t perfect. My dad hurt me a lot when I was younger, and I know I’m not perfect and have messed up too. But God never does that. He is the perfect Father.”

“He’s even better than you?” Ellery asked.

“Even better than you can imagine,” Dad responded as Ellery leaned her head against his arm.

–Zoe Brickner

How about you? Do you have a loving dad in your life? If so, Father’s Day is the perfect time to thank God for that wonderful blessing—and tell your dad you’re thankful for him too! If you don’t have a dad in your life, or your relationship with him is difficult, know that God sees you and loves you more than you could ever know. Unlike human dads, God is a perfect Father. He cherishes you and will be with you always.

Today's Key Verse: See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. (CSB) 1 John 3:1

Today's Key Thought: God is our Father

What You're Worth Jun 14, 2025

Show notes

Read: Ephesians 1:3-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19

"Sold!” proclaimed the fast-talking auctioneer, and Logan grinned at his mother. He found auctions fun and interesting, so he hadn’t minded when she wanted to stop and see what was happening at this antique auction. “Another broken piece of junk sold to the highest bidder,” Logan murmured, stifling a laugh. He liked to tease his mom about liking antiques.

Mom smiled and nudged him with her elbow. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” she told him. Logan shrugged and continued sitting on his hands as the auctioneer began selling an autographed baseball. Logan had learned to avoid lifting his hand during the bidding. Earlier he had started to scratch his head and the auctioneer thought he was bidding on the item being auctioned.

As they drove home after the auction, Logan asked his mom why people were so willing to spend their money on other people’s junk. “I can’t believe how much they’ll pay for that stuff,” he said. “I thought a few things they sold at the auction were cool, but people paid less for them than for stuff I wouldn’t want if it were given to me! Who decides how much those things are worth?”

“The condition of the piece is important,” said Mom, “and whether the item is rare or not is also a factor. But the bottom line is…well, how much someone is willing to pay for it. That’s really what determines how much an item is worth.”

Logan thought for a moment. “That’s kinda like something we talked about in my class at church last week,” he said. “Our teacher explained that God sent His Son to die for us—Jesus paid for our sins with His own life. I guess that makes us worth a lot!”

“I like that, Logan,” Mom said. “I think you got a lot from that auction—even though you didn’t buy anything.”

Logan had one more question. “Um, Mom, what did I almost buy today when I scratched my head?”

“An old record player,” Mom replied.

“Oh.” Logan paused. “What’s a record player?”

–Mike Dize

How about you? Do you know how much you’re worth? Because of what Jesus did for you, you’re worth a lot—He paid a huge price for you! He gave His life to pay the price of your sin. Have you responded to that great love? Have you trusted Him as your Savior? If not, trust in Him today! (To learn more, go to https://keysforkids.org/goodnews.)

Today's Key Verse: You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (NKJV) 1 Corinthians 6:20

Today's Key Thought: You’re worth what Jesus paid for you

When God Says No Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

Read: Isaiah 55:8-9

Gunner ran to the garage when he heard his parents drive in. “Is Grandpa okay?” he asked anxiously as they got out of the car.

Dad put his hand on Gunner’s shoulder. “Your grandfather isn’t suffering anymore,” he said quietly. “He died this afternoon—he’s in heaven now.”

Gunner swallowed hard, forcing back tears that choked his throat. He walked away while Dad was still talking.

In his room, Gunner thought about all the things he and Grandpa had planned to do. “It’s not fair!” he muttered. He looked up as Dad came in. “I don’t get it,” Gunner said. “I prayed all day for Grandpa. God can do anything, can’t He? So why didn’t He heal Grandpa?”

“Sometimes God’s answer to what we ask is no,” Dad said gently. “I don’t know why He didn’t heal Grandpa, but I know Jesus promises to be with us in our pain and sadness. Grandpa is in heaven with Him now, and someday we’ll see him again.”

Gunner turned away. He wasn’t ready to give up his grandfather. “But I wanted Grandpa to stay here with us.”

Dad sat down beside him. “When you ask Mom and me for something we don’t think is good for you, we tell you no. You don’t like it when we say no. You might be upset about it—maybe even angry sometimes. But you know we love you and want what’s best for you, right?” Gunner nodded. “We talk about what’s happening and how all of us feel, and we go on loving each other,” continued Dad. “We’re a family even though we disagree. Well, that’s how it is with God too. When we don’t get what we ask Him for, we’re unhappy and sometimes get angry with Him. It’s okay to tell Him how we feel, but we need to remember that God loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us. He wants what’s best for us—and for Grandpa.”

“But I’m going to miss Grandpa so much,” Gunner said, resting his face against his dad’s shoulder.

“Me too,” Dad said. “We can cry together.” Gunner slipped his arm around his dad and hung on tight. “But let’s thank Jesus that Grandpa is with Him now,” said Dad. “And let’s trust Him even though we’re hurting.”

–Janet Boulter

How about you? Has someone you love died? Is someone sick? Tell Jesus about your hurts and fears. You may not always understand why He allows certain things to happen, but He will always be there with you and help you through times of pain and sorrow. Remember that He is good and that He loves and cares for you, even when you don’t understand.

Today's Key Verse: As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways. (NKJV) Isaiah 55:9

Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus when you’re hurting

Only a Mist Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

Read: James 4:13-17; 1 Peter 4:7-11

Jade stretched and yawned. Then she jumped down from her place on the top bunk and hurried to get dressed.

“Let’s go, troops!” yelled a cheery voice from outside. “We have many miles to cover on our morning hike.”

“How can Ella be so cheerful at seven o’clock in the morning?” asked Hayley, one of Jade’s cabinmates.

“I don’t know,” Jade answered, “but I like it. Her cheerfulness rubs off on me. Let’s go.”

Jade and Hayley joined the other campers as they gathered in front of the dining hall. “Good morning!” said Ella, their camp counselor. “Are you ready for our adventure? We’ll fix breakfast a little way down the trail.”

A few minutes later, they were off. “Make sure you stay on the trail,” Ella told the group. “There was a heavy mist last night, and everything is damp. The grass is pretty wet, and your feet will be too if you walk on it.”

“It’s not misty now,” said Hayley. “Isn’t it funny how mist just disappears?”

“Yeah—like a vapor,” said Jade. “I learned a verse at church that says life is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

“That’s right,” said Ella. “I know that verse too. It tells us how short life is—like a mist. And what did the mist do while it was here?”

“It made things wet,” Hayley replied. “It soaked the grass so much that we don’t want to walk on it.”

Ella nodded. “Right. And in a way, we soak our environment too. For example, do you know anyone who soaks you with joy?”

Jade spoke up quickly. “You do! You always soak me with your cheerfulness, Ella. You make me feel happy.”

Ella was surprised. “Why, thank you! But you know, the only reason I’m able to do that is because Jesus fills me with joy. Our lives may be short, but Jesus gives us the ability to soak other people’s lives with His love. When we trust in Him, He fills our short lives on this earth with great purpose—the purpose of helping others know He loves them and offers them eternal life with Him.”

–Kathy A. Brand

How about you? What do you soak those around you with? Our time on earth may be short, but with Jesus, you can make a big difference in other people’s lives. When you trust in Him, He fills you with His love and joy so you can point others to Him. Even though life is short, trust Jesus to help you become more like Him so He can use your life for His great purpose.

Today's Key Verse: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (NIV) John 13:34

Today's Key Thought: Share Jesus’s love with others

God's Gifts Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Read: Romans 12:4-10

Cassie sat on the beach with her seagull in a cage at her side. She looked up at her mother, who was standing beside her. “I’m not sure I can let Howard go, Mom,” she said. “He’s just about the only friend I’ve got!” She sighed. “Some kids at school say I’m dumb because I have to go to special classes.” Cassie looked down. “Why can’t I be smart like other kids?”

Mom sat down and put her arm around Cassie. “You’re very smart, honey. That word doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. Besides, our value isn’t based on what we can do—it’s based on who we are in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. But He did also make each one of us special and give us our own gifts and talents.”

Cassie wiped her eyes. “I don’t have any gifts.”

“Oh, but you do, Cassie!” Mom said. “I believe you have the wonderful gift of being able to help others.”

“I do?” Cassie asked, wide-eyed.

Mom nodded. “You’re very helpful to lots of people. When Grandma broke her hip, you went to her house almost every day to help out. You always remember to pray for kids at school who are sick—and look at Howard.” Cassie looked down at the seagull. “Howard was badly injured when you found him,” continued Mom, “and with help from the wildlife refuge, you nursed him back to health.” Mom smiled. “The workers at the refuge said you have such a natural way of handling him that he’s even become your friend. You’ve done such a good job, and now he’s ready to be released. You’re helpful in many ways.”

Cassie shrugged. “Anyone would do those things.”

Mom shook her head. “I wish that were true, but not everyone is that sensitive to the needs of others.”

Cassie looked at Howard. “Well, Howard, how would you like your freedom?” She stood up and opened the cage, and the bird was soon in the air. He floundered a bit, then squawked what must have been a thank you and sailed out over the water. Cassie smiled. She would miss her little friend, but she was eager to see where she could use her special way with animals next.

–A.J. Schut

How about you? Do you realize that everyone—including you—has special gifts from God? Maybe you think other kids are gifted because they get better grades or have greater athletic ability than you. But you’re gifted too—God may have just given you different gifts than He gave those kids, like perhaps being friendly and encouraging others. Be thankful for the gifts God has given you and use them to help others.

Today's Key Verse: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church…gifts. (NIV) 1 Corinthians 12:27-28

Today's Key Thought: God gives gifts to everyone

Fishing Lures Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

Read: Matthew 7:1-5; James 1:12-15

"I can’t believe it! Andrew says he’s a Christian, but I saw him looking at a bad website on his tablet today,” Zane told his dad. “He must be really weak to look at that kind of stuff.”

“So looking at websites like that doesn’t appeal to you at all?” Dad asked.

“No way!” said Zane. “I don’t have any problem staying away from that junk.”

“I’m glad,” Dad said as he put fishing rods into the trunk of the car. “Did you pack the trout flies?”

“Trout flies? I thought we were fishing for northern pike. You won’t hook one of them with a trout fly!”

Dad grinned. “I can see you know a lot about fishing bait.” He shut the trunk door. “So, what kind of bait do you need to look out for?”

“Me?” asked Zane.

Dad nodded. “Just like different fish are caught with different lures, different people are tempted to sin by different things. As you pointed out, Andrew is tempted by things he shouldn’t look at online. So what are you tempted by?”

“Um…” Zane hesitated. “I don’t know.”

“Well, let’s see. Why were you grounded last week?” asked Dad.

Zane’s face grew warm. “I got upset at Macie and smashed one of her toys on the floor.”

“And you got in trouble last month for pushing down a boy at school,” said Dad. “So you have to watch out for a different lure than Andrew does—you’re often tempted to hurt others when you feel angry.”

Zane sighed. “I guess Andrew and I are a lot alike.”

“You and Andrew and every other Christian,” said Dad. “We all struggle with sin, but we’re not all tempted by the same things. So instead of judging other Christians when they’re tempted by certain sins, we need to encourage them and remind them that Jesus has freed us from sin. And if they do give in, we need to show them grace—just like Jesus does for us.”

Zane nodded. “I’ll do that next time I see Andrew looking at things he shouldn’t—and ask him to do the same for me when I get angry.”

“Good idea.” Dad opened the car door. “Okay, jump in. Let’s go get ’em!”

–Karen Ditthardt

How about you? What sins do you struggle with? You may not struggle with the same things your friends do, but all Christians struggle with temptation at times. Jesus tells us not to point a finger at others while ignoring our own shortcomings. Instead, we need to remind other Christians who they are in Jesus when they’re tempted to sin—and be on the lookout for the things that tempt us.

Today's Key Verse: Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. (NIV) James 1:14

Today's Key Thought: Christians struggle with different sins

Going Back in Time Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

Read: 1 John 1:5-10

"Your mom’s calling you for lunch?” Josie asked in surprise as she talked on the phone with her cousin Olive. “You mean you haven’t eaten lunch yet? It’s almost two in the afternoon! We ate a long time ago.”

“Well, it’s only noon here in Colorado, remember?” Olive replied. “We’re in different time zones.”

“Oh, that’s right!” said Josie. “Well, I’d better go anyway—have a nice lunch.”

The girls said goodbye, and Josie hung up. Then she wandered out to the backyard where her dad was working.

“Josie, I need you to walk down to Tess’s house and pick up your sister,” Dad said as he poured fertilizer out of a bag. “It’s time for her to come home, and I’m busy with this.”

“Why can’t she just walk home?” asked Josie.

“She’s too young to walk that far by herself,” said Dad. “I’m covered in fertilizer, so I need you to go get her.”

“No, I don’t want to!” said Josie. “I’m sick of always doing everything for her. She’s so annoying!” Josie turned and hurried toward the house.

When Josie found herself sitting alone in her room a few minutes later, she wished she had obeyed her father, but it was too late now. She knew she deserved to be punished.

When Dad came to Josie’s room, she looked up sadly. “I wish we were in Colorado,” she said. “It’s two hours earlier there—just a little after twelve o’clock instead of two o’clock—so the time I got into trouble hasn’t happened there yet. When it got to be two o’clock, I would obey you instead of talking back. I wish I hadn’t done that.”

“Things that have happened can’t be made to unhappen,” Dad said. “We can’t go back in time—and even if we could, we’d still sin and make mistakes. But we can be forgiven for the wrong we’ve done. You don’t need to move to another time zone for that. When you confess your sin to Jesus, He’ll forgive you—and I will too.”

Josie jumped up. “I’m sorry, Dad!” she said. “I really am!”

Dad smiled. “Good,” he said as Josie gave him a hug. “Then you can go get your sister so I can finish with the fertilizer.”

Josie sighed. “Okay, Dad,” she said. “I will.”

–Nance E. Keyes

How about you? Have you ever wished you could go back and undo something you’ve done? You can’t do that, but because Jesus paid for your sins on the cross, you can be forgiven. If what you did hurt other people, do your best to make things right with them. Let them know you’re sorry, and accept the consequences of your sin. Most importantly, confess your sin to Jesus. He will forgive you and give you a clean start.

Today's Key Verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV) 1 John 1:9

Today's Key Thought: God forgives

Wildflowers After Wildfires Jun 08, 2025

Show notes

Read: Genesis 50:20; Psalm 66:10-12; 1 Peter 1:6-9

"Wow, look at all the flowers!” Kayla stared in awe at the field of flowers. Her family was hiking in Waterton Lakes National Park. To their left was a stunning lake surrounded by mountains and to their right was a forest filled with beautiful pinkish-purple flowers. The trees were all blackened and bare, so the true beauty came from the flowers and the backdrop of mountains.

“These flowers are called fireweed,” Mom said. “They’re called that because they grow after a fire.”

“Is that why all the trees are burnt?” Kayla asked. “Because of a fire?”

“Yes,” Dad replied. “Several years ago there was a huge wildfire here. It burned all the trees and plants. Until the rest of the plants grow back, all that’s here is the fireweed. The roots of fireweed can survive extremely hot temperatures, so it is one of the first plants to sprout up. The fire can even help it grow.”

“It’s so beautiful how these flowers can grow even after the devastation of a fire,” Kayla said. “I think it’s a beautiful example of how God works to bring good things out of bad things,” Mom said thoughtfully. “Sometimes He allows bad things to happen in our lives so He can use them for good.”

“Yeah, the fire must’ve been terrible, but God was nourishing little roots of beauty even then,” Kayla said.

Mom nodded. “That’s so true. Sometimes we can see how God is working in our lives, but often we won’t see it right away. When this wildfire was raging through the park, I’m sure people worried that a lot of the park’s natural beauty would be destroyed. But after the wildfire died down, these wildflowers sprouted up! And the park is still beautiful, even though there’s not as many trees as before. In the same way, God can use our hard times to help us grow in our faith, which is a beautiful thing.”

“That also reminds me of Jesus’s sacrifice,” Dad said. “It must’ve seemed like a terrible thing to Jesus’s disciples for Him to be crucified. But God planned it for good—it was the only way we could be saved from sin and have eternal life with Him.”

Kayla smiled. “I’m so thankful God causes beauty to flourish even after hard times.”

–Elizabeth Cooper

How about you? Do you have a hard time seeing beauty in your life when things are hard? Sometimes it can take a while to see God bring good things out of bad things, and sometimes we won’t see how God was working in our lives until we get to heaven. But because of Jesus’s sacrifice, we have the hope of an eternal future with God and can trust Him to use even bad things that happen in our lives for good.

Today's Key Verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (CSB) Romans 8:28

Today's Key Thought: God brings good things out of bad things

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