Before you know it, the Christmas season will be upon us. You will start planning activities and parties, shopping for gifts, and maybe you’ll even plan which charities you will give to. As you start planning, also take the time to plan for ways to keep Christ in the center of your Christmas. After all, He is the reason we are celebrating! One great way to keep your focus on Christ is to read an advent devotional.
Advent is the season of preparation leading up to Christmas Day. These advent devotionals will really help you and your family to focus on the birth of Jesus Christ and the Christmas story. I have some great options for you!
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What is an Advent Devotional?
You may be wondering what an Advent devotional is and why you should read one. An advent devotional is meant to help prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. They often include a Scripture text, a story or devotion to match the daily theme, and maybe some questions or a Christmas prayer.
Advent devotions for families or children will often include activities as well to do during the season of Advent. These devotionals may cover Jesus’ life, a Bible study of the names of Jesus, or prophecies foretelling His coming. All of these can help us understand the real miracle of Christmas.
Advent definition
The word “advent” is derived from the Latin word “adventus,” which means “coming.” When we talk about the Advent season, we are talking about the time leading up to the coming of Christmas. This period typically begins four Sundays before Christmas. Some Christians will spend this time in prayer and/or fasting as well as spending extra time reflecting on the coming celebration of Christ’s birth. It is a time to make sure your heart is focusing on Christ and not on the distractions our culture throws at us.
Advent Devotionals
There are many Advent devotionals out there. What you are looking for may depend on who it’s for, how soon you need it, and your budget. I have listed many great options for whether you’re looking for a daily Advent devotional, an Advent devotional for your family or children, or if you’re looking for free options.
Daily Advent devotionals
The following Advent devotionals are daily devotionals that mostly start on December 1st for a 25-day Advent reading plan. If you have another favorite, be sure to comment below so I can add it. This is a great advent tradition to add to this holiday season.
Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional by Paul David Tripp. I just love anything I’ve read by this author! He puts a strong focus on the power of the gospel of Jesus in everyday life. This devotional will help you slow down and reflect on why we are truly celebrating Christmas.
Celebrate Wonder and Joy: 25 Daily Devotions for Advent and Christmas by Margaret Feinburg. This is great for personal or small group use as it has some reflection questions as well as space to study and reflect on the Scripture. There is also beautiful artwork to color and inspire creativity as you ponder the advent reflection.
Tidings of Comfort and Joy: 25 Devotions Leading to Christmas by Mark M. Yarbrough is a great devotional to get your focus on Jesus instead of the busyness of the season. These are short devotions that combine Scripture, stories, reflections, and prayer.
Come & Adore: An Advent Devotional by Kristi Lynn Menashe is a cute little devotional that has rave reviews. This devotional provides the opportunity to slow down this Christmas season and put your focus on Jesus where it belongs with short daily readings.
Advent devotionals for families
Reading an Advent devotional each evening leading up to Christmas is a great family tradition to include this year if you haven’t already. Maybe you’ve been using one for years and you’re just looking for a new one to try. There are definitely some great ones here!
Advent Devotions & Christmas Crafts for Families: 24 Scripture Reflections & Simple Projects to Anticipate Christ’s Birth by Victoria Duerstock is made especially to support families in their quest for keeping Christ at the center of Christmas. There is a devotional for each day in December leading up to Christmas, along with beautiful illustrations and simple crafts to solidify the devotions in your heart.
The Way to the Manger: A Family Advent Devotional by Jeff and Abbey Land. This is another devotional to help families engage in the biblical truths of Christmas. This devotional will focus on why we need a Savior and how amazing it is that God sent Jesus. There are also family discussion points and activities to do together. What a great way to build family memories!
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room: Daily Family Devotions for Advent by Nancy Guthrie. This devotional is great for families with school-aged children. Get into the spirit of Christmas with a daily theme and insight into Christmas carols and traditions. There are also discussion questions and a prayer.
Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu will encourage you and your family to prepare your heart to celebrate Jesus. Focusing on the themes of Advent and some of the names of Jesus, your family will better appreciate the season of celebration. Also included are fun family activities and family service projects. Coming out this year is Unwrapping the Names of Jesus for Kids, which will be great if you have younger children.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp will walk your family from creation to the arrival of Jesus. With daily Scripture reading, devotional, discussion questions, and beautiful illustrations, you will be drawn into the Advent season. There are also meaningful advent activities to do as a family, including ornaments for a Jesse tree.
As moms, unless we prioritize our relationship with God, it can easily fall by the wayside. Learn more about growing closer to God. As we grow closer to Him, we become a better wife and mother as well.
Advent devotionals for kids
Most of the following devotionals are geared toward younger children. They will definitely need your guidance as you go through each one. Advent devotionals are such a great way to foster discussion on why we celebrate Christmas and what the first Christmas was all about.
The Advent Storybook: 25 Bible Stories Showing Why Jesus Came by Laura Richie. With beautiful illustrations, this advent storybook will show how God kept His promises to rescue us . . . through Jesus. There is also a discussion question after each story to get your little ones thinking.
The Shepherd on the Search: A 25-Day Family Devotional (Discover the Joy of Finding Christ in Christmas) by Josh Helms is a fun and interactive Christmas journey for you and your children as you follow along with your very own shepherd. There are activities, discussion questions, Scriptures, and guided family prayers to bring you along on this Christmas journey. This would make a great Christmas tradition leading up to Jesus’ birth celebration.
Christmas Joy for Kids: A Devotional by Mel Lawrenz is perfect for younger children. With short devotionals that focus on one word, your children will get the perfect picture of what different things about Christmas mean. There is even an adult version for you to follow along.
Jesus is Born: Nativity Ornament Book (Advent Devotional for Kids) by Dayspring, is an interactive board book for young children. With short devotionals and discussion questions, you can help your little ones focus on why we celebrate Christmas. There are even 6 ornaments to hang on the tree.
Free Advent devotionals
Everyone loves free, and what better free thing is there than something that draws your attention to Christ this Christmas? There really are quite a few free options out there, so there is really no excuse to not give Advent devotionals a try this Christmas. Jesus is the good news of great joy that we should be celebrating!
Women Living Well has a list of 5 free advent ebook devotionals on their site. Some of these are great for families as well! Be sure to check them out.
Awana.org has a downloadable advent devotional with a podcast for the theme of each week.
Meet Him at the Manger is a free 25-day devotional plan by Stuart and Jill Briscoe. These devotionals use Scripture, heartwarming stories, and biblical truths to help keep you focused on why we celebrate Christmas.
YouVersion is a fantastic app that has many great advent devotionals for individuals and for families. We did one on there 2 years ago that was fun for the kids. It had an “advent house” coloring sheet digital download that they would color a portion of each day.
Christmas is such a special time to really focus on Jesus and His birth. It’s the perfect opportunity to spend time making memories with your family as you do an Advent devotional together. Which will you choose to read this year? Do you have another favorite not listed? Let me know. Also, before you go, be sure to check out the other Christmas options listed below.
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