Prayer points with Scriptures · 23 points
Prayer Points for Christmas
These prayer points for Christmas carry you through the whole season, from the first Sunday of Advent (November 29, 2026) to Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, whether you pray at a church prayer meeting, around the family table or on your own. They move from wonder at the incarnation to families gathering and traveling, the lonely, the grieving and the poor, peace on earth and in our homes, sharing the good news, and our churches’ Christmas services.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
Luke 2:10-11 (BSB)
At a prayer meeting or Advent gathering, pray a section or two each week. At home, read a verse aloud before dinner and let a different family member pray each point, children included. Pastors, musicians and volunteers can pray the last section together before the Christmas Eve services, then pray the closing prayer as a team.
Wonder at the incarnation
1The Word became flesh
Lord Jesus, eternal Word, You became flesh and made Your dwelling among us. Before the shopping and the schedules crowd in, stop us in wonder: we have seen Your glory, the glory of the one and only Son, full of grace and truth.
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (BSB) · Pray this verse →2He emptied Himself
Lord Jesus, You did not cling to equality with God but emptied Yourself, took the form of a servant and humbled Yourself all the way to the cross. Let the humility of the manger reshape how we treat one another this season.
Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8 (BSB)3When the time had fully come
Father, You did not send Jesus a moment too early or too late. When the time had fully come, He was born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem us and make us Your sons and daughters. Christmas was always Your plan.
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5 (BSB)4He will save His people from their sins
Father, Your angel told Joseph to name the child Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins. Keep that name at the center of our celebrations, and let everyone who hears it this Christmas hear why He came.
She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21 (BSB)5Treasuring and pondering
God, like Mary, help us treasure up these things and ponder them in our hearts. In the rush of December, give us quiet moments to read the story slowly and let it move us again.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19 (BSB)
Families gathering and traveling
6Harmony around the table
LORD, how good and pleasant it is when family lives together in harmony. Bless every home gathering this Christmas. Where there is tension, old wounds or politics at the table, give gentleness, patience and the grace to keep the peace.
A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
Psalm 133:1 (BSB)7At peace, as far as it depends on us
Father, as far as it depends on us, help us live at peace with everyone this season, including the relative who is hard to love. Give us the first word of kindness, and keep us from needing the last word in an argument.
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 (BSB)8Love more than a perfect meal
Lord, a dish of vegetables where there is love is better than a fattened ox with hatred. Free those who host from the pressure of perfection. Let our tables be warm with love, whether the meal is grand or simple.
Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
Proverbs 15:17 (BSB)9Safe travels
LORD, watch over the coming and going of everyone traveling this Christmas: on icy roads, through crowded airports, on long drives home. Keep them safe, give patience in delays, and bring them home again.
The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121:8 (BSB) · Pray this verse →
The lonely, the grieving and the poor
10Those spending Christmas alone
God, You are a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows, and You settle the lonely in families. Remember the widowed, the single, the estranged and those far from home this Christmas, and show us whom to invite.
A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy habitation. God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
Psalm 68:5-6 (BSB)11A great light for the grieving
God of light, the people walking in darkness have seen a great light. For those facing their first Christmas after a death, a divorce or a diagnosis, let the light of Jesus reach them in the shadow, and surround them with gentle friends.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2 (BSB) · Pray this verse →12The hungry filled with good things
Lord, Mary sang that You exalt the humble and fill the hungry with good things. Use our church to fill hungry families this season through food pantries, gifts and quiet help, given in the name of Jesus.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
Luke 1:52-53 (BSB)13Families who have had to flee
Lord Jesus, as a child You were carried to Egypt by Mary and Joseph because Herod wanted to kill You. Remember families driven from their homes by war and persecution this Christmas. Shelter them, and let Your people welcome them in Your name.
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
Matthew 2:13 (BSB)
Peace
14Peace on earth
Glory to You, God in the highest. The angels announced peace on earth to those on whom Your favor rests. Bring Your peace into hearts that are at war with You, and into places torn apart by conflict.
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
Luke 2:13-14 (BSB) · Pray this verse →15The Prince of Peace
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace: thank You that the government rests on Your shoulders and not on ours. When nations rage and the news frightens us, we rest in the Child who reigns.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (BSB) · Pray this verse →16The peace of Christ in our hearts
Lord Jesus, let Your peace rule in our hearts this Christmas, since we were called to it as members of one body. Calm our anxious spending, our crowded calendars and our restless minds, and make us thankful.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 (BSB)
Sharing the good news
17Spreading the word like the shepherds
Lord, after the shepherds saw the Child, they spread the message about Him, and everyone who heard was amazed. Give us natural, joyful courage to tell friends and neighbors why we celebrate, and to invite them to hear the story.
After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Luke 2:17-18 (BSB)18For God so loved the world
Father, You so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son. Let this be the Christmas when someone we love believes in Him and receives eternal life. Show us how to pray for them and what to say.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (BSB) · Pray this verse →19Seekers who come from far away
God, the Magi traveled far, rejoiced when they saw the star, and fell down to worship the Child. Draw seekers from every background to Jesus this season, including international students, coworkers and neighbors of other faiths.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:10-11 (BSB)
Our churches’ Christmas services
20A light the darkness cannot overcome
Lord Jesus, You are the Light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. As candles are lit in Christmas Eve services, let Your light reach the weary and searching people who walk in.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5 (BSB)21Guests who come once a year
Father, to all who receive Jesus and believe in His name, You give the right to become Your children. Bless every Christmas guest: the curious, the reluctant, the returning. Open their hearts to receive Him.
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
John 1:12 (BSB)22Worship that sends people home praising
God, the shepherds went back glorifying and praising You for all they had heard and seen. Bless our choirs, musicians, tech teams and greeters, and let every carol and reading send people home praising You.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
Luke 2:20 (BSB)23Pastors who bring good news
Lord, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim salvation. Strengthen our pastors in this busy season, give them clear and simple words, and let the message of salvation ring out in every Christmas service.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7 (BSB)
A closing prayer
Father, thank You for sending Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. As we celebrate His birth, fill our hearts with wonder and our homes with peace. Comfort the lonely and the grieving, provide for the poor, and watch over every traveler. Give us courage to share the good news of great joy, and let our churches be full of people meeting the Savior. Glory to You in the highest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pray with a voice
Short prayers with a voice to pray along with, each drawn from one passage.
Questions
When is Christmas 2026?
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, 2026, and Christmas Eve on Thursday, December 24. Advent, the season of preparation that covers the four Sundays before Christmas, begins on Sunday, November 29, 2026. Several Orthodox churches, including the Russian and Serbian churches, celebrate Christmas on January 7.
Where is the Christmas story in the Bible?
The birth of Jesus is told in Matthew 1:18–2:12 (Joseph, the Magi) and Luke 1:26–2:20 (Mary, the shepherds, the angels). John 1:1-14 tells who was born, and prophecies such as Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7 and Micah 5:2 were written centuries before. Many Christmas services read Isaiah 9 and Luke 2.
Was Jesus really born on December 25?
The Bible does not give the date of Jesus’ birth. Christians in Rome were celebrating it on December 25 in the 300s, and most churches have kept that date since. What Scripture does make clear matters far more: in the city of David a Savior was born, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).
More prayer points
Every verse on this page is quoted word for word from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which its publishers dedicated to the public domain. Copy, print and share these prayer points freely with your church.