The teenage years can be a lot. Between the pressure to fit in, questions about the future, and incredibly busy schedules, finding a quiet moment to connect with God can feel nearly impossible.
But don’t underestimate the teen years. These are also some of the most spiritually significant years a person will ever walk through. The questions they’re asking, the identity they’re forming, the faith they’re testing all matter more than we sometimes realize in the moment.
With so much going on in their lives and important formation happening, it can be tricky to find the right resources to help guide them. Something that respects where they are without talking down to them. Something that makes God’s Word feel accessible and alive, not like one more obligation on an already-full plate.
I’ve teamed up with Sara on my team, another mom of teenagers, to share devotionals and Christian books for teens that we’ve personally read, recommended, and put in the hands of the teens in our lives. We hope they mean as much to your teens as they have to ours.
(And, don’t miss our guide to the best devotionals and Christian books for women!)
Best Devotionals for Teens:
New Morning Mercies for Teens
One of our top picks for the best devotionals for women — New Morning Mercies — has a teen version! This book has 366 devotions, each only one page long. They’ll point teens to the wisdom and grace of Jesus, and encourage them to “fall in love with Jesus, find freedom and joy within his boundaries, and live for his glory– day in and day out.”
Dwell on These Things
This Bible study walks teen girls through Philippians 4:4-9 to teach a simple method of memorizing God’s Word. Scripture memorization can be such a helpful tool in the busy teen years and this book will not only teach a helpful method, but will inspire teen girls to dwell on what’s true, beautiful, and lovely.
Identity: Discovering Who You Are in Christ
This 31-day devotional for teenagers helps them explore questions like: Who am I? What is my purpose? How does that impact how I live? The teen years are filled with big questions and uncertainty, and this book will equip them to answer those questions grounded in God’s truth.
Quest Study Bible for Teens
This New International Version (NIV) Bible has thousands of questions — and their answers — that teens are likely to have about God’s Word and how it relates to their lives, their struggles, and today’s world. It also has a helpful introduction for each book, which explains things like who wrote the book and why, and what to look out for as you’re reading the book. If your teen wants to develop a Bible-reading habit, this Bible is a great resource!
Best Christian Books for Teens:
Something special happens when teens catch even a glimpse of who God says they are. The noise quiets a little. The comparison loses some of its grip. And something in them starts to believe that maybe, just maybe, they were made for more than they imagined.
That’s exactly what we had in mind as we chose these books as our top Christian books for teens. These books contain stories and truths that invite teens to see themselves as deeply loved, intentionally created, and called to meaningfully participate in God’s story.
The Heart of Jesus: How He Really Feels about You
This short book centers around the heart of Jesus as he himself describes it in Matthew 11:29 — gentle and humble — and the whole book feels like a warm hug from Jesus. This is an excellent book to read together or for your teen to read on their own, and the short chapters will fit into their busy life stage.
The Common Rule: Youth Edition
If you loved Justin Earley’s Habits of the Household, you’ll also love The Common Rule: Youth Edition. This book is adapted from his Common Rule book for adults and is particularly relevant for 6th-12th graders. With practices like daily Scripture reading, Sabbath rest, digital detoxes, physical activity, and shared meals, Justin encourages teens to shape their schedules and routines to enable freedom, peace, and thriving.
Brave: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety
We both loved Sissy Goff’s Raising Worry-Free Girls, and this book takes that book’s principles and presents them to teen girls. It will equip her to understand her emotions, to fight back when worries arise, and to live as the “brave, strong, deeply-loved girl God made her to be.”
(Also be sure to check out the podcast episode I recorded with Sissy about her wonderful book for parents, whether you’re raising boys or girls!)
Kisses from Katie
What started as a short-term mission trip to Uganda during her senior year of high school turned into a complete redirection of Katie Davis’s life. Something about the people she met and their needs wouldn’t let her go — and she knew with certainty that she was meant to go back. She did. And she ended up adopting fifteen children and founding a ministry that serves hundreds more.
If your teen wants to dream big, step outside their comfort zone, and impact the world, they’ll find this book so inspiring. We each read it as adults and it profoundly moved and challenged us.
I also had the chance to interview Katie Davis Majors on my podcast about her newest book, Safe All Along: Trading Our Fears and Anxieties for God’s Unshakable Peace. I would highly recommend this book too, especially if your teenager struggles with anxiety or worries.
Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia, gave four BBC radio addresses during World War II, encouraging hope and faith amidst suffering, while explaining the core beliefs of the Christian faith. Those radio addresses became Mere Christianity, and it’s an excellent primer in what the Christian faith believes. Whether your teen is doubting God’s existence or goodness, or seeking to grow in a thriving relationship with Him, this book is excellent. It’s also a great book to read aloud together and discuss.
And, if you like this one, you’ll also like Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis’s spiritual memoir, describing his journey from atheism to Christianity.
The Right Book at the Right Time
The teen years don’t last forever, but the faith formed in them often does. We hope that these books will meet your teen where they are, help them get answers to questions they might be asking, and point them to the God who loves them.
If you’re wondering how to get these books into your teen’s hands, sometimes the best way is simply to hand it to them and say, “I thought of you when I saw this.” They also make excellent gifts in teen Easter baskets!
Even if they don’t start reading right away, we’ve found that teens will pick up a book at the moment they need it. We pray that through the pages of these books — and through your care for them — your teens would come to know with confidence that they are seen, known, and deeply loved.
Related Links:
Helping Our Teens Develop a Relationship with Jesus
Raising Teens: Answering your burning questions
You Get What You Expect (+ some thoughts on raising teens)
How to Teach Your Teens About Budgeting
Best Devotionals and Christian Books for Women
Where to Get Books for Free (Yes, Really!)
Where to Buy Cheap Books (So You Can Read More Without Spending a Fortune!)
Teen Easter Basket Ideas
What do you think are the best devotionals or Christian books for teens? Share your recommendations in the comments below!
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