I received a review copy of this book; all opinions expressed are mine.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s officially the Christmas season! Lots of people I know started decorating early this year—maybe because we are at home more? Or maybe because Christmas traditions make the cold weather days seem more cozy and joyful. If part of your traditions are celebrating the birth of Jesus, this is a book you will want to include in your holiday reading.

“Several years ago, when I began to study the ‘Christmas Story’ as told in the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke, I discovered that God delivered seven key prophetic words around the birth of His Son,” writes Robert Morris, Senior Pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas/Fort Worth. These seven words were the inspiration for his new book, Seven Words of Christmas: The Joyful Prophecies that Changed the World.

The seven words Morris writes about are Salvation, Favor, Blessed, Guidance, Joy, Redemption, and Peace. These prophetic words of encouragement, direction, hope, wisdom, and comfort were spoken to Zacharias, Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, the Shepherds, Anna, and Simeon near the time of Jesus’ birth.

This easy-to-read book is divided up into seven sections, one for each word. Each section is divided into 3 daily readings, for a total of 21 daily readings. So it can be read all in one sitting or used as an advent devotional, read daily for 21 days before Christmas. It can be read individually or read together as a family—what a great tradition to start as you celebrate the Christmas season! Seven Words of Christmas also makes a great gift, too.

I like how Morris adds unique insights to the events surrounding Jesus’ birth in this book, in ways that are meaningful to our own lives. For example, in the section about the word Guidance, he writes about God guiding the Magi to Jesus. He adds, “God guides! He directs us out of harm’s way so we can fulfill His good plans for our lives.”

Near the end of the book, Morris asks, “Do you need guidance? Do you need joy? Do you need peace?… There is never a better time than Christmas to receive the gifts Jesus came to bring you.” And this book is such a great reminder of that!

Sharing at Thursday Favorite Things, Wonderful Wednesday.