Christmas is my favorite holiday. One of the reasons that I have always loved it is that the holiday is an entire season. 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even New Year are each a mere day of celebration, but Christmas is several weeks of hope and good cheer! It was not until I was an adult though, that I learned that this holiday season is an old Christian celebration called Advent.
For the Christian, the Advent season does more than extend the merry eating and cozy settings, it should also extend our worship of the God who came in the weakness and fragility of a baby. So, I invite you to grab one (or more!) of these devotionals to use in your daily worship during this Advent season.
The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper
These 25 brief devotional readings from John Piper begin on December 1 and carry us to Christmas Day. Our hope is that God would use these meditations to deepen and sweeten your adoration of Jesus and help you keep him at the center of your Christmas season.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas by Nancy Guthrie
An anthology of Advent readings collected from the writings and sermons of 22 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers... With its high view of Scripture and its focus on the gift of Jesus, this lovely book is sure to ready your heart and mind for a fresh experience of "Immanuel, God with us" this and every Advent season.
Waiting Here for You: An Advent Journey of Hope by Louie Giglio
Join pastor and author Louie Giglio in an Advent journey to discover that waiting is not wasting when you're waiting on the Lord. Take hold of the chance to uncover the vast hope offered through the journey of Advent. In Waiting Here for You, readers will find peace and encouragement for their souls as anticipation leads toward celebration!
What devotionals/reading plans do you follow for Advent? Is there any great ones that I missed on this list? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.