Prayers for Thanksgiving and Christmas

Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite times of the year. I love the time with my family, the cool (or cold) weather, and the sights and sounds that stir up nostalgia for holidays of my younger years. In all the busyness, I sometimes lose track of what it’s all about: giving thanks to God for his abundant provision and the matchless gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. 

The five collections of holiday prayers listed below were composed to help focus our hearts on God’s immense love and generosity for his people in this season. In our prayers, we can put God first in our holiday celebrations, trusting that all the rest of the season’s delights will bring us so much more joy.  

5 Prayers for Thanksgiving, by Christopher Hunt -- In the hubbub around Thanksgiving, let these five prayers help you remember the God who gave us his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit so that we may have an abundant life in him.

Hallelujah, Even Here: Prayers of Thanksgiving in Pain and Loss, by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- We usually find it easy to thank God when we’re healthy, safe, and all our needs are being met. But what about praying with thanksgiving during times of loss, hardship, and grief?

Four Prayers from Isaiah for Christmas, by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- How do we keep Christ at the center of our Christmas season? One way is to take regular time to pause, pray, and thank God for the greatest gift of all, his Son.

Prayers for the 12 Days of Christmas, by Christopher Hunt -- We’ve largely forgotten the tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas in today’s Western culture. These traditional Christmas days as opportunities to reflect on the fulfillment of God’s promises through the birth of Jesus Christ.

From our ReFrame sister ministry, Today:

5 Prayers for a Blue Christmas, by Christopher Hunt -- The reasons for our blue Christmases vary widely. We might feel very far from God, but our Father in Heaven is not far away from us.

Did you find this article helpful? We’ve put together a short ebook called “How Do I Pray?” which introduces six ways to reinvigorate your prayer life. Download it free right here.