These Christmas Prayers Will Make the Season Even More Meaningful
There's so much to be thankful for during the Christmas season—besides the Christmas presents that is! Some of us may get to spend time with family enjoying a festive Christmas dinner. Others might participate in some fun Christmas activities with friends. Either way, if you celebrate Christmas, then you know that there are so many ways to cherish the holiday. But if you're looking for a meaningful way to reflect on Christmas, then this list of Christmas prayers can do the trick. Whether you're looking to share a prayer with a loved one or just reflect on the sanctity of the season, there's a prayer on this list that anyone can relate to.
These prayers can help remind us of what the history of Christmas is all about! There's nothing like a sweet reminder of the religious and spiritual meaning behind it all. Other blessings on this list would be perfect to recite right before your dinner on Christmas Eve—helping set the tone for the holiday. All of these, however, are perfect for when you want to ground yourself and feel the true Christmas spirit this season. Reading these religious Christmas quotes, prayers, and blessings might even become your favorite holiday tradition.
A Prayer for the Season
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
Remembering to Have a Humble Heart
In a world where so many are hungry, may we eat this food with humble hearts; In a world where so many are lonely, may we share this friendship with joyful hearts. Amen.
—Mary Fairchild
Prayer Before the Meal
Dear God, we give thanks for this time when we can all be together. We give thanks for this food which is bountiful and delicious. We give thanks for this joyful holiday when we can celebrate our Savior and his love for us. With joy we pray, Amen.
—Beth McLendon
Pray for Joy in Our Hearts
God, our Creator, we offer this humble prayer on Christmas Day. We come to worship with a song of thanks in our hearts—a song of redemption, a song of hope and renewal. We pray for joy in our hearts, hope in our God, love to forgive, and peace upon the earth. We ask for the salvation of all our family members and friends, and we pray your blessings on all people. May there be bread for the hungry, love for the unlovable, healing for the sick, protection for our children, and wisdom for our youth. We pray for the forgiveness of sinners and abundant life in Christ. Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with your love and power. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
—Rev. Lia Icaza Willetts
Warm Memories
Dear Heavenly Father, love brought Jesus to the earth, and love brings us to this Christmas table. Today as we share this holiday feast, may we also share with one another a joyful heart and a warm smile. May our Christmas dinner be filled with kindness. And may the memories of today warm our hearts for years to come. Amen.
—Beth McLendon
Remembering What Christmas Is About
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
To Those Who Believe
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
—John 1:10-13
A Hymn That Exalts
Another year with Jesus!
I thank Thee, Lord, today
For Thy unfailing presence
Along life's rugged way.
Guide me, O blest Redeemer,
Teach me to do Thy will,
And Thine own perfect purpose
In me each day fulfill.
—Avis Christiansen
May Your Light Shine Forth
Almighty God, who has poured upon us the new light of your Incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Book of Common Prayer
Thankful for Our Feast
Lord of All, we give you thanks for your abundance, and for all the great things you have given us, especially the birth of Your Son on this day. We ask your blessing upon this food, and upon our friends and family. We also pray that in your great mercy, you would look kindly upon all those in need this day. We pray in Jesus name, Amen.
—David Bennett
Teach Us to be Merry
Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door 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 which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
—Robert Louis Stevenson
A Wishful Prayer
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.
—Wilda English
Love Came
Love came, held safely within a gentle womb
All the truth, majesty, and creativity of a living God
Poured into a tiny heart
Making a quiet entrance in a dark and uninviting shack
Just one star shone anew as a handful of people were brought
Led by angelic voices, and open hearts
A young mother
A faith-filled father
Men of wisdom who searched for truth
And a group of humble herdsmen
They came to bow before a new life
And acknowledge that the rescuer had arrived
That the Word of God had come alive
And that the extraordinary transformation of heaven and earth
Had begun
—Julie Palmer
Your Promise to Us Forever
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.
–Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Ah, Dearest Jesus
“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! Amen.”
—Martin Luther
Thank You for Redemption
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
Moonless Darkness Stands Between
But the Bethlehem star may lead me
To the sight of Him Who freed me
From the self that I have been.
Make me pure, Lord: Thou art Holy;
Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly;
Now beginning, and always,
Now begin, on Christmas day.
—Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J.
The Nativity Prayer
Let the just rejoice,
for their Justifier is born.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice,
For their Saviour is born.
Let the captives rejoice,
For their Redeemer is born.
Let slaves rejoice,
for their Master is born.
Let free men rejoice,
For their Liberator is born.
Let All Christians rejoice,
For Jesus Christ is born.
—St. Augustine of Hippo
The Perfect Gift
"Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life."
—Corrie ten Boom
May You Be Filled With Wonder
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.
—Ray Pritchard
What Christmas Reminds Us Of
After the season is over, the Christmas lights come down, the fragrance of pine dissipates into the air, and the Christmas music no longer plays on the radio, we may ask, ‘What happens next?’ The wonder and awe of Christmas is just a beginning. Christmas reminds us that the babe born in Bethlehem has given us purpose for living, and what happens next to us largely depends on how we embrace our Savior, Jesus Christ, and follow Him.
—Rosemary Wixom
Praise for the Ordinariness of Christmas
God of Goodness,
We give you praise for the ordinariness of Christmas -
that the day comes the same as any other day.
We give you praise that there is no sign in the heavens, and no bright star but the light of your presence in the ordinary birth of the child.
We give you praise that unobtrusively you are in the center of human affairs, involved in the struggle of life, and sharing human experience.
We give you praise that out of compassion you take our part, and open to us a new way of life. We pray that this day we shall be able to see its true glory.
—Caryl Micklem
The Way to Increase the Christmas Spirit
The spirit of Christmas is Christlike love. The way to increase the Christmas spirit is to reach out generously to those around us and give of ourselves. The best gifts are not material things but gifts of listening, of showing kindness, of remembering, of visiting, of forgiving, of giving time.
—Bonnie L. Oscarson
Universal Peace
Give us, O God, the vision which can see thy love in the world in spite of human failure. Give us the faith to trust the goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts, and show us what each one of us can do to set forth the coming of the day of universal peace. Amen.
—Frank Borman
Thank You for Your Daily Presence
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 you 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
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