How to pray
Christmas prayer: short prayers for the meal, your family and a hard Christmas
· 4 min read
Short Christmas prayers for dinner, for your family, for Christmas morning and for anyone grieving at Christmas, with Bible verses about the birth of Jesus.
A Christmas prayer thanks God for sending Jesus and asks Him to fill your day with His joy and peace. It can be a short prayer before dinner, a prayer with your family on Christmas morning, or a quiet prayer if this Christmas is hard. Below are short Christmas prayers for each, with Bible verses about Jesus’ birth.
What is a good Christmas prayer?
A good Christmas prayer starts with Jesus. Thank God that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14, ESV), thank Him for the people around you, remember people who are alone or grieving, and ask for His peace in your home. It doesn’t need to be long. A few honest sentences before a meal are enough.
Short Christmas prayers for dinner
Pray one of these as written, or in your own words:
- “Father, thank You for sending Jesus. Thank You for this food and for everyone at this table. Fill our home with the joy and peace He brings, and help us remember those who are alone today. Amen.”
- “Lord Jesus, You came to us as a baby. Thank You for coming near. Bless this meal and this family, and let our conversation honor You. Amen.”
- “God, glory to You in the highest. Thank You for every gift on this table, and for the greatest gift, Your Son. Amen.”
A Christmas prayer for family
“Father, thank You for our family, the ones here and the ones far away. Thank You for Jesus, who came to make us Your children. Heal what is strained between us. Give patience to the tired and joy to the children. Let the people in this home know You, and love each other well this Christmas. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
For praying for your family through the year, see how to pray for your family.
A Christmas morning prayer
“Lord, before the presents and the noise, we stop to thank You. You gave us Jesus, the best gift there is. Make our hearts glad in Him today. Help us give generously, and let Your peace stay with us when the day is over. Amen.”
A Christmas prayer for a hard Christmas
Christmas can be the hardest day of the year after a loss, a diagnosis or a broken relationship. You can bring that to God honestly. Jesus’ name is Immanuel, “which means, God with us” (Matthew 1:23, ESV), and “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3, ESV).
“Father, this Christmas hurts. I miss the people who aren’t here, and You know every part of it. Thank You that Jesus came into a world like this one, and that You are with me in it. Comfort me today. Help me receive the love of the people around me. Give me Your peace. Amen.”
To pray for someone else who is grieving, see how to pray for someone who lost a loved one.
Bible verses about the birth of Jesus
Read one before dinner, or pray it back to God:
- “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, ESV)
- “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11, ESV)
- “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14, ESV)
- “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, ESV)
- “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5, ESV)
For the weeks before Christmas, see these Advent prayers.
Pray for people through the Christmas season
Christmas brings people to mind: family you’ll see, friends who are alone, neighbors who don’t know Jesus. Write them down so you keep praying after the day passes.
In The Pray App, tap New prayer card, then Have a list?, and paste the names on your heart, one per line. Tap Generate Prayers, check each card, and tap Create. For a card that’s only for the season, open it, turn on End date, and pick a day in early January.
Paste the people on your heart this Christmas, and each one becomes a prayer card.
Each card comes up on the days you choose. See choose how often a prayer comes up and how to make a prayer list.
The Pray App is free on the App Store, with no ads.
Questions people ask
What is a short Christmas prayer before dinner?
Father, thank You for sending Jesus. Thank You for this food and for everyone at this table. Fill our home with the joy and peace He brings, and help us remember those who are alone today. Amen.
What Bible verse is good to read at Christmas?
Luke 2:10-11 is a favorite. "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (ESV).
How do you pray at Christmas after losing someone?
Tell God honestly that you miss them, thank Him for the time you had, and ask for comfort. Jesus came as Immanuel, God with us, and He is near the brokenhearted.
Related guides
- How to have a quiet time with God, a simple daily planHow to have a quiet time with God each day, a simple 15 minute plan for reading the Bible and praying, what to do when you miss a day, and how to keep it going.
- How to pray Scripture back to God, with examplesHow to pray Scripture back to God in four simple steps, with examples of praying Bible verses over yourself, your children and someone who is sick.
- How to pray the Lord's Prayer as a guide for your ownHow to pray the Lord's Prayer line by line, what each part means, and how to use it as a model for your own daily prayers, with an example for each line.
- Prayer for anxiety and worry, with Bible versesShort Christian prayers for anxiety and worry, for night, before a hard day and for a friend, with Bible verses on anxiety and where to get help.