How to pray

Advent prayers for each week, for you and your family

October 20, 2026 · 4 min read

Advent prayers for each week of Advent 2026, Scripture to read from God's promises to Christ's return, and simple ways for a family to pray toward Christmas.

Advent prayers help you wait for Christmas the way God’s people waited for Jesus: remembering His promises, confessing our need, and longing for the day He comes again. Advent means “coming.” It looks back to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and forward to His return in glory.

When does Advent start in 2026?

Advent 2026 starts on Sunday, November 29, the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and runs through Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. The four Sundays of Advent are November 29, December 6, December 13, and December 20. For these four weeks, Christians remember how God kept His promise to send Jesus, and look forward to the day Jesus will come again.

What can I pray each week of Advent?

Each week of Advent can follow one part of the story of Jesus’ coming, from God’s first promise to Christ’s return. Read the passage, then pray the prayer or use your own words.

Week 1, November 29: The promise

God promised a Savior from the very beginning. After the fall, He said the serpent’s head would be crushed by the woman’s offspring (Genesis 3:15). Centuries later, Isaiah wrote, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6, ESV).

Read Genesis 3:15 and Isaiah 9:2-7.

Father, from the beginning You promised a Savior, and You kept Your word in Jesus. Thank You that You keep every promise. As we wait for Christmas, teach us to trust You with everything we are still waiting for. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Week 2, December 6: Prepare the way

The prophets called God’s people to get ready. “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3, ESV). John the Baptist came to call people to turn from their sin before Jesus came (Luke 3:3-6).

Read Isaiah 40:1-5 and Luke 3:1-6.

Lord, You call us to prepare the way for Jesus. Show us the sin we’ve grown comfortable with, and forgive us. Clear away whatever crowds Him out, and make our hearts ready to welcome Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Week 3, December 13: God with us

The child Isaiah promised would be called Immanuel, “which means, God with us” (Matthew 1:23, ESV). “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14, ESV). In Jesus, God came near.

Read Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, and John 1:1-14.

Jesus, You are Immanuel, God with us. Thank You for taking on flesh and living among us, for living the life we couldn’t live and dying the death we deserved. Help us rejoice that You have come near. Amen.

Week 4, December 20: The King who will come again

Jesus came once in humility, and He will come again in glory. Christians wait “for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, ESV). The Bible’s last prayer is “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Read Titus 2:11-14 and 2 Peter 3:8-13.

Lord Jesus, You came to Bethlehem, and You will come again. Keep us faithful while we wait, and fill us with hope for the day You make all things new. Help us live ready for Your return. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Christmas Day, December 25: A Savior is born

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11, ESV).

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son. Jesus, thank You for coming to save us. Give us joy that lasts past today, and help us tell others the good news. Amen.

How can a family pray through Advent?

A family can pray through Advent with a few minutes together each evening. Read a short passage, ask one question about it, and pray. The weekly themes above work for every age.

• Read one passage a night. Take the week’s readings a few verses at a time.
• Ask one question. “What did God promise?” or “Why did Jesus come?”
• Let everyone pray. Even a young child can pray one sentence, like “Thank You, Jesus, for coming.”
• Sing together. An Advent hymn like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” turns the readings into praise.
• Pray for others. Pray for neighbors and family who don’t know Jesus, and for people you’ll invite to church on Christmas Eve.

Which Scripture passages fit Advent?

The Scripture passages that fit Advent follow the story of Jesus’ coming:

• God’s promises: Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:2-7, Isaiah 40:1-5, Micah 5:2.
• The promises kept: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:1-20, John 1:1-14, Galatians 4:4-5.
• Songs of praise: Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55) and Zechariah’s song (Luke 1:68-79).
• Waiting for His return: Titus 2:11-14, 2 Peter 3:8-13, Revelation 22:20.

New to reading the Bible? See how to read the Bible for beginners.

For a plan you can keep after Christmas, see this Bible reading plan for beginners.

How do I set Advent prayer cards that end on Christmas in The Pray App?

Advent prayer cards in The Pray App can stop on their own when Christmas comes. On Home, tap New prayer card and write the prayer, such as one of the weekly prayers above or “Our neighbors, to come to church on Christmas Eve.” Pick a Category like Kingdom or Family.

Write the prayer and pick a category, like Kingdom.

Under Details, tap Repeat and choose Daily, or Weekly and tap Sunday. Then turn on End date and pick December 25. Tap Add prayer. The card comes up on Today through Advent and stops on the end date you picked.

Repeat sets how often each Advent card comes up.

For more on building the habit beyond the season, see how to pray daily.

The Pray App is free on the App Store. See how to choose how often a prayer comes up.