Originally published on Substack on Nov. 28, 2025

If the date on the calendar, the growing list of social obligations, and Christmas decorations popping up everywhere doesn’t tell you the holiday season is almost here, perhaps your inbox provides a hint. It feels like I’m suddenly receiving emails from any company I’ve ever bought from, unless I’ve opted out. (Anyone else bad about remembering to do that?) Many Christian companies and content creators start talking about Advent and sharing Advent resources and my inbox is flooded with dozens of different options.

What exactly is Advent? To give a simple answer, Advent is the season of waiting leading up to Christmas, remembering the many years the people of Israel waited for the promised Messiah and acknowledging our current wait for Christ’s second coming. It’s a way to remind yourself that God always keeps his promises — and always will. While part of the liturgical calendar, it’s a practice that’s widely observed in many Christmas circles well beyond those who adhere to the full liturgical church calendar.

Traditionally, the Advent season is observed by lighting candles in a ring or wreath, one each Sunday for the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Three purple and one pink, with a white one in the center for Christmas Day. They’re generally called the Candles of Hope (purple), Peace (purple), Joy (pink), and Love (purple). If you’re interested in learning more about the traditional, liturgical aspects of Advent, I recommend Sacred Seasons by Danielle Hitchen or Seasonal Celebrations by Phylicia Masonheimer.

My church is not heavily liturgical, nor is my family, but we incorporate lighting Advent candles in our services during the Advent season, along with a Scripture reading. We continue the tradition at home as part of our family worship by lighting the week’s candle(s) while we read our Advent devotional. I’ve long enjoyed incorporating the candles into the reading, even before I was married or had children. I enjoy the traditional aspects of participating in something that’s been observed for centuries of church history, plus, there is something undeniably calming and reflective about lighting candles.

Whether candles are included or not, devotionals, Bible reading plans, or Bible studies are a popular way to observe Advent and the amount of resources available has exploded in recent years. Everything from beautifully designed Bible studies that include recipes and crafts, to simple cards with a verse and a few reflection questions, and wooden blocks for younger children. Many are helpful ways to stop and remember Christ and his promises as we approach Christmas.

Advent is not essential. You will not find a “thou shalt observe Advent” commandment in the Bible. But I would encourage you to find a way to participate somehow. Whether you choose an in-depth study or you only feel like you can handle a few simple verses a day (I’ve been in both places in recent years!), don’t let the chaotic busyness of the season keep you from taking time with your Savior to remember who He is, why He came, and that He will come again. I find it to be a breath of fresh air to pause for a few minutes and try to still my heart to reflect on the promises God fulfilled in Christ’s birth — and the ones he will fulfill when Christ returns again. I’m embarrassed to admit that the latter part of that only clicked with me several years ago. Since then, Advent has come alive for me in new ways and stirs a longing in my heart to see Christ return.

It doesn’t have to be complicated and while there are many great resources out there, you don’t have to buy anything. If all you feel like you can do is read a few verses a day until you read through the gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2), that’s a great start! I’ve also heard of people reading one chapter of Luke each day December 1-24 (there are 24 chapters in Luke) to cover the birth of Christ and his life, death, and resurrection. Another popular choice is to trace Jesus’ family tree with “Jesse Tree” readings (which can involve ornaments to hang on the tree). While there are a lot of Jesse Tree books and products to purchase, there are a number of free reading plans as well.

If sitting down and reading seems like more than you can handle right now, try listening to the Bible on audio while you’re engaging in another activity. It may be tempting sometimes to feel like that’s the easy way out, but I was reminded recently that for centuries that was how most people heard the word of God. Until the invention of the printing press, few people had access to the written word. They heard it read to them and memorized it so they could recall it at will. While I do think there is much to be gained from sitting down and reading the Word, don’t discount listening to it as a valid way to take it in, too. Maybe pick a verse or two to memorize over Advent as well.

Another option you could pair with a simple reading is listening to traditional Christmas carols. While there’s nothing wrong with “Jingle Bells” or “Deck the Halls,” many traditional carols are Christmas hymns chock full of gospel truth. “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley is one excellent example. Check out these words in the second verse:

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Choose a carol and take a few minutes to pause and reflect on the words. You’ll find plenty of Biblical truth to chew on! Then make a joyful noise unto the Lord and sing along!

When it comes to purchasing a resource to use, I’ve done a variety of things over the years. Devotional books. Bible studies. Advent cards. Here are a few of my favorites from over the years:

• Jesus Storybook Bible Advent reading plan (free) – This is a walk through Jesus’ family tree using the readings from the Jesus Storybook Bible from Creation through the birth of Christ (which conveniently works out to be 24 readings). We’ve done this one a few times as a family and it’s a great choice when you have younger children.
• Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons – Simons penned — and painted — a beautiful devotional book that walks us through the promise of God with us.
• Advent for Exiles by Caroline Cobb – Cobb digs into Isaiah to note the longing of the exiles of Israel for the Messiah and God’s promises to turn their mourning into dancing and devastation into flourishing. I also enjoy her Advent music. (And her non-Advent music for that matter.)
• Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp – All of Tripp’s devotionals and books are rich in gospel truth and this one is no exception.
• O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to Epiphany by Jonathan Gibson – My husband and I tried to do this one together last year. The content is rich and beautiful, including Scripture readings, hymns, prayers, creeds, and thoughts for meditation — pretty much everything you could want! — but it proved to be a little more of a daily time commitment than we could make happen. We’re working through another daily devotional this year, so it probably isn’t the year to try again, but I would like to work through it all sometime!
• Good News of Great Joy – This is a free resource by John Piper from Desiring God. Sign up and you’ll receive a daily email with an Advent reflection.
• God’s Big Promises: Advent Calendar and Family Devotions by Carl Laferton – This is a traditional open-a-flap-each-day Advent calendar with an accompanying family devotional that’s very kid-friendly. My children enjoyed opening the flaps and the devotions were designed to be short and interactive and (mostly) hold their attention.

Other good resources I haven’t personally used, but come from sources I respect:

• Fulfilled in Jesus Advent reflection cards from Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simons
• Promises Made Promises Kept by Marty Machowski – We purchased this one to use this year. It’s designed to read the Promises Made section in the week leading up to Christmas, then turn the book over and upside down and read the Promises Kept in the week following Christmas. I love that it extends beyond Christmas to show how Jesus fulfilled the promises made about him. That will be our Christmas break, but I plan to incorporate those readings into our mornings, like we would do morning time during school.
• Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski – Our church just gave each family with children in children’s ministry a copy of this book to use during the Advent season this Sunday. This will be what we read during our family worship time at the dinner table each evening with our Advent candle lighting.
• Lithos Kids The Kingdom of God Bible storybook (free) Advent reading plan The King is Coming – I love Lithos Kids’ books and we’re using The Kingdom of God as part of school. Because of that, I’m not using this plan this year, but I will keep it in mind for the future.
• The Biggest Story Advent by Kevin DeYoung – I have loved the Biggest Story series from DeYoung. Each book I’ve read has been excellent and I’m sure this one is as well. I can foresee this one coming into our lives in the future.

A final piece of advice from someone who loves to read, loves books, and loves great Christian resources — don’t get lured into trying to do multiple Advent observations from a bunch of different places. Choose one for yourself and one for your family and call it a year. Ask me how I know. You can always choose a different option next year!

I hope this Advent season brings you and yours a greater awareness of the peace and joy only found in Christ!