The holiday season for many is a time of gathering with family and focusing on the true meaning behind the approaching celebration. One reflective and thoughtful tradition involves sharing a Christmas eve prayer or Christmas blessing for loved ones whether they are near or far this night before Christmas.
Amid the festive preparations and twinkling lights, Christmas Eve provides a sacred and reflective opportunity. Below we have shared some of our favorite Christmas Eve prayers - whether you pray these quietly to yourself or out-loud with your loved ones, they can offer a reflective time of peace, gratitude.
Here are 15 Christmas Eve prayers to pray for yourself and your family to pray whether you're waking up in the morning, going about a busy day, sharing a Christmas Eve dinner, or laying down to sleep at night.
A Christmas Eve Morning Prayer
A good Christmas Eve morning prayer can set a reflective and contemplative tone for the day, helping you focus on the true meaning of the season. Here's a sample Christmas Eve morning prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, As the dawn of Christmas Eve breaks, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude and anticipation. We thank you for the precious gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate today.
On this special morning, we ask for your presence to be with us throughout the day. Help us to keep our hearts open to your love and our minds centered on the true meaning of Christmas. Let the joy and hope of this season fill our souls as we prepare to commemorate the birth of our Savior.
Lord, bless our families and loved ones with your peace and unity. May our gatherings be filled with laughter, warmth, and the sharing of your love.
Guide us in our interactions with others today, that we may be instruments of your grace and kindness in the lives of those we meet.
Lord, as we approach this holy night, grant us the serenity to reflect on the miracle of Christ's birth and the hope it brings to the world. May our hearts be a manger where your love is born anew. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Short Christmas Eve Prayers
As the night falls on Christmas Eve, it's a time when hearts are filled with anticipation and gratitude for the birth of Jesus. These three short Christmas Eve prayers are simple yet powerful ways to connect with the true spirit of this magical evening.
1. A Prayer of Gratitude:
Dear Heavenly Father, on this holy night, we gather with hearts full of gratitude for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank you for the hope, love, and joy that He brings into our lives. May this Christmas Eve be a reminder of your boundless love. Amen.
2. A Prayer for Peace:
Lord of Peace, on this silent and holy night, we pray for peace to fill our hearts, homes, and the world. Let the light of Christ's birth shine brightly, dispelling darkness and bringing harmony to all. Amen.
3. A Prayer of Blessing:
Loving God, as we gather on this Christmas Eve, we ask for your blessings upon our families and friends. May our lives be filled with the warmth of your love and the light of your guidance. Bless all those we hold dear, and may this night be a time of unity and joy. Amen.
These short Christmas Eve prayers offer moments of reflection, thanksgiving, and hope as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with loved ones.
A Christmas Eve Dinner Prayer
A heartfelt Christmas Eve dinner prayer can help set the tone for a special and thankful meal. Here's a sample Christmas Eve dinner prayer:
Heavenly Father, On this holy night, as we gather around this table filled with the abundance of your blessings, we come before you with hearts overflowing with gratitude and joy. We thank you for the precious gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate with love and reverence.
As we partake of this meal, we are reminded of the sustenance you provide for our bodies and souls. Bless this food before us, which is a symbol of your provision and the warmth of our fellowship. We ask you to bless the hands that have prepared this feast and those who have come together to share in it. May our time together be filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories.
Lord, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, help us to remember the true reason for this season—the hope, love, and salvation that Christ brings into our lives. May our hearts be open to receiving your love and grace anew.
In this moment of reflection and unity before enjoying this wonderful meal together, we give thanks for the gift of family and friends. May the bonds we share grow stronger, and may our love for one another mirror the unconditional love you have for us. As we enjoy this Christmas Eve dinner, we offer this prayer in gratitude and anticipation of the blessings yet to come. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we pray. Amen.
A Bedtime Prayer at Night on Christmas Eve
A bedtime prayer on Christmas Eve can be a beautiful way to end the day with a sense of peace and gratitude. Here's a sample Christmas Eve bedtime prayer:
Heavenly Father, As the night falls on this Christmas Eve, we come before you with hearts full of wonder and awe. We thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate with joy and reverence.
As we prepare to rest our weary bodies, we ask for your presence to be with us in our dreams. Fill our hearts with the peace that surpasses all understanding and wrap us in the warmth of your love.As we lay down to sleep tonight, we release our worries and cares into your capable hands. Grant us restful slumber and a sense of anticipation for the joy of Christmas morning.
We pray for those less fortunate, especially on this holy night. May your love and comfort be with them, and may we be inspired to extend a helping hand to those in need.Lord, bless our families and loved ones, near and far. Strengthen our relationships with love and grace, and may we always cherish the moments we share together.
In this moment of quiet reflection and gratitude, we offer this bedtime prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we pray. Amen.
Jesus Is Lord Prayer
Father God, Your name is still called “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” and “The Prince of Peace.” As Your children, we cry out for a fresh filling, and a new awareness of Who You are.
We choose by faith to make the “good news of great joy” a reality in our own lives, so others can see us as lighted trees of life, pointing to You this Christmas. We know one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that You are Lord. And we also know that peace on earth can only come when hearts find peace with You. You are still our Joy. You are still our Peace. You are no longer a babe in the manger. You are Lord of lords and King of kings. And we still celebrate You as Lord — this Christmas and always” (Rebecca Barlow Jordan).
A Prayer to Turn Our Hearts Towards Him
Lord Jesus, I pray that you will turn our hearts toward you as Christmas approaches. Let us not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season this year and miss the chance to celebrate the gifts of hope, peace, joy, love, that you sent to us on that first Christmas.
That first Christmas, you gave us the gift of hope wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Thank you, Father, for your immeasurable gift. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen (Stephanie Raquel).
A Prayer to Protect Our Hearts This Christmas Eve
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 Prayer to Rejoice
Let the just rejoice, for their justifier is born. Let the sick and infirm rejoice, for their savior 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 (Saint Augustine of Hippo).
A Prayer About the True Gift of Christmas
The gifts I’d leave beneath your tree, Aren’t those that you can touch or see, No toys meant just for pointless play, But gifts to bless you every day. The gift of friendship warm and true, Is one that I would leave for you.
Good health and happiness and cheer To keep you smiling through the year. The gift of peace that comes from God, With prayer to guide each path you trod.
And when your heart has lost its song The gift of hope to cheer you on. These are the gifts I’d leave for you (Kay Hoffman).
A Prayer of the Coming Celebration
Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth, may we begin to see the world in the light of understanding you give us.
As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart.
May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving Amen (Karen L. Oberst).
A Prayer for the Lost
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, to heal those broken in spirit, to feed the hungry, to release the oppressed, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all peoples, to make a little music with the heart.
And to radiate the Light of Christ, every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say. Then the work of Christmas begins (Howard Thurman).
A Prayer for Blessings on Your Family
May the blessing of joy abide within you; May the blessing of peace rest upon you; May the blessing of love flow out through you; May all the blessings of the Lord be yours at Christmas and in the new year (Author Unknown).
A Prayer to Renew Our Minds
As we think today of the birth of the Savior, let us aspire after a fresh birth of the Savior in our hearts; that as he is already “formed in us the hope of glory,” we may be “renewed in the spirit of our minds;” that we may go to the Bethlehem of our spiritual nativity and do our first works, enjoy our first loves, and feast with Jesus as we did in the holy, happy, heavenly days of our espousals (Charles H. Spurgeon).
A Prayer to Remind Us of What Christmas Is All About
Holy Creator of Trees, Bless with your abundant grace this our Christmas tree as a symbol of joy. May its evergreen branches be a sign of your never-fading promises.
May its colorful lights and ornaments call us to decorate with love our home and our world. May the gifts that surround this tree be symbols of the gifts we have received from the Tree of Christ’s Cross…(Author Unknown).
A Prayer of Gratitude
Dear Jesus, as I sit here getting emotional, searching for the right words to say, it occurs to me that there’s no right or wrong words.
It is Christmas eve, the day before your birth, and as we celebrate and rejoice in you, Jesus, we are thankful for everything and everyone who surrounds us.
Your Spirit fills this room, the warmth is enough to light a thousand fires in our hearts. Our hearts burn for you.
Let us sit and enjoy this meal as we ponder everything Christmas is all about, and let us not forget the true importance of this glorious day. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen! (Gathered Again).
A Prayer to Focus on Christ
Father, it wasn’t with bad intentions initially that Christmas celebrations grew way beyond Who and have now made us weary. Renew in our hearts the wonder and awe of the miracles of the Gift of Christmas.
Not only us, Lord, but let our newfound wonder spread to our families and our friends. Let us come together to celebrate You and leave behind the fuss. In Jesus’ Name, Amen (Paris Renae).
Closing Blessing for Christmas
May the love and peace of Christ fill your hearts and homes this Christmas season. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us remember the true meaning of this holy day: the gift of God’s Son, who came to bring light, hope, and salvation to the world.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
May the joy of the angels, the wonder of the shepherds, and the adoration of the wise men inspire us to worship with grateful hearts. Let us carry the light of Christ into the world, reflecting His love in all we do.
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
As you go forth, may the blessings of Christmas bring you hope, the promise of Christ’s peace, and the assurance of God’s unending love.
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14)
Read more: Christmas Bible Verses
Merry Christmas, and may God’s blessings be with you now and always. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock /Getty Images Plus - LuckyBusiness
This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!
What Is Advent: Meaning, History, and Traditions
Advent Prayers for Friends, Family, and More
What Is an Advent Wreath and How to Use One?
The History of Santa Claus: Origin of St. Nicholas
Christmas Bible Verses & Scripture Story
What is Christmas? True Meaning and Holiday History
Christmas Eve History and Traditions
Why Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh?
When Was Jesus Born? Why December 25th
Where Was Jesus Born?
