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Take Heart for Teens is a one-year devotional for teens that has been adapted from the adult Take Heart devotional.
Take Heart for Teens: Daily Devotions to Deepen Your Faith by David Powlison. New Growth Press, 2025. 400 pages.
- Reading Level: Teens, ages 12 and up
- Recommended for: Ages 12 and up
David Powlison’s widely regarded Take Heart devotional has been adapted for teens by his daughter into this one-year devotional simply titled Take Heart for Teens. I have not seen the original, but I imagine the format is similar: a verse for each day at the top of the page followed by an excerpt from Powlison’s previous works on that day’s theme. Each day concludes with a “Take With You” question or action.
To illustrate, July 2 starts with Ephesians 6:16 (which includes the “shield of faith”). The devotional centers on the shield as the only piece of protective weaponry, bringing in Psalm 18 and the Lord’s protection. The “Take With You” portion asks, “Where do you see spiritual darkness or attacks around you? Ask the Lord to be your shield. Take comfort in your rock and refuge.” (For those unfamiliar with Psalm 18, the “rock and refuge” are direct allusions to that passage.)
Each day’s reading is included in one page, and the book is a nice hardback with a bookmark. It would make a thoughtful gift to a teen. That being said, I personally prefer devotionals that encourage more digging into Scripture. A devotional like this has plenty of helpful, wise, and encouraging material for teens to use in their spiritual life, but so many teens (and adults, if we’re honest!) struggle to read any portion of God’s Word on a daily basis. If a teen does not already have some sort of Bible-reading habit, I’d be inclined to encourage that first (perhaps like the 52 Weeks in the Word we reference below). But Take Heart for Teens is solid theologically and very accessible to teens. It would make a very nice family devotional if you have teens at home, easily read over breakfast or dinner together.
Bottom Line: Take Heart for Teens offers solid devotional material, but does not expect teens to dig into God’s Word much.
Also at Redeemed Reader:
- Reviews: Get Your Story Straight by Kristen Hatton (starred review) is another solid devotional resource for teens with plenty of Scripture. 3 Devotionals for Teens (and Their Families) offers 3 more options!
- Review: Want to focus primarily on Scripture with little extra commentary? Check out 52 Weeks in the Word by Trillia Newbell.
- Resource: Don’t want to buy a story Bible but use your own Bible and help your children understand the overall story? Check out our Bible Pilgrimage: A Step-by-Step Journey Through the Whole Story of the Bible.
You may purchase Take Heart for Teens from Amazon.
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