“I bring you good news of great joy,” the angel told a field of unremarkable shepherds, the first people in the whole account to hear the news at all. Not kings, not priests, just working men outside on an ordinary night who happened to be nearby.
These thirty verses trace that whole story, from prophecy to manger to shepherds racing into town to see it themselves. For the weeks leading up to this day, a prayer for advent is worth praying in the season before.
Pray these throughout the day, letting the wonder of it stay fresh rather than routine.
Prayer for Christmas
1. Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Prayer: You bring good news of great joy for all people, a Savior has been born.
Let this joy feel as fresh to me today as it did to those shepherds.
2. Luke 2:13-14 (KJV)
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Prayer: Glory to You in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom Your favor rests.
Let peace be real in my own life today, not just a phrase repeated once a year.
3. Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Prayer: A child is born, a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God.
Let these names be more than titles I recite once a year.
4. Matthew 1:23 (KJV)
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Prayer: They will call Him Immanuel, God with us. Let that presence feel real today.
Let me actually notice You with me, not just remember the idea of it.
5. John 1:14 (KJV)
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Prayer: The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
Let this truth stay astonishing, not familiar to the point of forgetting.
6. Luke 1:30-31 (KJV)
“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.”
Prayer: Like Mary, let me not be afraid, but trust You even when the news is overwhelming.
Let trust be my response to whatever You’re asking of me too.
7. Luke 2:6-7 (KJV)
“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Prayer: You came into an ordinary, inconvenient moment, born in a manger, not a palace.
Let me see You showing up in my own ordinary, inconvenient moments too.
8. Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV)
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
Prayer: The wise men traveled far to worship You. Let my own worship be worth the effort today.
Let seeking You matter to me as much as it did to them.
9. Matthew 2:10-11 (KJV)
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Prayer: Let me be overjoyed like the wise men were, and bow down and worship You too.
Let joy and worship go together for me today, not one without the other.
10. Luke 2:19 (KJV)
“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”
Prayer: Like Mary, let me treasure these things and ponder them in my heart.
Let me not rush past this day without actually reflecting on it.
11. Luke 2:15-16 (KJV)
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
Prayer: Let me go with the same urgency as the shepherds, to actually see what You’ve done.
Let curiosity, not just habit, draw me toward You today.
12. Luke 2:20 (KJV)
“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
Prayer: Let me return glorifying and praising You for everything I’ve seen and heard.
Let today end in praise, not just gift-giving and dinner.
13. John 3:16 (KJV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Prayer: You loved the world so much that You gave Your only Son.
Let this be personal to me today, not just a familiar verse.
14. Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Prayer: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
Let this ancient promise feel as astonishing as it was when it was first spoken.
15. Micah 5:2 (KJV)
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Prayer: Out of Bethlehem, though small, would come the ruler over Israel.
Let me trust that small, overlooked places can still hold Your biggest plans.
16. Galatians 4:4-5 (KJV)
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
Prayer: When the time had fully come, You sent Your Son to redeem us.
Let this timing feel deliberate to me, not accidental.
17. Philippians 2:6-7 (KJV)
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”
Prayer: Though You were in very nature God, You made Yourself nothing, taking on the nature of a servant.
Let humility like this shape how I approach today, not just gift-giving.
18. Titus 2:11 (KJV)
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”
Prayer: Your grace has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.
Let grace, not obligation, be the theme of today.
19. 1 John 4:9-10 (KJV)
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Prayer: This is how You showed Your love, You sent Your only Son into the world.
Let love, not just tradition, be what I actually feel today.
20. Luke 1:46-49 (KJV)
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.”
Prayer: Like Mary, let my soul glorify You, and my spirit rejoice in You, my Savior.
Let this be genuine praise, not just a nice line to recite.
21. Psalms 96:11-13 (KJV)
“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”
Prayer: Let the heavens rejoice, the earth be glad, all creation exult before You.
Let my own celebration join in that wider joy today.
22. Isaiah 60:1 (KJV)
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”
Prayer: Arise, shine, for Your light has come, and Your glory rises over us.
Let this light be visible in how I live today, not just in decorations.
23. Psalms 98:4 (KJV)
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”
Prayer: Let me shout for joy to You, burst into jubilant song.
Let joy today be loud, not muted by routine.
24. Luke 2:29-32 (KJV)
“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
Prayer: Like Simeon, let me depart in peace, having seen Your salvation with my own eyes.
Let today hold that same sense of a promise finally fulfilled.
25. Colossians 1:15-17 (KJV)
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
Prayer: You are the image of the invisible God, and in You all things hold together.
Let this bigger picture settle over today, not just the smaller details.
26. Hebrews 1:3 (KJV)
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
Prayer: You are the radiance of Your glory and the exact representation of Your being.
Let this radiance be what I actually notice today, not just tradition.
27. 1 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
Prayer: Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great, You appeared in the flesh.
Let this mystery still feel like a mystery, not something fully explained away.
28. Matthew 1:21 (KJV)
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Prayer: You will be called Jesus, because You will save people from their sins.
Let this be the reason I actually celebrate today, not just the season itself.
29. Isaiah 40:5 (KJV)
“And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”
Prayer: Your glory will be revealed, and all people will see it together.
Let this be a day everyone around me sees something real in how I live it.
30. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Prayer: Bless me and keep me, make Your face shine on me, and give me peace today.
Let this old blessing cover this whole Christmas.
Conclusion
It’s worth remembering who got the news first. Not the religious leaders, not the powerful, just ordinary shepherds working an unremarkable night shift who happened to be close enough to hear it. Good news that arrives that plainly is worth actually stopping for.
Read the Christmas story out loud with your family today, not just as background while opening gifts.
For the meal that often follows, a prayer for Christmas Eve is worth praying alongside this one.