A simple Christmas prayer for family: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus, our Saviour, to dwell among us. Thank You for this family and this table. Fill our home with Your peace and joy, help us love one another well, and remember those who are lonely or hurting today. Let all we do this Christmas give glory to You. In Jesus' name, Amen. Below are more short prayers for dinner, Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, each built on a King James verse.
Christmas is one of the few days of the year when the whole family may be at one table, and many people want to say a prayer but are not sure what to say. A Christmas prayer does not need to be long or polished. The best ones are simple, thankful and honest. This page gives you short prayers you can read aloud, each one built on a verse from the King James Bible so your words line up with God's Word. The first group celebrates the coming of Jesus, perfect for Christmas Eve or before opening gifts. The second group asks God to bless your family and home, a good fit for Christmas dinner. The third group offers praise and a blessing to carry into the new year. You can read one verse and its prayer, or have different family members each read one. Children can repeat a short line after you. Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, 2026. If you are in a hard season this year, these prayers are for you too: the first Christmas came to people who were waiting in darkness. For more Scripture to read, see Bible verses about Christmas Day and Bible verses for Christmas cards.
Christmas Eve prayers: rejoicing that Jesus has come
1. Zechariah 2:10
"Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD."
God promised, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee. At Christmas that promise came true in the most personal way: Jesus came to live among us. Pray it: Lord, we sing and rejoice tonight because You did not stay far away. You came to dwell with us. Come and dwell in this home and in each of our hearts this Christmas. Let our singing tonight be real joy, not just tradition. Amen.
2. Isaiah 25:9
"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
This verse sounds like the end of a long wait: Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us. Advent is a season of waiting, and Christmas Eve is the night the waiting ends. Pray it: Father, Israel waited centuries for the Saviour, and You kept Your promise. We are glad and rejoice in Your salvation. For anything we are still waiting for, help us trust You, because You always keep Your word. Amen.
3. Isaiah 52:9
"Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem."
Break forth into joy... for the LORD hath comforted his people. Isaiah spoke to people sitting in ruins. Christmas brings comfort to waste places, including the broken places in our lives and families. Pray it: Lord, break forth joy in our hearts tonight. Comfort anyone at this table who is grieving or tired. Thank You that the baby in Bethlehem came to redeem and restore. Let this Christmas bring Your comfort to every empty chair. Amen.
4. Hebrews 1:6
"And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him."
When God brought His Son into the world, He said, let all the angels of God worship him. On the first Christmas night a multitude of angels did just that. Pray it: Jesus, the angels worship You, and so do we. Before the gifts and the meal and the noise, we stop to honor You. You are the reason for this day. Receive our worship as we gather in Your name tonight. Amen.
Christmas dinner prayers: blessing for family and home
5. Psalms 67:1
"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah."
This is a short, ancient blessing that echoes the priestly blessing of Numbers 6: God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us. It is easy to pray before a meal. Pray it: God, be merciful to us and bless us. Thank You for this food, for the hands that prepared it and for every person here. Let Your face shine upon our family today, and let our table be a place of grace. Amen.
6. 1 Chronicles 17:27
"Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever."
King David prayed this after God promised to build him a house, a family line that would lead to Jesus. Let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant. It is a beautiful prayer for a home. Pray it: Lord, it would please us so much for You to bless this house. Bless our marriages, our children and our parents. Bless the friends at our table. What You bless is blessed forever. Amen.
7. Psalms 115:12
"The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron."
The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us. Christmas is a good moment to look back at the year and remember how God has cared for your family. Pray it: Father, You have been mindful of us all year long. You remembered us in good days and hard ones. Thank You for every provision, every answered prayer and every mercy we did not even notice. We trust You to keep blessing us in the year ahead. Amen.
8. Psalms 122:7
"Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces."
This verse is a prayer for peace within the walls: Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. Holidays can bring stress and old tensions to the surface. Pray it: Prince of Peace, let peace be within these walls today. Calm hurried hearts, soften old hurts and help us speak with kindness. Where there is distance in our family, begin healing. Let this be a peaceful, joyful Christmas. Amen.
Christmas morning praise and a blessing for the year ahead
9. Psalms 85:10
"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Christians have long read this verse as a picture of Christmas, when God's mercy and truth met in one Person. Pray it: Lord Jesus, in You mercy and truth meet, and righteousness and peace embrace. Thank You for making peace between us and God. On this Christmas morning, help us show mercy and speak truth to one another. Amen.
10. Psalms 98:3
"He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God."
Psalm 98 inspired the carol Joy to the World, written by Isaac Watts. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Pray it: Father, thank You that Jesus came for the whole world. As we celebrate today, we remember Christians around the globe singing the same carols in many languages. Let every nation see Your salvation, and use our family to share it with our neighbors. Amen.
11. Isaiah 12:4
"And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted."
Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people. Christmas morning is full of gifts, and this verse turns our attention to the greatest one. Pray it: Lord, we praise You and call upon Your name. Thank You for the gift of Jesus. Give us courage to declare what You have done, in our words and in our kindness, to the people we meet this Christmas season. Amen.
12. Psalms 9:1
"I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works."
End Christmas Day the way you started it, with wholehearted praise: I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. Pray it: O Lord, we praise You with our whole hearts for this Christmas. As the decorations come down and the new year comes near, keep the wonder of Christmas alive in us. We will tell of Your marvellous works all year long. In Jesus' name, Amen.
A short prayer
Heavenly Father, on this Christmas we thank You for the greatest gift of all, Your Son, Jesus. Thank You that He came to dwell among us, full of grace and truth. Bless this family and every person at our table. Comfort those who are missing someone this year, and draw near to anyone who feels alone. Fill our home with peace, our hearts with joy and our mouths with praise. Let the light of Christmas stay with us into the new year. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Write your family's Christmas prayers in the Prayer Journal · Add a verse to every present with the free Christmas gift tags · Set the table with the free Christmas Bible verse printables
Frequently asked questions
What is a short Christmas prayer before dinner?
Try this: Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to earth to save us. Thank You for this food, this family and this day. Bless the hands that prepared this meal, and bless everyone at our table with Your peace. Help us remember those in need. Amen. It takes about fifteen seconds and works for any table. Psalm 67:1 is also a perfect one-line blessing to read aloud. For more mealtime ideas, see Bible verses about thanksgiving.
What is a good Christmas Eve prayer?
Read Luke 2:8-14 together, then pray: Father, tonight we remember the night Jesus was born. Like the shepherds, we have heard good news of great joy. Thank You for keeping Your promises. Come and fill our home with Your peace as we sleep, and wake us with joy on Christmas morning. Amen. Many families light the Christ candle on Christmas Eve. See Advent candle meaning.
How do I pray at Christmas if I am grieving?
Be honest with God. The Psalms show that lament and praise can live side by side. You might pray: Lord, this Christmas is hard. I miss the person who is not here. Thank You that Jesus came into a world of sorrow, and that You are near to the brokenhearted. Hold me today. Amen. You are not alone. See Bible verses about lost loved ones and reach out to a pastor or friend this season.
Is there a Christmas prayer in the Bible?
Several. Mary's song in Luke 1:46-55 (the Magnificat) and Simeon's prayer in Luke 2:29-32 (the Nunc Dimittis) are both prayers of praise for the coming of Jesus, and churches have prayed them for centuries. Zacharias's song in Luke 1:68-79 is another. Mary begins, "My soul doth magnify the Lord" (Luke 1:46). Read one aloud on Christmas Eve, or copy it into a printable prayer journal.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Christmas · Christmas Day · Christmas cards · Prayer · Family · Blessing · Peace · Joy
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