Rediscover the Awe of Advent: Inside He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional For Praying the Names of Jesus by Tracey Grumbach
- Veritas Spring
- Nov 22, 2025
- 9 min read
Few seasons stir both nostalgia and exhaustion quite like Advent. The calendar fills, the lists grow, and somewhere between shopping carts and streaming carols, the sense of holy anticipation begins to slip through our fingers.
Author and publisher Tracey Grumbach knows that feeling well—and she’s written a devotional to meet readers right there. Her new book, He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional for Praying the Names of Jesus (Veritas Spring, a division of Grumpy Dog Publishing, LLC), invites believers to exchange chaos for communion, using the many names of Christ as guideposts back to wonder.
Now available in Kindle eBook, Kindle Unlimited, and paperback on Amazon, He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional for Praying the Names of Jesus offers a 25-day journey that blends theological depth with heartfelt intimacy—ten quiet minutes a day that can transform the entire season.
The Promise in a Name
From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture brims with names for the Messiah—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, The Word, Lamb of God, and many more. Each reveals an aspect of Christ’s character and a promise of His presence.
As Grumbach writes in her introduction, “Every name of Jesus tells us not just who He is, but who we are in Him. The Prince of Peace brings peace to our restless hearts. The Bread of Life nourishes our hunger for meaning. The Resurrection and the Life promises that even our darkest valleys can bloom again.”
That verse-by-verse devotion forms the heartbeat of the book. Each day includes:
A Scripture focus centered on one of Christ’s names
A devotional reflection steeped in biblical context
A written prayer for personal, family, or small group use
Three journaling prompts for more profound meditation
A short daily affirmation and optional action step
Readers can linger over morning coffee or slip away for reflection at night; either way, the rhythm encourages peace, not pressure.
Born from a Season of Waiting
The seeds of He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional for Praying the Names of Jesus were planted, fittingly, in waiting. Grumbach describes that season candidly in the book’s preface:
“It wasn’t the kind of waiting marked by candlelight and carols, but the kind that presses against the heart—the waiting that comes with illness, uncertainty, and nights spent praying for miracles.”
Those long nights became sacred ground. “During those quiet, aching months,” she explains, “I found myself clinging to the names of Jesus like lifelines. Each one reminded me that God’s character never changes, even when my circumstances do.”
When asked what personal moment most inspired the project, Grumbach shared,
“I’ve always been a history and language buff, so I was curious about all the names for Jesus in the Bible. Once I started researching them, I found it incredibly comforting that His names reveal so much about His character and His love for us. It became the perfect way to prepare my own heart for Advent.”
That research soon turned into prayer—and prayer into pages that would one day comfort thousands.
Encountering Christ Through His Names
Each devotion in He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional for Praying the Names of Jesus unfolds like a miniature portrait of Christ’s heart. The first reading, “Wonderful Counselor,” reminds believers that divine wisdom is personal, not distant:
“He doesn’t just provide clarity. He is the clarity. Every piece of wisdom we need for our next step rests not in our understanding but in His character.”
Day 2, “Mighty God,” roars with assurance that the child in the manger is the warrior of heaven:
“The same hands that carved out mountains reached for His mother’s embrace. What kind of God trades a throne for straw? Only a God whose might is measured not by force, but by love.”
Midway through the journey, readers meet “The Healer,” a devotion that resonates deeply with Grumbach’s own life.
“Because of my husband Brian’s cancer and my own health, ‘The Healer’ was the one that struck home,” she says. “Writing it reminded me that Jesus’ power reaches beyond symptoms to the root of suffering itself.”
That entry draws from Isaiah 53:5—“By His wounds we are healed”—and pairs theological truth with lived experience: “Jesus is the Healer because His power reaches beyond symptoms to the root of suffering itself.”
The progression of names—from Wonderful Counselor to Jesus, Messiah on Christmas Day—mirrors the arc of redemption itself. It begins in prophecy and promise and culminates in presence and hope for the future.
Breath Prayers for Anxious Hearts
One of the most distinctive features of the devotional is its bonus section of 25 Breath Prayers, each drawn directly from that day’s Scripture focus. Designed for readers overwhelmed by the season—or by life—they combine biblical truth with simple mindfulness:
Inhale: “Wonderful Counselor, give me Your wisdom.” Exhale: “Teach me the way I should go.”
Grumbach explains why she added this practice:
“When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, breath prayer became my go-to for reducing anxiety when I couldn’t breathe. Meditating on Scripture and focusing my attention on Jesus took the anxiety away. Christmas is wrought with anxiety and depression, so I thought it might help others recapture peace.”
She points out that the practice isn’t only spiritual but physiological: “There’s scientific evidence that Scripture focus paired with breathwork reduces anxiety.”
The result is a tool that meets believers where they live—between errands, in hospital waiting rooms, or in the stillness before dawn. Each prayer becomes a portable sanctuary.
A Season to Slow Down
At its core, He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional for Praying the Names of Jesus beckons readers back to simplicity: to quiet moments of awe rather than endless motion. Grumbach’s hope is clear.
“I want people to slow down during the chaotic Advent season and return to peace and awe—the kind this season should inspire,” she says. “Our culture focuses so much on the buying of gifts and not on the true meaning of the miraculous birth and the eventual second coming of our Lord and Savior.”
In the introduction, she echoes that heart:
“Read each day with your morning coffee or before the quiet settles at night. Linger over the Scriptures. Let His names speak personally to your story.”
Those who do will find the book structured for accessibility—each day a manageable 10-minute window that still leaves room for reflection. Families can light candles together, couples can share the prayers aloud, or individuals can journal quietly through the prompts. The design makes it adaptable for personal devotion or small-group use.
Love at the Center
If there’s a single thread woven through all twenty-five names, it’s love.
“The central theme in all the names of Jesus—and of Jesus Himself—is love,” Grumbach says. “He loves us enough to discipline us, to comfort us, to reside in us, to delight in us, and more.”
That conviction echoes throughout the text. Whether Jesus is portrayed as the Good Shepherd who gathers His flock close (Isaiah 40:11), the Bread of Life who satisfies every hunger (John 6:35), or the Prince of Peace who stills inner storms (John 14:27), love is the motive behind every title.
Even the closing reflection of the book urges readers to carry that love beyond December 25:
“You may pack away ornaments, but never pack away wonder. Let the names of Jesus you’ve learned over these twenty-five days become living truths you carry into January and beyond.”
Faith and Real Life
Grumbach’s own Advent discipline mirrors the message she writes.
“To be honest, Christmas is one of my least favorite holidays,” she admits with a smile. “Culture wants us to be overwhelmed with gift-giving, money-spending, and Santa Claus. It’s taken years for me to slow down and focus on the true reason for Advent and Christmas Day.”
She and her husband have since simplified their celebrations. “We’ve significantly reduced the number of gifts we give and instead focus on blessing and serving others during the season. That shift changed everything—it turned our attention back to the heart of Jesus: love and service.”
That philosophy infuses He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional for Praying the Names of Jesus. Every reading encourages action grounded in reflection: lighting a candle, writing a prayer of surrender, baking cookies while whispering His name. It’s worship in motion.
A Devotional for Every Home
Part of what makes He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional for Praying the Names of Jesus stand out in a crowded devotional market is its versatility. Individuals can savor it privately; families can gather nightly by candlelight; small groups can use it for shared reflection. Grumbach herself is using it as an after-dinner read-aloud and discussion with her family each night starting December 1.
Each page offers “rich insights into the names of Jesus and what they revealed to ancient believers—and what they mean for us today.” The blend of biblical scholarship and accessible warmth gives the devotional credibility without heaviness.
It’s also beautifully practical:
Short readings that fit busy schedules
Accurate theology distilled into everyday language
Journaling for deeper personal connection
Breath prayers for spiritual grounding
Whether you’re an early riser craving stillness before sunrise or a night-owl seeking calm before bed, the structure flexes with your rhythm.
Why Names Matter Now
In an age of digital noise and fractured attention, pausing to pray the names of Jesus may be one of the most countercultural acts a believer can choose.
“It’s time for Christians to stand up and stand firm in their beliefs and practices that the world seeks to tear us from,” Grumbach says.
Each name becomes both declaration and defense—reminding the heart of eternal truths in a culture that constantly shifts. The practice is ancient yet urgent, a way to tether faith to something immovable.
The devotional’s progression from Wonderful Counselor on December 1 to Jesus, Messiah on December 25 mirrors the unfolding revelation of God through Scripture. Readers trace the same journey the prophets foretold and the shepherds witnessed: from promise to fulfillment, from waiting to worship.
A Word for the Weary
Throughout the book, Grumbach’s gentle, steady tone reminds readers that God’s presence is not earned but encountered.
In The Good Shepherd, she writes:
“He doesn’t drive His sheep from behind; He leads them from the front, going before them into every valley and over every hill.”
In The Resurrection and the Life:
“Because of Him, death is not the end; it’s a doorway. Because of Him, grief holds hope.”
Such lines feel less like instruction and more like an invitation—a call to rest. The devotional closes with assurance that the same Jesus who came once in Bethlehem “still comes, again and again, into our hearts, our homes, our ordinary days.”
Behind the Pages
The emotional weight of writing He Shall Be Called surprised even its author.
“I cried all through writing it,” Grumbach confesses. “Not because I was sad, but because of the awe I felt at how wonderfully personal our Savior is.”
That tenderness infuses every devotion. Her three decades as a teacher show in the clarity of explanation; her years as a believer show in the reverence. The result is a devotional that feels simultaneously scholarly and soulful.
The book’s design—clean, readable, and elegantly typeset—complements its message: simplicity and depth can coexist. Readers who complete the 25-day journey often describe a renewed sense of calm, a richer understanding of Scripture, and a rekindled affection for Jesus Himself.
Carrying the Light Beyond Christmas
Advent may end at sundown on December 24, but the transformation continues. As the conclusion of He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional for Praying the Names of Jesus reminds:
“The manger led to a cross. The cross led to an empty tomb. And the empty tomb leads to you—your heart, your home, your life. The King who came still comes.”
That truth defines the Veritas Spring mission: to create resources that don’t just inspire reflection but ignite revival—truth that endures after the decorations fade.
Grumbach hopes readers will keep the devotional close year-round. “Each name of Jesus reveals something eternal,” she says. “When life gets noisy again in January, open the book, breathe, and remember who He is. Advent isn’t a countdown; it’s an invitation to keep rediscovering Him. It’s a sacred waiting for the second coming of Jesus, not just the anticipation of His arrival on Christmas Day.”
Experience the Names That Change Everything
As Christmas approaches, He Shall Be Called: A 25-Day Advent Devotional for Praying the Names of Jesus offers a sacred pause—an opportunity to trade hustle for holiness and reclaim the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us. Whether you read it alone in the early morning, with your family around the tree, or in your church small group, these pages will lead you back to the heart of Christmas: Jesus Himself.
✨ Order your copy today on Amazon: https://a.co/d/7Ilwa2F
Available in Kindle eBook, Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback
Published by Veritas Spring, a division of Grumpy Dog Publishing, LLC
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