Awaken My Soul
A Short Advent Devotion and Poem on the Wonder of Christ’s Birth
Advent Devotion:
“Though He was in the form of God,
He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a servant,
being born in human likeness.”
— Philippians 2:6–7 (CSB)
A Short Advent Devotion:
Advent invites us to slow down and look again—not just at the manger, but at the mystery it holds. The tiny infant wrapped in cloth is the same God who spoke thunder into the sky and carved mountains with His breath. Yet somehow, His majesty is not diminished by His smallness. It is revealed through it.
So often, familiarity dulls our wonder. We sing the songs, set up the nativity, and move on. But Advent calls us to awaken—to push past complacency and see clearly again. To let the humility of Jesus unsettle us, soften us, and restore a holy hush within our souls.
In the beauty of the newborn King, we remember this: the God of all power chose gentleness. The Creator entered creation. And in doing so, He still awakens hearts, makes us newly born, and invites us to worship—not with noise, but with wonder.
Awaken My Soul
Lord!
Let not your state of infancy
Cover up your majesty!
Push past all my complacency,
Until I see transparently.
Waken my capacity,
Alongside all tenacity—
To seek You out in wonder!
The God who lights the thunder,
Quakes mountains all asunder!
Yet, will you remind me:
In the beauty of a newborn,
Your ability to make me newly born,
And restore a holy hush to my soul.
(JN 12/5/23)
Advent Prayer:
Lord, awaken my soul—
Don’t let the familiarity of Christmas dull my awe!
Help me see Your majesty in the manger,
and receive the quiet miracle of Your presence with us anew.
Amen.
For Christmas Eve Worship!!
One of my faves—”All is Well” (Carrie Underwood & Michael W. Smith)
And because I know a lot of family and friends grieving the loss (or multiple) of someone important this year, I’m including this beautiful song:
“Wonderful” (CAIN with Stephen Curtis Chapman)
*Photo credits: 1) by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
*The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
This is lovely, Jen! Merry Christmas to you!