My Favorite Advent Devotionals
Advent is my favorite time of year. Truly, it is.
Christmas time is heavy-laden with responsibilities: presents, meals, gatherings, making it “the most wonderful time of the year” for everyone else. I’m well aware this is a “me” problem; I could heap less expectations on myself, “let it go” (I despise that phrase), blah, blah, blah. One of these years I will. Hope springs eternal.
Advent, however, is quiet. Mysterious. Gentle. Kind. Advent is heavy-laden, too. But with Wonder. Anticipation. Slow, illuminating, eternal Light.
Advent is what keeps me sane throughout all the preparations for Christmas, keeps me from being swallowed by holiday tinsel. More important, Advent-keeping ushers me more fully into the joy of Christmastide—or Christide—when it finally arrives.
In anticipation of the coming Advent season (which begins Sunday, December 1st), I thought I’d share some of my favorite Advent devotionals I’ve discovered and keep going back to over the years. Not surprisingly, they tend to be creative in their approach, utilizing the arts—poetry, music, story, and visual art—as a companion alongside Scripture. Several are books. A couple are online resources. One is a new devotional I discovered just this week. And one is my own weekly devotional essay I will be offering here on the R&W:
Light Upon Light, compiled by Sarah Arthur. This Advent through Epiphany devotional offers daily and weekly literary selections from well-known authors—old and current—coupled with Scripture selections contemplating alongside the literary offerings. In the Introduction, Arthur explains the ancient practice of lectio divina and offers it as a primary way to interact with the readings: both the literary selections, and Bible passages. I love that the selections encompass authors spanning centuries, and that the selections include both poetry and prose, fiction and non-fiction.
Waiting on the Word by Malcolm Guite. Guite is one of my favorite modern-day poets. In Waiting on the Word, he has selected a poem a day for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Some of the poems are his own, some are from other poets. After each poem he offers his own reflections on the poem and how it brings witness to the Word upon which we wait and celebrate. I find a beautiful wholeness in Guite’s approach: Not only am I ushered more deeply into a posture of hope, peace, joy, and love with every poem and reflection; I also become a more astute reader of the poetic word—and Word—as I go. Of all my Advent devotionals, I’ve turned to Waiting on the Word most. And, no matter what devotional I choose for the season, I almost always include Waiting on the Word as a companion.
O Come, O Come, Emanuel, by Jonathan Gibson. This is a liturgical worship devotional spanning Advent through Epiphany. When I say “liturgical,” I mean straight up liturgy similar to what you’d find in any high church worship service. Every day includes: a Meditation (from a Church father or other well-known theologian), Call to Worship, Adoration, Confession of Sin, Assurance of Pardon, Apostle’s Creed, Praise, Catechism (from various denominations), Prayer for Illumination, Scripture Reading (you’ll need a Bible), Praise, Prayer of Intercession, Lord’s Prayer, Benediction, and Postlude… whew! You may not consider a liturgy a “creative” devotional. Yet, by entering into and following the posture, process, and words of the Church from its earliest beginnings, is to unite ourselves with the great cloud of witnesses, and add our voices to the unending praise with all the saints transcending time into eternity. I’m not sure I can think of a more creative, imaginative (read: image-bearing) endeavor. And, the book itself is so beautiful. Its presence alone invites a devotional, worshipful posture.
Art & Theology Blog by Victoria Emily Jones. I’ve been following Art & Theology for years now. I love the wide variety of artistic offerings Jones provides. For the past three years, she’s offered a daily Advent post that reflects the season’s weekly themes. Her posts always include a layering of artistic genres. She writes: “For me, I’ve found that engaging the arts frequently opens up wonder and new angles of inquiry and deepens my longing and gratitude for Christ. Songs, art, and other creative expressions help me slow down and put me in a contemplative frame of mind, and that’s why I use them as companions throughout the liturgical year.”
Biola’s Advent Project. This is another online resource I’ve followed for years. I love Biola’s multi-genre approach to offering devotional reflections. Every devotion has a work of art, a poem, and a piece of music to engage with for enlivening that’s day’s reflection. The Advent Project (as well as their Lenten Project) is made possible through Biola’s Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts. As to CCCA’s mission (you can read it by clicking on the name) I say Yes! And Amen.
Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Longing Heart, by Caroline Cobb. This is one I’m going to engage with for the first time this year. I learned of Caroline and her work on a recent episode of The Habit Podcast. I loved her interview with Jonathan Rogers. So much of what she said resonated with my own experience as an artist and a Christian. I have no idea what to expect with this devotion other than what the book summary tells me:
In Advent for Exiles songwriter and storyteller Caroline Cobb weaves together Scripture readings, song lyrics, poetic prose, biblical imagery, and responsive exercises to help you:
break away from the hurried holiday pace, and daily stoke your anticipation for Jesus’s coming
engage both your mind and your imagination in the truth of God’s Word
walk in the shoes of the Old Testament exiles, linking arms with them as they ache for the Messiah
travel the Advent road from darkness to daybreak, exile to homecoming, and wilderness to a flourishing garden
explore how the full story of Scripture—from creation to Christ’s return—informs and expands your delight at Christmas
I’m in.
Advent with the Ghosts, by… me. Last, but maybe not least, I will be offering weekly reflections here on the Reader & the Writer through this Advent season. Springboarding from our final book for 2025, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (podcast episodes go live Dec 3rd, and 10th), I will be exploring the Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love through each of the four ghosts to visit Ebeneezer Scrooge. Look for these devotional essays to publish each Saturday, beginning November 30th on Advent Eve. ;-) If you want to read these, make sure you are subscribed to The Reader & the Writer so you won’t miss an essay—or podcast episode on A Christmas Carol!
I hope one of these Advent offerings piques your interest and desire for entering into a deliberate practice of keeping the Advent season this year. And if you do have a favorite Advent devotional or daily/weekly Advent practice, please share it in the comments below! I’m always looking for new ways for keeping the season of Advent.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I know this Thanksgiving, I will be giving great Thanks for each of you.
Grace & Peace,
Shari
I can’t wait!!