What is Advent and why should I celebrate it? This is a question I have been pondering lately.

I grew up in a home where we celebrated Advent. We lit the Advent candles every week and said special prayers and readings, but I never understood what Advent was. As I picked up The Wonder of Advent Devotional by Chris Tiegreen, the introduction pulled me into a place where I realized just how important Advent is.

“In a small town in Judea long ago, God clothed himself in flesh and began to live among us. It was a stunning move, revolutionary in its purpose, and it is still changing lives today. There’s a reason the first coming of Jesus is so celebrated, and we don’t want to miss it. By God’s invitation, this is a story we can enter into every day.”

Christmas is the start of a larger story, the story of our forgiveness. We celebrate Christmas not only as a gift-giving day but also as the starting day that this ultimate gift was received. Tiegreen continues his introduction with the following thought.

“Advent is a time of anticipation and joy, but it can also be a time of busyness and stress. The turmoil of the season can distract us from the true message—though it may also lead us to long for a Savior. Either way, in the depths of our hearts, we have not forgotten what the celebration is all about. We know it’s a story that changed the world forever. And we desire to embrace it fully.”

As the Christmas holiday has become more and more secularized, Christians often speak of remembering “the reason for the season.” One of the best ways to do that is to maintain our focus in the weeks leading up to December 25. Advent celebrations and devotional readings do just that; they reorient our minds on the central truths of our faith. They are an intentional emphasis on the reason for the season that honors God’s redeeming work in our lives.

Download this free Scripture-reading calendar to guide you through the events that lead to the coming of Christ and to reflect on the best-ever Christmas gift. To download, click the image below or click HERE.

by contributing author Abbi Koko, inspired by The Wonder of Advent Devotional by Chris Tiegreen

This Advent, recapture the mystery and beauty of the season with The Wonder of Advent Devotional. In this insightful and thought-provoking book, beloved devotional author Chris Tiegreen brings you into a deeper experience of this integral time in the church calendar. After completing a week of short readings to prepare your heart for the Advent season, you’ll journey through December with daily Scripture readings, prompts for reflection, and guided prayer to help you savor this remarkable divine story. With each day, The Wonder of Advent Devotional will reconnect you with what happened in Bethlehem long ago—and experience it anew in your life right now.

Learn more HERE>>