Prayer points with Scriptures · 21 points
Prayer Points for the Month of December
These prayer points for the month of December are for individuals, families, prayer meetings and churches through Advent and Christmas. They pray through the Advent themes of hope, peace, joy and love, give thanks for the Savior’s birth, ask God’s help for families gathering, remember those who are lonely or grieving at Christmas, and close the year with thanks and a prayer for peace on earth. Each point prays one verse, printed with it.
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)
Pray one section in each week of December, or one point a day as an Advent devotion. Families can pray the first section on the Sundays of Advent as they light candles. At a prayer meeting or Christmas Eve gathering, read each verse aloud, pray together, then remember by name the people who will find this Christmas hard.
Advent: hope, peace, joy and love
1Hope: waiting for the God who saves
LORD, in a dark time Micah said he would look to You and wait for the God of his salvation, sure that You would hear him. This Advent we look to You too. Give hope to everyone waiting on You for a long-delayed answer.
But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
Micah 7:7 (BSB)2Peace: the Prince of Peace
Lord Jesus, You are the child born to us, the Son given to us: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Bring Your peace into our anxious hearts and our busy, crowded December.
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 →3Joy: rejoicing in God our Savior
Lord, with Mary our souls magnify You and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior. Give us joy in Jesus that does not depend on gifts, decorations or a perfect holiday, a joy that runs deeper than circumstances.
Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
Luke 1:46-47 (BSB) · Pray this verse →4Love: God so loved the world
Father, You so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Fill us with wonder at that love this Christmas, and send us to share it.
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 →
The Savior’s birth
5He will save His people from their sins
Lord Jesus, the angel told Joseph to name You Jesus, because You would save Your people from their sins. Thank You that Christmas is about a Savior, not only a baby. Save our friends and family who do not yet know You.
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)6The Word became flesh
Lord Jesus, You are the Word who became flesh and made Your dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. Thank You for coming close enough to touch. Let us see Your glory this Christmas in Scripture, in worship and in each other.
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 →7When the time had fully come
Father, when the time had fully come, You sent Your Son, born of a woman, to redeem us so that we might receive adoption as Your children. Thank You for Your perfect timing and for welcoming us into Your family.
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)8Out of little Bethlehem
LORD, You chose Bethlehem, small among the clans of Judah, as the birthplace of the Ruler whose origins are of old. Thank You that You use small places and ordinary people. Use our small church and our small gifts for Your glory.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
Micah 5:2 (BSB)
Families gathering
9Treasuring and pondering
Lord, amid all the commotion around the manger, Mary treasured up these things and pondered them in her heart. Slow us down this December. Give our families quiet moments to read the Christmas story and think about what it means.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19 (BSB)10Peace at the table
Father, help us pursue what leads to peace and builds one another up when our families gather. Guard our tongues, soften old tensions, and help us honor relatives who see the world differently than we do.
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Romans 14:19 (BSB)11Hosting without complaining
Lord, You call us to show hospitality to one another without complaining. Bless everyone hosting this season: give energy for the cooking, patience with the mess, and joy in opening our homes for Your sake.
Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
1 Peter 4:9 (BSB)12Travel without haste
LORD, You go before Your people, and You are their rear guard. Protect those traveling to be with family this Christmas, on icy roads and crowded flights. Give patience with delays, and bring everyone home safely.
For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.
Isaiah 52:12 (BSB)13More blessed to give
Lord Jesus, You said it is more blessed to give than to receive. Turn our gift lists toward generosity, toward the poor, the church, missionaries and lonely neighbors, and keep our giving from becoming a burden of debt.
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:35 (BSB)
The lonely and grieving at Christmas
14Light in the darkness
Lord Jesus, the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. For those whose Christmas feels dark because of illness, divorce, job loss or fear, shine into that darkness and let them see You.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5 (BSB)15Immanuel, God with us
Lord Jesus, You are Immanuel, God with us. Be with those spending Christmas alone: the widowed, the deployed, the hospitalized and those far from home. Let them know You are with them, and send us to them as well.
“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23 (BSB) · Pray this verse →16Widowed and still worshiping
Lord, Anna was widowed after seven years of marriage and spent long years worshiping You with fasting and prayer, and she lived to see Jesus. Comfort widows and widowers facing another Christmas alone, and give them company in our church family.
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
Luke 2:36-37 (BSB)17Jesus wept
Lord Jesus, You wept for Your friend Lazarus. You are not distant from our grief. Be near to every family with an empty chair this Christmas, and give them freedom to grieve and to hope at the same time.
Jesus wept.
John 11:35 (BSB)
Finishing the year and peace on earth
18Glory to God and peace on earth
God in the highest, the angels praised You, proclaiming glory to You and peace on earth to those on whom Your favor rests. Bring peace where there is war, peace in divided homes, and peace with You to all who trust in Christ.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
Luke 2:14 (BSB) · Pray this verse →19Remembering what God has done
LORD, as this year ends we will remember Your works and reflect on all You have done. Bring to mind the answered prayers, unexpected help and quiet faithfulness of these twelve months, and let us thank You for each one.
I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds.
Psalm 77:11-12 (BSB)20My eyes have seen Your salvation
Sovereign Lord, Simeon held the baby Jesus and said he could depart in peace, for his eyes had seen Your salvation, a light for the nations. Let us end this year in that same peace, satisfied with Jesus above all.
“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32 (BSB)21What can we give back?
LORD, how can we repay You for all Your goodness to us? We cannot, and You do not ask us to. But we give You our thanks, our worship and our lives as we step toward a new year.
How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?
Psalm 116:12 (BSB) · Pray this verse →
A closing prayer
Lord Jesus, You came to us, born in the city of David, the Savior who is Christ the Lord. Fill us with hope, peace, joy and love this Christmas. Bless our families as we gather, and be near to everyone who is lonely or grieving. Thank You for carrying us through another year. Let there be peace on earth, beginning in our own hearts, and let all the glory be Yours. Amen.
Pray with a voice
Short prayers with a voice to pray along with, each drawn from one passage.
Questions
When does Advent begin?
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, so the first Sunday of Advent falls between November 27 and December 3. Many churches and families light a candle on each Sunday of Advent, often for hope, peace, joy and love, though the names and order of the themes vary from church to church.
How can a family pray together in December?
Choose a simple daily habit: read one point and its verse at dinner, light an Advent candle on Sundays, and let each person pray one sentence. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, read Luke 2:1-20 aloud before opening gifts, and thank God together for sending Jesus.
What Bible verses are good for December?
Luke 2:10-11, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:21-23, John 1:14 and John 3:16 are among the most read at Christmas. For Advent waiting: Micah 7:7. For the lonely and grieving: John 1:5 and Matthew 1:23. For the end of the year: Psalm 77:11-12 and Psalm 116:12.
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.