For her new 25 day Advent devotional, award-winning author Cynthia Ruchti turns her attention to the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christmas story, says our reviewer
While the nativity story is often told through the familiar images of stars, shepherds, and angelic choirs, we rarely stop to notice the quiet, powerful presence of the Holy Spirit woven throughout it all.
In The Spirit of Christmas: Discovering His Presence Throughout the Advent Season (Baker Book House), award-winning author Cynthia Ruchti invites readers to do just that.
From the opening pages, Ruchti reminds us that Christmas is as much a Holy Spirit story as it is about a baby in a manger. Long before Bethlehem, the Spirit was at work – hovering over creation, speaking through the prophets, and preparing the way for Christ’s coming. And that same Spirit, she writes, is still at work in our own Christmas season today.
After a brief introduction that sets the stage, there are 25 devotional chapters – one for each day of Advent leading up to Christmas. Within each reading, Ruchti blends scripture, reflection, and application with grace. She often begins with a relatable scenario or a thought-provoking question, then moves into biblical insight and connects it to our present context. The consistent format – scripture, story, questions, and prayer – makes it easy to follow and well suited for daily devotions, whether alone or with family.
The Spirit of Christmas is firmly rooted in scripture and shaped by a clear Trinitarian understanding of God’s work. Ruchti shows how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit move together throughout the Christmas story. When “God became man and dwelt among us” in the person of Jesus, she writes, it was the Spirit who prepared the way – from inspiring the prophets to “hovering” over young Mary as Christ was conceived. Each devotion is anchored by one or more central Bible verses, drawing from both Old Testament prophecies and New Testament narratives. There is nothing theologically controversial here; on the contrary, Ruchti’s interpretations are orthodox and devotional, emphasising classic Christian themes: God’s faithfulness, the miracle of the Incarnation, the Spirit’s guidance, and the enduring reality of hope.
This book is accessible and family-friendly without being simplistic. Each day’s reading is just a few pages long, short enough for a busy December, but rich in insight and personal application.
This is not a theological treatise on the historicity of the nativity, and that is not its aim. Some readers may appreciate Ruchti’s creative reimagining of certain biblical characters; others may be more cautious. Ruchti’s reflections are more pastoral than analytical, which suits its purpose, but can feel repetitive across 25 days. Additionally, her style, gentle and poetic, may not resonate with readers who prefer a more structured or intellectually rigorous devotional.
Throughout, Ruchti writes with a gentle, conversational voice that carries warmth and occasional humour.
With so many Advent devotionals available, one might wonder what is left to say. This work proves that there is still so much we have yet to appreciate about the Christmas story. By focusing on the Spirit’s role, this devotional offers a unique and eye-opening perspective. It helps even seasoned believers to see familiar events in a new light, revealing the often-overlooked presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the narrative.
Spirit of Christmas is a thoughtful and inspiring Advent devotional. Ruchti has produced a book that is both devotionally rich and highly readable. Reading it feels like taking a gentle, guided walk through familiar ground, now seen through a lens that brings hidden colours to life. This book doesn’t just revisit the events of Christmas, it reframes them. By centring the often-overlooked work of the Holy Spirit, Ruchti offers readers a fresh invitation to deeper spiritual attentiveness. She reminds us that the incarnation was not only a historical event but a Spirit-filled miracle still echoing into our present-day lives.
