And His Name Shall Be Called amplifies the echo of Isaiah 9:6 in Handel’s Messiah. To hear and learn more about this famous composition, watch the above video performance of Messiah, Part I, by George F. Handel at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church in Rolling Hills Estates, California.
Advent is a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. It can be a deeply meaningful, holy season if we allow space for reflection and time with God.
But Advent can be complicated. Some are grieving the loss of past holiday joy. Others are feeling guilty about their crowded calendar and not having enough time for the “real reason for the season.”
Whether you are an Advent enthusiast who wholeheartedly embraces the season and its promises of spiritual growth, or you are simply seeking ways to draw closer to Christ, God is ready to welcome you into a time of hope, peace, joy and love.
Ponder the names of God
Sometimes it’s helpful to focus on a specific Bible verse during a season like Advent. Consider Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’”
In the book And His Name Shall Be Called, The Rev. James Howell unpacks this verse and dives into the ways it can help us make sense of who God really is, as well as what life with God is, and could be, like.
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
And His Name Shall Be Called contains daily devotionals that focus on a different name for God each week. As you proceed through the book, you’ll learn Old Testament lessons, encounter stories of people of faith navigating their spiritual journey, and find opportunities to reflect.
The book is appropriate for individual study, and it contains a study guide for small group use. It is available from Upper Room Books.
Howell noticed that invitations to quieter spaces were welcomed at Myers Park UMC, where he is senior pastor, and he sought to bring that peaceful experience to the page.
He says, “We need to pause and be silent. Read Scripture slowly and ponder. For example, let’s think about this: Wonderful Counselor. Let’s just go to wonderful, then wonder. Have we lost our sense of wonder? I think we have.
“Mighty God could be the most important [name for God] in our culture because we're so about might and power, and this Mighty God is unexpected – it's a baby. And then he grows up and he's on a cross. So it's a different kind of might. And it's the kind of might that we need.”
To help yourself stay present during your study and reflection, set aside distracting digital devices and step or look outside. Give thanks for God’s creation and take note of frost-covered grass, a singing bird or a crisp breeze. After a time of silence and tuning into God’s voice, listen to uplifting music.
Hear the promises of Advent
Isaiah 9:6 might be familiar because of Handel’s Messiah, one of the most-performed and recognized works of classical music. As an avid music lover and musician, Howell embraces this in the book.
“Some people say, ‘I don't like music,’ but it speaks, it works,” Howell observes. “I see those who may only come to church on Christmas Eve, but they're singing Silent Night. They're mystically transported to some other place. It's the music we know by heart, and I mean, by heart, as in, you know it, but then also it's deep in the heart.
“Music really matters for all of this. There are music playlists listed in the book that you can listen to. Some are Advent/Christmas songs, some aren’t, per se, but if you think of them through that lens they can be. … You can listen as you ponder and read the Scripture.”
Honor God all year long
While this and many other devotional books are written for particular church seasons, the content is meant to support and inspire readers no matter when they study it. Howell points out that Handel’s Messiah was actually composed as an Easter offering.
He encourages, “To be quiet, to pray, to read the Bible, to read a book about the Bible, I think any time we do that, God is honored. And you want to honor God, you want to do God's will. And when you do those things, you are doing God's will.
“I'm trying to frame that in my own mind and for other people. I'd like to do something today that would give God some delight.”
Laura Buchanan works for UMC.org at United Methodist Communications. Contact her by email.
This story was published on November 7, 2025.
