18 Teen Devotionals to Give as Gifts This Christmas

Last year, I had the privilege of leading my 9th-grade small group of girls at our church’s Winter Retreat. By the end of the weekend, they all expressed a sincere desire to grow closer to Jesus but admitted that they struggled with reading their Bible consistently and knowing how to understand and apply what they read.

For accountability, we decided to do a devotional together. Since they wanted to develop a habit of consistently Bible reading, we chose one that had daily (rather than weekly) readings with Scripture passages for them to look up, commentary that helped them understand what they were reading, and an application section to help them implement it.

Did the girls complete her devotional reading every single day without fail? No. However, perfection was never the goal. Over those four months, they read their Bible and grew in their faith more than they would have if they had tried to accomplish it on their own. And they have a resource that will continue to point them to Jesus in the years to come. Success!

With so many teen devotional books available, it can be difficult to know which one to purchase. Over the years, I have learned that the most effective ones are the ones they actually read!

Here are 18 teen devotionals to give as gifts this Christmas:

FOR GIRLS

Brave: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety (Sissy Goff)

This is more of a journal than a devotional, but since anxiety is such an epidemic for teen girls right now, I wanted to include it. Brave is packed with helpful truths and tools to help teen girls fight anxiety and live in freedom. It is perfect for middle school and up.

Know Your Bible Devotions for Teen Girls: Understand and Live God’s Word

This is the devotional I bought for my small group, and I love it! Know Your Bible Devotions is relevant for all teenage girls, but I think 8th-10th grade is the sweet spot.

Live Original Devotional (Sadie Robertson)

There is great value in having a young woman closer to your teen’s age sharing the truth with them. Sadie is biblically sound, extremely relatable, and an influencer most girls will recognize. The Live Original Devotional is perfect for both middle school and younger high school girls.

Live On Purpose: 100 Devotions for Letting Go of Fear and Following God (Sadie Robertson Huff)

Live on Purpose is Sadie’s second devotional book, which focuses on helping girls fight their fears and find their identity and purpose in Christ. While all girls can benefit from it, I think it is geared more towards high school girls.

Teen to Teen: 365 Days of Devotionals by Teen Girls for Teen Girls

These devotions are written by teen girls for teen girls, which makes them super relatable. Teen to Teen is likely to capture your teen’s interest and keep them reading. However, young women looking for more spiritual depth might want to try one of the next two books.

All in All Journaling Devotional: Loving God Wherever You Are (Sophie Hudson)

The All in All Journaling Devotional is my favorite devotional for older high school and college girls. It is the perfect mix of deeper spiritual content, critical thinking, and relatability. It is a great choice for your Jesus girl!

Women of the Word (Jen Wilkin)

This isn’t exactly a devotional, and Women of the Word is not specifically geared for teenagers, but it is a perfect choice for older teens and young adults who want to take their spiritual lives to the next level by learning how to study the Bible.

FOR GUYS

Walk in Faith: 5 Minute devotionals for Teen Guys (Andy Dooley)

Walk in Faith is a great starter devotional, short and sweet—perfect for teen boys of all ages.

Teen to Teen: 365 Days of Devotionals by Teen Guys for Teen Guys

This is a partner book to the girl version listed above. Again, students really like this devotional, Teen to Teen, because it’s written by teens for teens.

No More Excuses—Teen Devotional (Tony Evans)

In No More Excuses, Dr. Evans encourages young men to take responsibility for their spiritual growth by following the example of several men in the Bible. Great for high school boys.

Soul Fuel: A Daily Devotion (Bear Grylls)

The author, Bear Grylls, is best known for his TV series Man vs. Wild. While not written specifically for teenagers, young men interested in adventure and survival will be drawn to Bear’s stories in Soul Fuel. These stories show how his faith gave him the courage and determination to persevere in the midst of challenging times.

Mission Possible: A Daily Devotional (Tim Tebow)

Mission Possible is a great devotional by influencer Tim Tebow for young men seeking purpose and passion as they follow Jesus. This book will particularly impact high school boys.

FOR BOTH

#TRUTH (Josh McDowell)

In #TRUTH, Josh McDowell encourages students to live out their faith based on the absolute truth found in God’s Word. If you are looking for a solid, more-truth/less-fluff devotional, this is a great place to start.

New Morning Mercies for Teens (Paul David Tripp)

New Morning Mercies is one of my favorite biblically sound, Scripturally-deep devotionals. Spiritually mature young adults may prefer the adult version, but the teen version is great for high school students looking to take their faith to the next level.

The Armor of God for Teens (Priscilla Shirer)

This is more of a Bible Study than a devotional, but because it has daily readings, I am including it here. I absolutely love this study on The Armor of God and highly recommend it for older teens and college students.

Not a Fan daily devotional (Kyle Idleman)

This devotional is bound to set your teenager’s faith on fire! Not a Fan is written for both teen girls and boys, but I think young men, in particular, will find this devotional inspiring.

God’s Heart for the Nations (Jeff Lewis)

If your teen is interested in missions, God’s Heart for the Nations is a short, impactful choice.

One God, One Plan, One Life (Max Lucado)

Max Lucado’s down-to-earth writing style is relatable and makes Bible reading intriguing. He continues his master storytelling in the pages of One God, One Plan, One Life, a great choice for teens who struggle to understand or “get into” reading the Bible.

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:9-11)