Advent is the season of waiting, when the church looks back to the first coming of Christ and forward to his return. These prayers are written for the weeks leading up to Christmas, and you can pray them in the morning, at the lighting of an Advent candle, or whenever the season feels heavy or hopeful. Read them aloud as written, or use them as a starting point and put your own words in place of ours.
Prayers for Advent
Lord, this season asks me to wait, and I am not good at waiting. My calendar is full of lists and deadlines, and some days I hurry through December without noticing the light coming back into the evenings. Slow me down. Help me remember that the people who first waited for the Messiah were ordinary people too, tired and uncertain, and yet they kept watching for you.
I bring you the people I am worried about this year. Some of them are sitting in hospital rooms or grieving an empty chair at the table. Others are far from home, or carrying debts they do not know how to pay. Be near to them in ways I cannot be. Let them feel that the God who came as a baby in a borrowed stable has not forgotten where they are.
Prepare my heart as I prepare my home. Show me what needs to be set aside so that there is room for you, and give me the courage to be honest about where I am still waiting for an answer. Keep my eyes open for small signs of your nearness, a kind word, a quiet morning, a hymn I did not expect to be moved by. Amen.
A Shorter Version to Pray in a Moment
Lord, I am waiting, and some days the waiting feels long. Come near to me in this busy season. Quiet the worry in my chest and remind me that you have kept every promise so far. Give me patience for the next hour and hope for the days beyond it. Let me see you in the ordinary moments of this week. Amen.
Scriptures to Pray Alongside
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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Pray this verse slowly, naming each title as a gift you need this season. Thank God that the child promised to a waiting people is the one who carries the weight of government on his shoulders, even when your own days feel heavy.
Psalm 130:5-6
5 I wait for the LORD. My soul waits. I hope in his word. 6 My soul longs for the Lord more than watchmen long for the morning; more than watchmen for the morning.
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Use this psalm to name the places where you are watching for morning. The psalmist waits more eagerly than a night watchman waits for dawn, and you can ask God to give you that same steady expectation.
Luke 1:38
Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.
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Mary answered God’s unexpected plan with open hands. Pray this verse by asking for the willingness to say yes to whatever God is asking of you this month, even if you do not yet understand the reason.
Romans 13:11-12
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.
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Paul writes that the day is near, and that calls for waking up. Pray for alertness to the things that matter most, and ask God to help you set aside the habits that keep you asleep to his presence.
Revelation 22:20
He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.
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The last words of Scripture are a prayer for the Lord to come quickly. Let this verse give shape to your own longing, and bring to God the hope that Christ will one day make all things new.
How to Pray This Prayer
Many people find it helpful to pray this prayer in the early morning, before the phone and the inbox take over. Sit near a window if you can, or beside an Advent wreath or a single lit candle. Let the light be a reminder that the season is about a light coming into the dark.
You might also pray it with someone else, such as a spouse, a child, or a friend who is also finding this season hard. Take turns reading the sections aloud, and pause after each one to let the words settle. Praying together can turn a long wait into a shared one.
A Blessing to Close
May the God who came in humility to dwell among us keep you steady through every day of this season. May the one who is coming again fill your waiting with hope, and may the peace of Christ guard your heart and mind as you watch for his light.
