A Prayer for Christmas Eve (background picture of Christmas tree with candles)

A Christmas Eve Prayer

by Alexa Hess

 

While this prayer can be prayed individually, we encourage you to pray this prayer with a spouse, friend, or with family.

 

O God,

As we gather on this Eve of Christmas anxiously awaiting for tomorrow to dawn, we stop to consider the purpose of this season.

While this holiday boasts of gifts made by hands, we celebrate the ultimate Gift, Jesus, the best gift we could ever receive.

As we gaze upon the twinkling lights on houses, or the ones strung upon our tree, we remember that the Light of the World has come.

Although our world is desperately broken–tainted by sin, sickness, conflict, and fear–we rejoice that our Prince of Peace has come.

Almighty God, the birth of Your Son was Your plan. Promised to ancestors past, sustained by Your grace, fulfilled by Your faithfulness alone.

We praise You, we bless You, we glorify You for giving us Jesus, the true reason for this season.

This world boasts in joy rooted in the perfect home or the number of presents underneath the tree. We too can find ourselves consumed with these things.

Often, we can find that our imagination has been captured by what the world celebrates and desires this season.

O God, humble our hearts.

Often we can find ourselves jealous and discontent, coveting the experiences or possessions of another.

O God, humble our hearts.

Keep us from being swayed by the consumerism of this season. Guard our minds from fixating on worldly gain. Help us focus on the purpose of Christmas.

For this season is not about what we gain–the perfect meal, the perfect house, or the perfect gift. This season is about Jesus.

So as we gather together, awaiting tomorrow’s day, let us rejoice over the baby born in Bethlehem.

Come, let us adore Him!

He left His throne to dwell with us.

Come, let us adore Him!

He took on flesh to be like us.

Come, let us adore Him!

He healed the sick and forgave the sinner.

Come, let us adore Him!

He offered mercy and grace to those in fear.

Come, let us adore Him!

He remained sinless and obedient, a perfect spotless lamb.

Come, let us adore Him!

He took our punishment upon the cross.

Come, let us adore Him!

He rose again in victory.

Come, let us adore Him!

His wondrous light has broken through our darkness.

Come, let us adore Him!

Jesus, may we be humble as you were humble, for you did not come to serve but to be served, and did not come to gain but to give away.

Jesus, may we love like you love, for you move toward the broken and the hurting and care for those in need.

Help us remember the angels’ song of good news of great joy sung thousands of years ago, for the song of the gospel is greater than any carols we could sing.

Fill our hearts with this song this Christmas. May it be on our minds as we awake in the morning and on our lips throughout the day.

Above all that we feel this Christmas, may we feel gratitude for the salvation we have received and joy over our relationship with You.

And when the day is done–when all the gifts have been unwrapped, and we are tucked into our beds tight–may we awake the next day with the joy of Christmas still in our hearts.

For the message of this season isn’t for a season or for one day alone. The purpose of your coming Jesus, the salvation You would go on to achieve, is a message to remember every day of our lives

But for now, prepare our hearts for Christmas day. Fill us with your love, joy, and peace. Stir our affections for You.

We rejoice that You have come to us.

We rejoice that You will come to us again.

Amen.

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Written by Alexa Hess, and originally published by The Daily Grace Blog.

Alexa Hess is a Hallows member, staff writer for The Daily Grace Company, and wife of Jacob Hess our Minister of Music and Media. She holds a M.A. in Ministry to Women from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and has a deep love for encouraging women with God’s Word.