12 Advent prayers to share with your family

Every December people are ready to pull out the Christmas decorations, buy and decorate a tree, wrap presents for one another and offer beautiful prayers - but what prayers should you share with your family this year?

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Remember, prayer is a wonderful way to speak to the Lord and to ask for intercession from the saints.

Each year, we celebrate Christ's birth, we celebrate what Jesus did for us, what the Lord continues to do for us, and what will be been done.

The Gift of Grace

Because it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God; - Ephesians 2:8

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your gift of grace.
We fail to remain pure
But through your grace we are forgiven.
We come together, Lord, to thank you for the mercy
You grant to your unworthy people.
Help us walk the path to You, God,
And help us stand strong.
Thank you, Father,
Amen.

The Gift of Hope

Be joyful in hope, persevere in hardship; keep praying regularly - Romans 12:12

Lord,
We thank you for your gift of hope,
For offering us strength in the midst of hardship
And for lifting our family in times of need.
We pray our thanks, Heavenly Father, for giving us hope
When all else seems lost.
Give us courage to open our eyes
To see the light you have bestowed upon us.
Give us ears to hear your truth amid the lies
And give us words
To banish the enemy.
In your holy name we pray,
Amen.

The Gift of Love

As it is, these remain: faith, hope and love, the three of them; and the greatest of them is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13

My Lord and Savior,
We thank you for your gift of love.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for loving us enough
To teach us how to love.
Soften our hearts
And teach us to love the unloved,
To accept love from those we struggle to agree with,
And to offer love in the face of hate.
Amen.
 

Seek peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one can ever see the Lord. - Hebrews 12:14

Lord,
We seek your peace.
Guide our hearts to find peace
In the midst of the storm.
Help us focus our eyes on You
And through your grace,
Discover your divine peace.
Bring to us
A great relief
And knowledge of trust in You, Lord.
Amen.

The Gift of Life

Jesus said: I am the Way; I am the Truth and Life. No one can come to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

Father God,
Our lives are in your hands
From conception unto death.
Lord, help us to live in dignity,
In peace,
With love and gratitude.
Teach us, Father, to live
As you created us
And to help one another
Through this journey of existence.
Thank you, Lord,
For the life you have given us and the
Abilities you have planted within our hearts.
Help us discover our gifts
And help them grow as we walk the path
Of righteousness alongside you.
Amen.

The Gift of Courage

Have I not told you: Be strong and stand firm? Be fearless and undaunted, for go where you may, The Lord your God is with you. - Joshua 1:9

Dear God,
Give me courage to face
That which I struggle with.
Father, give me strength
as you commanded in the book of Joshua.
Help me to be fearless and undaunted
For wherever I go
You are beside me.
Console me, Lord, with
Your grace and presence
For none can stand against
(S)he who stands with God.
Amen.

The Gift of Forgiveness

And when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody, so your Father in heaven may forgive your failings too. - Mark 11:25

Father,
Help me to forgive.
Soften this hardened heart
And give me the gift of forgiveness.
As you forgive our sins,
I desire the power to forgive those who have wronged me.
Share in your wisdom, Lord,
And give me the strength to offer
The olive branch of peace.
Amen.

The Gift of Promises Held

For in him is found the Yes to all God's promises and therefore it is 'through him' that we answer 'Amen' to give praise to God. - 2 Corinthians 1:20

In the Holy Word,
You promise many things, Father God.
I pray for those promises to come to fruition in my life
And the lives of my loved ones.
Heavenly Father,
I ask for faith and patience
As you work your miracles in my life.
I offer you praises,
Oh God,
And await the fulfillment
Of your heavenly promise.
Amen.

The Gift of Protection

For he hides me away under his roof on the day of evil, he folds me in the recesses of his tent, sets me high on a rock. - Psalm 27:5

Heavenly Father,
We pray for protection
For our family,
Friends,
animals
and property.
We ask for the safety found beneath your wing
And seek safe travels.
We ask for protection, preservation, and your divine presence, Lord,
All the days of our lives.
Amen.

The Gift of Family

Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother. - Mark 3:35

Lord,
We thank you for our family.
We give thanks for our family by blood
And our spiritual family
Linked to us by the blood on the cross.
Thank you, Father God, for the abundance of love,
Generosity, wisdom, faith and hope
For our family.
Give us the strength to stand together,
United under the cross and
Empowered by your son,
Jesus Christ's sacrifice.
Bring us love and eternity through the family,
Lord,
And blessings upon blessings.
Amen.

The Gift of Renewal

but those who hope in the Lord will regain their strength, they will sprout wings like eagles, though they run they will not grow weary, though they walk they will never tire. - Isaiah 40:31

Father God,
Thank you for the gift of renewal,
For the gifts of life, love and eternity in
Your Son Jesus Christ.
Rekindle in me
A spirit of hope
For a renewal of my mind, body and spirit.
Thank you, Lord,
For the greatness of divine renewal
And the promise of unending tomorrows.
Amen.

The Gift of Jesus Christ

For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved. - John 3:1- 17

Thank you,
Lord, for the gift of
Your one and only Son Jesus Christ.
You gave the most precious gift
Any father could ever receive
For your love of us,
Unworthy sinners of the world.
For your Son,
We give eternal thanks and
Offer the only gift worthy of the
Holy Trinity: Our praise.
Praise be to the Lord, our God,
To the Holy Spirit and to
Jesus Christ, the savior of man.
To You, we give our thanks and offer our lives to do
With as you please.
Thank you, Lord,
For all you have bestowed upon your children
For ever and ever.
In Jesus' precious name we
Stand in agreement to offer our praise
To the one and only God of creation.
Thank you, Father,
For delivering to us the Light of the world.
Amen.

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