Embracing Emmanuel

by Jenn Soehnlin

Slow down this Christmas season and rediscover the wonder of Emmanuel, “God with us.”

Amid the hustle and hurry of the holidays, Embracing Emmanuel invites you to slow down and make room for God's presence this Christmas season. Through the stories, Scriptures, and people surrounding the first Christmas, this devotional gently draws you into the awe and intimacy of God coming to dwell with us, and to linger in that wonder beyond Christmas Day.

Spanning the sacred Christmas season of Advent through Epiphany, each daily devotion includes:
-Insights from Scripture to help you encounter Emmanuel anew.
-Questions that help you connect personally with God and His Word.
-Prayers and a song suggestion to guide your heart in worship.

Encounter afresh the God who stepped into our world and embrace Emmanuel with wonder and worship this Christmas season.

Genres: Devotional, Christmas, Faith

177 pages, Paperback

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

Jenn loves writing about faith, praying Scripture, special needs parenting, and more.

She also loves spending time with her husband and two sons, coffee chats with friends, curling up with a good book, and enjoying a wonder walk through nature.

Reviews

[Lysa Laine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a rich and deep devotional! I love that it doesnt just cover Advent, but continues all the way through Christmas and into Epiphany, helping you to slow down and really savor the season instead of rushing through it. The reflections are meaningful and scripture focused, and I especially appreciated how each day will point you back to Jesus, Emmanuel, in the middle of the holiday busyness and all year long.

[Callie Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, spiritually rich. I love reading Advent devotionals and this is one I will come back to year after year. I plan on gifting several copies as gifts as well. Highly recommend.

[Emily Kania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! I bought this and another Advent devotional to figure out which one I wanted to read this Advent. I decided to read the first devotion of each. But once I read the first devotion of this one, I couldn't stop! Read the whole thing in two days! It is so good!

I will read it slower starting December 1st and savor it this Christmas season for sure. I love that it goes all the way through Epiphany. And I love the prayers and worship song suggestions at the end. Highly recommend!!

[Kimberly Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book on the Advent season. Each devotional has scripture prayers and a song to coordinate with the reading of the day, and I loved that. Jenn has been teaching me to pray scripture and I am so thankful! I recommend this as a beautiful advent devotional for personal or family Bible study and reflection during the month of December and beyond.

[Tessa Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This devotional helped me slow down and refocus my heart on Jesus. Each reading felt like a gentle invitation to worship and rest in God’s love. I’ll definitly be re-reading it every Christmas season.

[Anna Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Embracing Emmanuel is a timely and heartwarming read that feels especially relevant in today’s fast-paced and often uncertain world. It is beautifully written, biblically rich, and deeply encouraging. If you want to feel somewhat connected then please read.

[Olivia Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Christmas/Advent devotionals I've ever read! So deep, rich, and insightful! Each devotion is the perfect length. The song suggestions at the end are perfect-I've learned of several new Christmas songs wihch I've found refreshing and delightful. Highly recommend!

[Brenda Seefeldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doing an Advent devotional is a good habit to create during the busy and beautiful Christmas season. There are lots of good Advent devotionals out there to purchase. This is the first one I know of that also takes you through the Epiphany season. Christmas is more than just one day, more than just the noise and hustle between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We also get to have the 12 days after Christmas to remember and find solitude still.

Each day gives you a devotional thought focusing on the entire Christmas story, some pondering questions, a written prayer and a Christmas song or carol all matched together. The author, Jenn Soehnlin, specializes in the practice of written scripture prayers. (Buy her previous book, On the Same Page with God, which is full of these and the why of written prayers.) Each day is enough to center you for the most wonderful time of the year. Worth the purchase...for you.

[Pam Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celebrating Christ’s coming to earth in human flesh isn’t as easy as we might hope. It’s convenient to breeze through the gospel accounts and possibly add a dash of Isaiah or Malachi. Often our vision gets stuck in the manger, leaving us to wonder if that’s all there is to “Emmanuel”—God with us. Fast-forwarding to Jesus’ earthly ministry and His death, burial, and resurrection seems contrary to the joy of the season.
In this rare treasure of a book, Embracing Emmanuel: A Devotional for the Christmas Season, Jenn Soehnlin leads us in forty days of reflection and celebration, unveiling the full wonder of Emmanuel—of God being with us. Begin on December 1 – or even sooner—and embrace different postures of preparation for Jesus’ coming such as anticipation, surrender, belief, wonder, salvation, and comfort. Finish your season of celebration by embracing Jesus on January 7.
Jenn is an advocate of praying Scripture, so each devotional includes a Scripture prayer, as well as some thoughts to ponder and a Christmas song to accompany it. Allow Embracing Emmanuel to light up your Advent, and be sure to buy extra copies as early Christmas gifts.

[Melissa L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This devotional truly captured my heart this Christmas season. In Embracing Emmanuel, Jenn Soehnlin takes familiar Scriptures and the characters of the nativity story and helps you see them with new eyes. The daily format is rich yet accessible with Scripture, reflection, prayer, and music suggestions that made my devotional time deeper and more worshipful.

What stood out most to me was Jenn’s theme of “embrace.” From embracing God’s promises, to surrender, to joy and hope, each reading invited me to lean into God’s presence in both the beautiful and the difficult moments. Her personal stories added a layer of authenticity that made the devotions feel like a conversation with a trusted friend.

I loved that this devotional does not stop on December 25 but continues through Epiphany, allowing me to truly linger in the meaning of Christmas. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to slow down and savor the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us.

[Patty Slaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embracing Emmanuel is a timely and heartwarming read that feels especially relevant in today’s fast-paced and often uncertain world. With grace and insight, the author reminds us of the true meaning of the Christmas season: God with us. Each chapter invites readers to pause, reflect, and open their hearts to the presence of Christ in everyday life.

This book is not only deeply encouraging, but it’s also perfectly suited for sharing during the season ahead. Whether as a gift for a friend, a family devotional, or a discussion starter in a small group, Embracing Emmanuel provides a thoughtful way to focus on the hope, joy, and peace that comes from welcoming Christ into our lives. Its message of Emmanuel—God with us—is timeless, yet feels urgent and comforting for today’s world.

For anyone looking to slow down, reflect, and experience the true heart of the season, this book is an absolute must-read.

[Rose Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embracing Emmanuel is such a rich Advent companion. One of the things I love most is the little nuggets of meaning woven throughout—things I had never really stopped to think about before. For example, why some translations use Immanuel while others say Emmanuel, or how even the name Malachi carries deep significance. These insights helped me see familiar Scriptures with fresh eyes.

I also loved that each day includes a Christmas carol or song. There’s something so grounding and joyful about connecting Scripture with music—it made my devotional time feel fuller and more celebratory.

This book doesn’t just help you read about Emmanuel—it helps you pause, reflect, and truly embrace Him in the season. A beautiful resource for Advent.

[Kristin Faith Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this new Christmas devotional! I feel like Jenn Soehnlin invited me to open my heart to experiencing the awe and wonder of the Advent season with fresh eyes.
Her personal stories drew me in and guided me in embracing Jesus, Emmanuel, and the joy of His coming in deeper ways. Her Scripture lessons and reflection questions helped me apply the truth in my own life and faith.
She encourages readers to open their hearts to accept the greatest gift of all-Emmanual Himself. At the end of each devotional she includes a Scripture prayer and even suggests a Christmas worship song to help the reader linger in the devotional and presence of God throughout the day. I highly recommend this beautiful book!

[Stacey Pardoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year, I choose a different Advent devotional to guide me through the Advent season. This devotional is a wonderful companion for many reasons. First, it encourages deep reflection, leading the reader to pause and consider Jesus and his pursuit of a relationship with his children.

When I read a devotional book, I'm looking for a book that helps me encounter Jesus in life-giving ways and experience his presence in my life. The Christmas season is a full one; more than ever, I need help slowing down and focusing on Christ. This book is the perfect reminder to keep my eyes on the "main thing." The author did a great job of digging deep to explain the Word of God and helping me ponder what it means to embrace Christ at Christmas and all year.

[Patti R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenn Soehnlin has written another wonderful book. This book, her third, is unique in that it celebrates Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. It also has a new addition to a Christmas season devotional by adding a suggested Contemporary song or hymn that goes along with each devotion. With a season that is filled with music this is sure to be a delight to all who read the devotions and listen to the suggested songs.

[Nancy Lavo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this beautifully written devotional as a way to infuse more meaning into the holiday season. I love that it begins December 1 and runs all the way to January 7–a gentle ending to the holidays.

[Maria Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenn Soehnlin really captures the importance of the Advent Devotional. Experiencing the presence of God. Especially in such a captivating season like Christmas.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tender, thoughtful Advent devotional I highly recommend. It is affirming and comforting, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it.

[Suey Nordberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my beloved companion throughout Advent. I have underlined and circled, rejoiced and prayed, as I worked through the days. I will most likely buy a new copy next year and go through Advent again with this book that fired my faith and love for Jesus in new ways.