Published by Moody Publishers on October 3, 2023
Genres: Non-Fiction, Christian Life, Devotional, Christmas
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Carrying songs—and Jesus—in your heart the whole Christmas season.
We know the songs of Christmas like we know the rooms of our house or the placement of our Christmas tree. One or two probably stand out for us as the epitome of how Christmas is supposed to sound. It’s not officially Christmas until we hear them.
As those familiar songs fill your home again this season, listen closely. They are telling a story, the story of Jesus—who He is and why He came.
Rediscover your favorite Christmas hymns this Advent season with Born a Child and Yet a King, an Advent devotional from Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. Spend thirty-one days tracing the gospel through your favorite carols and discover anew the awe of this season.
Each day’s reading will help guide your prayers, thoughts, and priorities so you may enjoy a deeper intimacy with Jesus Christ this Christmas!
In this devotional book, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth explores six classic Christmas carols, reflecting on what they teach us about Jesus, the gospel, and our lives as Christians. Because the carols she chose encompass so many themes about Christianity, she not only revisits the Nativity story, but also unpacks broader ideas and implications for what it means to follow Jesus. She devotes multiple readings to unpacking different stanzas from each Christmas hymn, and she includes both highly familiar favorites and a couple of carols that get less attention. The daily readings each also include a short prayer, brief Scripture selections with suggestions for further reading, and a reflection question with several lines of journaling space.
Born a Child and Yet a King is full of meaningful reflections, and even though I have read similar books before and often reflect deeply on the lyrics of Christmas hymns, the reflections in this book still inspired me. DeMoss Wolgemuth shares encouragement and application ideas throughout the book, and she also acknowledges challenges that many people face at Christmastime. This book isn’t about drumming up a sense of Christmas spirit, but is about the totality of Christ’s work for us and how it changes our lives. I appreciate how the author engaged with difficult themes and challenges alongside Christmas joys, and found this encouraging.
Born a Child and Yet a King: The Gospel in the Carols: A 31-Day Advent Devotional is a great book, and it is also very pretty, with its hardbound cover and gold ribbon bookmark. Also, even though women are the primary intended audience, the content focuses on universal spiritual themes and isn’t written in a gendered way. This book is full of deep reflections and practical encouragement for all believers, and I like how the author includes readings all the way through the end of December, instead of stopping with Christmas. Her reflections for the days after the holiday are wise and helpful, and I would recommend this book to Christians who want to delve into the meaning of Christmas hymns.