6 Christmas Eve Prayers
Say these Christmas Eve prayers with your children the night before Christmas, or open your Christmas Eve service to prepare your heart for Jesus’ birth.
Christmas Eve is a wonderful time for quiet reflection, as we prepare to celebrate the joyous day that Christ was born.
Whether you are a parent hoping to pray with your children on Christmas Eve, a church leader who is looking for a prayer to open the Christmas Eve service, or simply someone who wants to orient their hearts in anticipation for Christmas these prayers for Christmas Eve are perfect for you.
When the shopping list has been completed and all the gifts have been wrapped, our hearts need some time to settle and be immersed in the story of Christmas.
What better way for us to prepare for Christmas Day than to ask God to help us experience the joy of our Savior, and the weight of His entrance into the world. Here are some prayers for Christmas Eve to help you do exactly that.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14
6 Christmas Eve Prayers
1. A Prayer To Prepare Your Heart For Christmas
As Christmas Day approaches, it can be consumed with all the things that need to be done in preparation for the day. If you are celebrating with friends or family, the last minute gifts, or meal preparation that take up so much of your thoughts.
Taking a moment on Christmas Eve to ask God to quiet your heart, and prepare Your heart for Christmas Day and what it is all about can make all the difference.
Heavenly Father,
This Christmas season I am reminded of all the wonderful gifts that You have blessed me with, especially the gift that Christ is to the world, and to myself.
It can be so easy to get caught in the busy season of Christmas that we forget to soak our hearts in the real reason for the season. Jesus is that reason. As we prepare for Christmas tomorrow, I ask that You prepare my heart to fill it with gratitude for what the birth of Christ signifies.
Please help me to put aside all the details concerning gifts, dinners, and schedules, and help me to set my heart on Christ, and Him alone. May my heart be filled with the joy that Christ has brought into the world, and honor Him in my thoughts and deeds. In Jesus’ name, amen.
2. A Short Opening Prayer For Your Christmas Eve Service
If you are having Christmas Eve service at church, and looking for a short prayer to open the service with, this prayer can be a helpful guide to remind those present of the gift it is to gather with one another, but especially to do so with the purpose of celebrating the birth of Christ, and focusing on the gift of eternal life that He has blessed us with.
Father,
We are grateful for the opportunity to gather together on Christmas Eve, and the privilege that we can set our minds on the miraculous birth of Jesus, our Savior.
As we look forward to celebrating Christmas with our loved ones, we want to thank You for Your great love in sending Your only begotten Son into the world. Through Christ You have given us the greatest gift, and that is life through Jesus, our Lord.
Our prayer is that You would settle our busy minds and our anxious hearts tonight, and wash our hearts with the peace and joy that comes with Jesus’ birth, and His gift of salvation to the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
3. A Short Christmas Eve Prayer For Children
Though Christmas time is an exciting time for the whole family, it is an especially thrilling time for children as they wait for the big Christmas morning to open up their gifts and discover what they received for Christmas this year.
Sharing Christmas Eve prayers with your children is a wonderful way to help them remember the great gift that we have received in Christ, and that it is something that is available to everyone who places their faith in Jesus.
Gracious God,
Thank You for the wonderful gifts that we will open up tomorrow. And for the time that we get to spend with those we love. As we look forward to tomorrow, help us to look back at what happened on Christmas Day all those years ago.
On that night, a Child was born. And He would become the Savior of our world, who would wash away all the sin of His people. Thank You that we have this great gift to celebrate tomorrow.
Please help us to remember the true meaning behind the day, and cherish the gift of Christ and His saving grace above all other things. In Jesus’ name, amen.
4. Christmas Eve Prayer For The Grieving
As much as Christmas is a joyous time for many, it is also a time when others are especially grieving the loss of a loved one, and experiencing the holiday season without them.
It can be a hard time to see others spend time with family, friends, children or spouses during the holiday times when you are grieving someone dear to you.
We can lift those who are grieving up in prayer, and ask God to be their comforter in this season, and to fill them with the hope and joy that comes from Christ.
Lord,
My heart feels for those whose hearts are broken tonight. I know as much as it is a joyous time, for others this time can make the space in their lives feel even emptier, and the grief that they feel even heavier.
You know those who have lost loved ones, and who are feeling lonely, and heartbroken tonight. My prayer is that Your love would wrap them in Your arms, and that they would rest in the comfort and peace that You bring.
As Christmas Day draws near, may You fill them with hope as they look to Christ, and turn their sorrow into joy. May Your joy be their strength, and what they bask in in the midst of their grief. In Jesus’ name, amen.
5. Prayer About the True Gift of Christmas
We all know that a big part of Christmas is gifts. Many of us often get our gift lists ready months before Christmas and love to think of thoughtful gifts for those we love.
There truly is joy to be found in giving and receiving gifts on Christmas Day. But in the chaos of getting the gift list ready, shopping for them, wrapping them, and making sure that no one peeks at them, we can forget about the true Gift of Christmas.
Though we may not entirely forget about what Christmas is about, we can easily place its importance on the back burner, as we focus on everything else.
A great way to set your priorities is to spend time on Christmas Eve to prepare your heart and remind yourself about the true, priceless gift of Christmas that is found in Christ.
Lord,
I just want to take a moment to thank You for the beautiful gift of Christmas. Though there are so many other kinds of gifts that we can get occupied with, please help me to remember that Christ is the true gift, and reason for the season.
There is nothing that can quite satisfy our hearts as He does. As I look forward to Christmas tomorrow, I ask that You would turn my heart to Your Word, and help me to soak in the beauty of Christ’s birth, and what it means for the world.
Help me to cherish the gift of Christ above all earthly gifts, and to tell others of this wonderful, eternal gift that is found in Him, our treasure. In Jesus’ name, amen.
6. Christmas Prayer for Family Unity
Every family has differences, and we don’t always get along. Among many other qualities that are important for families, including love, respect, and understanding, is unity.
There is nothing quite like a family that is united on the same front. And when it comes to holiday times, when we get to celebrate with family, that unity is especially important in spending memorable, and joyful times together.
Whether your family is struggling with unity, or you are hoping that nothing happens on Christmas Day to disturb unity, prayer for your family to be united can make all the difference.
Lord,
As we prepare to spend time with family this holiday, I pray for unity among us. Though we may not all agree on everything, and we share our differences, I ask that You help us to put those aside, and to share in what we have in common.
Please help us to esteem one another, and to treat each other the way that we would like to be treated. Keep us from being quarrelsome, and help us to spend intentional, and quality time with one another.
May we ultimately be united in Christ, as we look to Him, and celebrate His birth and all that it means for us. May we share together in peace, joy, and unity. In Jesus’ name, amen.
More Christmas Prayers For You:
A Christmas Blessing For Your Holiday Season
thank you so much, these prayers are very helpful and ready to use.
You are so welcome. Merry Christmas early to you!