The Top 8 Free Advent Devotionals for You or Your Family

So much of living well is about waiting well, and this is especially true in the in the lives of those who follow Jesus. We are expectant people, people who long for the renewal and restoration of all things. We are witnesses to the pain and sorrow in our own lives, in the lives of those around us, and in creation itself, and we know it was never meant to be this way. While we wait, our lives are spent loving God and loving others, partnering with God in the work of Kingdom-building.

The season of Advent in the church’s liturgical calendar highlights the truth of our waiting. During this time, we remember that God came to us in flesh and blood once before and that God will come again! More than just a countdown to Christmas, Advent is a celebration of Jesus’ arrival and an eager expectation for his return.

During this time of year, it’s easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of making the Christmas magic happen (especially if you’re a mom to young kids!) This can take an exhausting toll if we’re not careful to carve out time and space for our souls to breathe. Fortunately, the Advent season is ripe with resources for those journeying in faith. You may have seen several of these resources marketed to you as you scroll social media!

But today, I wanted to share 8 quality Advent devotionals that are FREE. These are digital resources meant to point you toward the coming of Emmanuel – God with us. Some are for your own use, some are for the whole family! Here you go:

1. Bless This Advent, by Kate Bowler

Professor, author, and theologian Kate Bowler has a beautiful offering called Bless This Advent. With her characteristic insight, she provides daily short reflections, scripture, blessings to pray, and questions you can ask around the dinner table. This free devotional is versatile in that you can do it on your own, with a friend, or with your family! If you’ve read any of Kate’s books or if you’ve listened to her podcast (Everything Happens) you know she is a wise, witty, and overall wonderful person. Can’t wait to dig into this one!

2. Advent Wreath: Devotional Guide for Families

Advent Wreath: This short and simple guide from Muscadine Press is meant to go along with the lighting of the Advent candles around a traditional Advent wreath. There’s a page for each of the four Sundays in Advent, with a short script, suggested scripture reading, a prayer, and thoughtful discussion questions. I love this one for its simplicity, and the questions are best suited for older elementary-age kids on up to teenagers.

3. The Advent Podcast, by Katie Kibbe

The Advent Podcast is a short (3-6 minutes) audio reflection on the meaning of Advent through different lenses. Each day offers a pause in all of our daily busy-ness for a short story and some encouragement on our journey. As a long-time subscriber to her newsletter, I can tell you that Katie is a heartfelt writer and encourager! This audio devotional would be perfect to listen to in the school pick up line, or when you’re walking the dog.

4. The Weary World Rejoices, by Wycliffe Bible Translators

The Weary World Rejoices is a gorgeous weekly devotional to do on your own or with a friend. Each of the four weeks of Advent is told through a different perspective: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the angels. The artwork is thought-provoking, the devotional is meaty but easy to read, and I especially like the discussion questions. They would be perfect to answer in a journal!

5. Invited to the Stable: A 6 Day Family Advent Devotional, by the Christian Standard Bible

Invited to the Stable is designed to go along with a nativity set as it explores the people of Christmas. What I love about it are its engaging illustrations and how the devotional is designed to point us to God. It’s also nice to have the option to do these devotionals six days in a row, or to spread them throughout the season. As a teacher, I find their questions to be developmentally appropriate for kids as young as kindergarten. There are lots of suggested scripture readings (the CSB translation is on the easier side to understand for kids, and so is the NLT) and a sample script to guide you in these family devotions.

6. Printable Advent Prayer Calendars, by Praying in Color

These free printable Advent Prayer Calendars are a lovely, embodied way to engage in the spiritual practice of prayer. You can do them on your own, you can give your kids a copy, you can doodle on it while they’re doing homework or playing.

From their website:
“Each day I choose a person to pray for or a word to ponder. I write the name or word in the space and ask God to be with me in this daily journey. Then I sit with the word and surround it with doodles and color; I think of each mark or swath of color as a non-verbal prayer. Each day’s offering feels like a little wrapped package to bring to Jesus’s birthday celebration.”

They have dated and undated versions to choose from, as well as a few different designs!

7. Beholding Advent, compiled by Rachael Adams

Beholding Advent is a lovely compilation of 24 devotionals written by 24 different women. Each day corresponds with a different chapter in the Gospel of Luke, and it’s a wonderful way to hone in on the story of Jesus during the Advent season. Scroll down to the middle of her freebie page to download your copy!

8. The Advent Project, from Biola University

The Advent Project is an online devotional by the Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts from Biola University. Each day, there’s a work of visual art to contemplate, a scripture passage, a devotional, a poem, and a piece of music. In all of the variety, there’s sure to be something that speaks to your heart. I look forward to this devotional every year!

BONUS: The Best Mini-Guide to Spiritual Practices for Busy Moms

Although I don’t have an Advent devotional for you today, this free guide to spiritual practices is meant for busy women (and especially moms) who want to draw closer to God. I pray it will bless you on your journey of faith!

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*Feature Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash