Christmas prayer

Christmas Prayers

A Prayer of Thanks
Max Lucado

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son to earth as a baby so many years ago.  Thank you that He paid the punishment for my sins by dying on the cross.  And thank you that He rose again to prove that death was truly defeated. I place my trust in You to be my Savior. Guide me through the dark times of my life and give me courage to live for You.  Amen

Opening Prayer for Christmas Eve Service
Rev. Dr. Sean B. Murray

Gracious, loving and merciful God, on this Christmas Eve, as the light of your Word penetrates our hearts, as we are reminded of the gift of life and faith, as the glories of the heavenly hosts are echoed in our church, we open ourselves up to your Spirit and give you thanks.   We are grateful, Lord Jesus, that your story has become our story, and we celebrate your birth.to take to heart the wonder of your love, that we may walk in your ways and delight in your will. Help us, Lord God, to be the faithful, gracious, loving, giving and forgiving people you would have us be.

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Lord Jesus,
Please forgive me for being so grumpy as I trudge through the never-ending tasks set before me this holiday season…

My to-do list seems to keep growing with shopping, church services, and family gatherings—

and I’m running short of time!

Restore the joy of Christmas to my heart . . .

and help me to relax each day and make time for

YOU–

my one true Source of Joy.

Coping with Loneliness at Christmas!

A Prayer for Christmas Morning
-by Henry van Dyke.

The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven, and crowns another year with peace and good will.
Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.
Close the doors of hate and open the doors of love all over the world?
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
And the Christmas evening bring us to our bed with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus? sake.
Amen

The Story of the Birth of Jesus Christ

A Christmas Prayer

Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth . . . . may we begin to see the world in the light of the understanding you give us.  As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart.  May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving.  Amen.

THANK YOU, LORD,

for the gift of Your love.

May I be a shining

example of that love to others.

Amen.

A CHRISTMAS BLESSING
Wilda English,  n.d.

God grant you the light of Christmas,
which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas,
which is purity;
the righteousness of Christmas,
which is justice;
the belief in Christmas,
which is truth;
the all of Christmas,
which is Christ?.

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As we approach the holiday season, we are faced with yet another opportunity to pause in the midst of all the excitement, decorations, and commercialization, to consider again the origin of Christmas–the One whose birth we celebrate. Let’s not forget the true meaning of why we celebrate during this time of year. Celebrate the baby Jesus and trust Him as Savior today.

Reflect on the joy and hope of the holiday season with these Christmas prayers:

• A Prayer to Keep Christmas Simple
• A Prayer to Remember What Christmas is All About
• A Prayer for Peace During Holiday Season
• Christmas Eve Benediction
• A Short Prayer of Thanks
• A Prayer to Keep God at the Center During the Holidays
• A Prayer for the Merry and Not-So-Merry
• A Prayer to Re-focus During the Holiday Season
• A Prayer for the Days After Christmas
• A Christmas Tree Blessing
• Lord, Remind Me Prayer
• Happy Birthday Jesus Prayer

1. A Prayer to Keep Christmas Simple

Dear Lord, don’t let us miss You this Christmas season. Help us to simplify our activities and traditions so we can focus our celebration on Your birth. Thank You for being the Prince of Peace, and I ask You for that supernatural peace to reign in our hearts. Thank You for the simple but life-changing message of Your love for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
~ Melanie Chitwood

2. A Prayer to Remember What Christmas is All About

Lord, I thank You for coming to earth so You could redeem me. When I think of the extent to which You were willing to go in order to save me, it makes me want to shout, to celebrate, and to cry with thankfulness. You love me so much, and I am so grateful for that love. Without You, I would still be lost and in sin. But because of everything You have done for me, today I am free; my life is blessed; Jesus is my Lord; Heaven is my home; and Satan has no right to control me. I will be eternally thankful to You for everything You did to save me! I pray this in Jesus’ name! 
~ Rick Renner

3. A Prayer for Peace During Holiday Season

Lord, in a season when every heart should be happy and light, many of us are struggling with the heaviness of life—burdens that steal the joy right out of our Christmas stockings. Crazy weather disasters strike at unsuspecting areas, ravaging peaceful homes and interrupting the lives of unsuspecting residents. Tragedy arrives as innocent victims suffer, and an inner voice whispers, “Be afraid!” We need your peace, Jesus.

Lord, we still carol the wonderful message, huddled beneath winter caps on snow-covered porches, or from churches, led by enthusiastic musicians or choir members. Yet we confess that our hearts are too often filled with wonder of a different kind: wondering when the bills will be paid, when the terror will stop, when rest will come. Will it ever? Is the message still true?

In a world where worry, not peace, prevails, stir up that good news again. This Christmas, make it real in our hearts. Never have we needed Your joy and peace more than now. Thank You for the gift of Jesus, our Immanuel, the Word made flesh. Forgive us for forgetting—that Your love never changes, never fades, and that You never abandon the purpose for which You came: to save us from our sinful condition, and to give us life eternal, the joy of relationship with a holy God. Your birth—and Your death—sealed Your promise to us forever.

For those whose hearts are battered by sorrow or broken relationships, for those whose lives know only conflict and confusion, for those whose bodies are tired and tested beyond their ability to endure this year—precious Savior, draw them close to You. Let them know You are still the same Jesus who was born of a virgin, not in a hospital but an animal barn, laid in a manger of hay. You are still the One sent by a heavenly Father who offered not condemnation for our sins, but love and forgiveness—and daily, divine fellowship.

We not only need Your peace and joy; Lord, we crave it. You’ve promised rest for the weary, victory for the battle-scarred, peace for the anxious, and acceptance for the broken hearted—not just at Christmas, but every day of every year.

Release the joy in us that’s been crushed by pride, wrong priorities, or world events. Tear down the strongholds that have held us captive far too long. Extinguish the flames of apprehension that rob us of a calm, quiet spirit. Show us again the beauty of that holy night so many centuries ago.

Your name is still called “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” and “The Prince of Peace.” As Your children, we cry out for a fresh filling, and a new awareness of Who You are. We choose by faith to make the “good news of great joy” a reality in our own lives, so others can see us as lighted trees of life, pointing to You this Christmas. We know one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that You are Lord. And we also know that peace on earth can only come when hearts find peace with You.

You are still our Joy. You are still our Peace. You are no longer a babe in the manger. You are Lord of lords and King of kings. And we still celebrate You as Lord—this Christmas and always.
~ Rebecca Barlow Jordan

4. Christmas Eve Benediction/Prayer

May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child. Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever.

5. A Short Prayer of Christmas Thanks

Thank you God for sending Your Son on one glorious night to be born a virgin, to live a perfect life and to die on the cross for my sins. Thank you that he rose from the dead three days later and that this Christmas and every Christmas we can celebrate the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Amen.

6. A Prayer to Keep God at the Center During the Holidays

Lord, We worship You during this Christmas season. You are our wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). We choose to put You at the center of our family life as we celebrate Your birth. Keep us from distractions and help us to invite You into all our family activities. Teach us to pray and help us to glorify and worship You in our family during this busy time of year. Give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation that we might know You better (Ephesians 1:17). Thank you for being Immanuel, “God with us.” Open our eyes to realize this each day as we interact with others. Help us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as You forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). Show us creative ways to love and care for those outside our home. Fill us to overflowing with Your love for the lost. Teach us to do acts of kindness to those who are in need at this time of year. May our family be a refreshment and light to others. We ask You to touch with salvation those in our family who do not know You . Open their hearts to Your great love for them. Help us to share Your Truth and be Your light. You are the Savior of the world.

We love Your Word and choose to make it central in our family life. Your Word is alive and active—It’s sharper than any double-edged sword—It judges the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). We long to align ourselves spiritually with You and Your Word every day. We want to pray your Word with Your authority, and with greater faith and obedience in our lives as we approach this New Year. We rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. We meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. We delight in Your decrees. We will not neglect Your Word. Open our eyes that we may see wonderful things in Your law. We run in the path of Your commands, for You have set our hearts free (Psalm 119:14-16, 18, 32).

Lord, we want to be passionate about the things you are passionate about. Help each member of our family to be a student of the Bible. Teach us to pray Your Word out loud in our family devotions in such a way that we see mighty spiritual breakthroughs in our home, friends, school, and workplace. Help us declare prophetic promises and decrees from Your Word. We want to experience the life-giving power of Your Word on a daily basis in our family. Show us truth in Your Word, and bring it to life through our prayers. Open the eyes of our hearts that we may be enlightened in order to know the hope to which You have called us, the riches of our glorious inheritance in You and Your incomparable great power (Ephesians 1:18-19). In Jesus’ name, amen.

What Child is This? – Luke 2

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!” Join us this Christmas for an inspiring walk through Luke 2 as we remember the birth of Jesus.

Posted by Crosswalk.com on Monday, December 21, 2015

7. A Prayer for the Merry…and the Not-So-Merry

Father God, We thank You and praise You today for the miracle of Your Son’s birth. Thank You for bringing great JOY to the whole world! Thank You for giving us the assurance that because You came to us in the form of a human, we who believe in Jesus can know with absolute certainty that we’ll spend eternity with You.

We thank You, Lord, for the many reasons we have been given a merry Christmas. And we rejoice for each blessing. New life. New love. A home. A job. New opportunities. Second chances. And more.

We know, Lord, that You bring the sun and the moon and set the stars in motion. You tell the ocean where to stop and the snow when to start. And we thank You for the mighty gift of Your creation.

Thank You, Father, for spiritual leaders and faith-filled friends who keep encouraging us when we are close to giving up.

And although we have many reasons to rejoice today, Lord, we also know December 25th can be not-so-merry for a whole host of reasons. We pray for those who are experiencing loss this Christmas: relational, financial, spiritual and physical.

We pray for those who are coping with loving a prodigal and our friends and family members whose hearts are far from You. We pray for those dealing with unemployment and addictions and chronic sickness … and unending pain and frustrations of all kinds. Thank You, Lord, that You are The Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace, even in the midst of our not-so-merry circumstances.

Finally, Lord, we ask You to grant us peace. Peace in our homes, peace in our churches, and peace in our hearts, when the world all around us spins out-of-control. Help us to stay focused on You, this Christmastime and always. Thank You for loving the whole world enough to send the greatest gift, Your Son, so that we might truly have a very merry Christmas. In Jesus’ name, amen.
~ Steph Raquel

8. A Prayer to Re-focus During the Holiday Season

Dear God, sometimes I get too caught in the Christmas commercialism. OK, a lot of times. Today, I’m going to refocus my heart and remember why I’m celebrating this wonderful day in the first place. I’m celebrating Jesus today…and every day! In Jesus’ name, amen.
~ Sharon Jaynes

9. A Prayer for the Days After Christmas

Dear God,Help us to focus on you today, remembering that the gift of Christ, Immanuel, is our most treasured gift for the whole year through. Fill us with your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Direct our hearts and minds towards you. Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons of brokenness, you’re still with us. You never leave us. Thank you for your daily Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that your surround us with favor as with a shield, we are safe in your care. We choose to press in close to you today… In Jesus’ name, amen.
~ Debbie McDaniel

10. A Christmas Tree Blessing (taken from Psalm 96 and Ezekial 17)

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. – Psalm 96  “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the forest will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. “ ‘I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.’” – Ezekial 17:22-24

11. “Lord, Remind Me” Prayerful Song

When I hear the news and hear another war has begun
And I wonder if God’s on the side of either one
I hear bullet, nail, or handcuff he bore all of them And in the light my heart’s as dark as anyone’s
Lord, remind me
Lord, remind me

That the shepherds heard the angels break the silence in the field
That the wisemen found a baby and they could not help but kneel
That the one who heard our weeping, became a child in manger sleeping
Lord, remind me
‘Cause it’s Christmas and I want to remember
~ Jon Guerra

12. Happy Birthday Jesus Prayer

Father, today I celebrate the reality of Your presence in my life. I celebrate Your birth, Your life, Your death and Your resurrection. And as I celebrate, Lord, help me to be “God with skin on” to those in need around me. Open my eyes and let me see them as You see them! I love You. Happy birthday Jesus! In Jesus name, amen. 
~ Mary Southerland, Girlfriends in God

This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.

Prayer for Healing

Prayer for StrengthPrayer for ProtectionMorning PrayersGood Night PrayersThe Prayer of JabezShort PrayersThe Lord’s PrayerThe Prayer of St FrancisSerenity PrayerA Birthday PrayerSinner’s PrayerPrayer for ForgivenessPrayer for GuidanceIntercessory PrayerIrish Prayers and BlessingsAdvent PrayersChristmas PrayersThanksgiving PrayerHoly Week Prayers for Each DayEaster PrayersMother’s Day PrayerPrayers for My HusbandPrayers for My SonPrayers for My DaughterPrayer Quotes

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Christmas Dinner Prayer – The Reason
Christmas dinner prayer, choral concerts, and candle-lit services fill the schedule for modern Christmas celebrations. Prayer helps us communicate with God and as we sit down to eat Christmas dinner, we want to acknowledge the birth of Jesus. While no single official Christmas prayer or psalm exists, we encourage you to think about what Jesus means to you and your family. Speak from your heart to God in Heaven. Here is a sample:

Some prayers may be verbally spoken, while others might be in the form of psalms (songs of praise and worship). In celebrating Christmas, prayers give praise for the virgin birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Perhaps the first prayer of praise for the birth of Jesus came from His expectant mother, Mary:

“Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For He took notice of His lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. For He, the Mighty One, is holy, and He has done great things for me. His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear Him. His mighty arm does tremendous things! How He scatters the proud and haughty ones! He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. And how He has helped His servant Israel! He has not forgotten His promise to be merciful. For He promised our ancestors — Abraham and His children — to be merciful to them forever” (Luke 1:46-55).

Mary directed glory to God for His gift to the world through her. Her words of praise have often been sung in choral music and hymns.

Christmas Dinner Prayer – What to include in a Christmas Prayer
The biblical accounts of Christ’s birth have withstood time for two thousand years. From oral to written accounts, the Immaculate Conception has not lost its effect on mankind. Although no one knows the exact date of Christ’s birth, Christmas sets a fixed time to commemorate this wonderful gift by rejoicing in song and prayer to God. Christians celebrate the revelation of God’s gift to mankind, His coming in the form of man, Jesus the Messiah.

Christmas Dinner Prayer – Taking the Words to Heart
Consider having your family read a Christmas dinner prayer or a Christmas song together as the Christmas Dinner prayer:

A Prayer (by Martin Luther)

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

My heart for very joy doth leap,

My lips no more can silence keep,
I too must sing, with joyful tongue,
That sweetest ancient song,

Glory to God in highest heaven,

Who unto man His Son hath given
While angels sing with pious mirth.
A glad new year to all the earth!

O Holy Night (by Adolphe Adam)

Oh Holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
Oh night divine. Oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine, Oh night divine. Learn More About Prayer

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

– We have all

sinned

and deserve God’s judgment.

God

, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him.

Jesus

, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He

died

for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was

buried

, and

rose from the dead

according to the

Bible

. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your

Savior

, declaring, “

Jesus is Lord

,” you will be saved from

judgment

and spend eternity with God in heaven.

What is your response?

Yes, today I am deciding to follow JesusYes, I am already a follower of JesusI still have questions

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Heavenly Father, We Glorify You, Father, Son and Spirit in One, through whom life on earth is begotten and through whom goodwill and peace on earth is restored.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

We come before You in this Holy Season of Christmas. Long before the ages and generations, You promised a ‘holy birth’ and a sign of Peace and Reconciliation between You our God and we Your people.

Though mankind does not know the exact date of the birth of Your beloved Son Jesus, we take this time to rejoice in His birth. We rejoice that through Him we are one with You, as we come in belief, in repentance and in reconciliation.

Our Family will serve You

We declare that our family will serve You our God all the days of our lives. We invite You Lord Jesus. We dedicate to You our families and our household and everything concerning us. Make Your Power and Presence manifest in our homes and in our lives.

Father, as the world is using this time to commercialize the greatest event in the history of mankind, the birth of our Lord Jesus, in our hearts may we acknowledge the true meaning of Christmas.

May we welcome Jesus, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, a Great Savior and Redeemer of mankind, into our hearts and home. May we acknowledge the Grace, Peace and Love Jesus is about.

We pray to take this day and time to make peace, to forgive those who have hurt us, to reconcile with those who have fallen out and to bring love and unity into our homes.

We pray to take this Christmas period to make peace and to forgive those who have hurt us. Click To Tweet

Teach us, Father

Teach us Father, how to live according to Your will. Heal us, bind all our wounds and reconcile our relationships.

Bless us Father and let our hearts overflow with Your Grace so that we may extend this grace to one another and love each one the way You have loved us.

Luke 2: 11-12 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Father, as we pray, we reflect on the lowly manger where Jesus was born. There, no riches of the world welcomed His Royal birth. We reflect on the reason He was born unto us and follow His life and footsteps. We make His mission an everlasting act of the way we lead our lives.

May we live with integrity, respect, truth, honor and justice, and may love and humility be our first tools, in all aspects of life.

Father, we take this time to give thanks for all the blessings You have showered upon us. In appreciation of all that we have, may we have a heart for the poor and the underprivileged.

Father, we take this time to give thanks for all the blessings You have showered upon us. Click To Tweet

May this time be one for bringing good news to the poor. In alms-giving, may we reach and touch their lives and bring Jesus into their hearts. May we reach out to the prisoners and bring the joys of the season into their hearts.

May we also bring to those caught in sin, the reason for Jesus’s birth, the Light of Hope and Grace and Your everlasting Love and Mercy and Compassion towards us, sinners.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

You may also be interested in these articles:

• A Christmas Day Prayer of Hope
• A Christmas Prayer – The Message of Love
• Devotional – A Relationship To Last A Lifetime

We thank You Father for this great gift of Jesus, that in His birth, life and resurrection, we are restored in Grace in eternal life with You.

We make this our prayer in the blessed name of Jesus, Amen!!

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