Free Advent Devotionals
We’re already a few days into Advent, but it’s not too late for you to start intentionally using this time to prepare for our celebration of Christ’s coming. Here are a few free options to get you started.
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room: Daily Family Devotions for Advent by Nancy Guthrie (Kindle version—see here for how to read Kindle books if you don’t have a Kindle). From the Introduction:
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room provides a short reading for every day in the month of December, taking your family on a journey of identifying with the distant longings of Israel, listening for the angel’s announcement, and gazing at the Baby in the manger. You’ll find several suggested discussion questions that will help to transform this time into a meaningful discussion in which everybody in the family can participate. Each day’s questions begin with a question that even the youngest member of the family can likely answer. There are additional Scriptures you might want to read as part of your discussion and Christmas songs your family can talk through and then sing together. Several lined pages have been spaced throughout the book where you can jot down dated notes of comments made and questions asked by various family members that you want to remember as the years go by.
The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper (the audiobook and PDF versions are free, the Kindle version is only $0.99). From the Preface:
I am prone to be dull, spiritually drowsy, halfhearted, lukewarm. That is the way human beings are, including Christians, even about great things. Peter knows it and is writing to “awaken” or to “stir up” his readers [2 peter 1:13] so that they don’t just know but also feel the wonder of the truth.
That’s why I have written these devotions. What you and I need is usually not a brand-new teaching. Brand-new truths are probably not truths. What we need are reminders about the greatness of the old truths. We need someone to say an old truth in a fresh way. Or sometimes, just to say it….
May the Spirit of God use these words to open your eyes afresh to the glories of Christ and give you a new taste of your indestructible joy.
How to Do an Advent Wreath by Angie Mosteller (includes a history of Advent and readings for each week—see her website for some Advent candle display ideas). She explains:
Advent candles are commonly lit immediately before or after dinner and burn for approximately one hour. This is a wonderful time to read Scripture as a family and discuss the reason for the holiday season — the coming of Jesus.
Though a variety of meanings have been attached to each candle, two common traditions are (1) hope, peace, joy and love and (2) promise, prophecy, proclamation and presence. The selection of verses below incorporates these various meanings on their respective week of Advent.
