“Advent devotional to make your heart sing!”
Christmas “should take our breath away, and then, when we recover our breath, it should make us sing!” Tim Chester goes through the four songs used by Luke to recount the Nativity. These are the songs of Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon.
Chester says that Luke makes your heart sing, he makes you want to worship, and that is exactly the response you will have to this Advent devotional. Each day you’ll read a piece of the song, Chester’s thoughts on it (about 2-3 pages), and a reflection, which are hymns or quotes from prominent theologians. This is the perfect daily formula to set your mind on the right things during the busy Christmas season.
There are many takeaways from this book, including:
1. God sees you. “God takes the lowly and works through the weak to magnify his own grace and glory.”
2. God fulfills all his promises. He is the God of great reversals.
3. “God delights to forgive his children.”
4. Recognize that “the story isn’t over yet!” Don’t feel discouraged in today’s world. All will be made right in the final chapter.
Every year I look forward to reading a new Advent Devotional, but this devotional could be read any time of year. The call to love, honor, praise, and obey Christ is a reminder we need year round.
“We need to stir our hearts, and that means pausing, reflecting, and gazing afresh at the God-man in the manger.” Chester’s, With Heart and Soul and Voice, will help you reflect on how you respond to Immanuel this Christmas.
*I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.