5 Devotions for Couples to Share in the Christmas Season
Isn’t it funny how the holiday season—a time meant for connection and togetherness—can sometimes make us feel more distant than ever?
If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your spouse around Christmas, you might have worried:
If Christmas is about “peace on earth,” how did we lose the peace and closeness between us?
The truth is, the holidays are a gift, but this gift comes wrapped up with hectic schedules, heavy expectations, and pressure to make the most of every moment. In the middle of all that busyness and stress, it’s no wonder couples can start to drift from God and from each other.
But here’s the good news: when we intentionally slow our pace and seek God side by side, we can move through the Christmas season with the loving oneness we’re longing for.
We’ve put this collection of devotions together for you—our hope is that they will give you and your spouse a chance to be still, to pray, to remember God’s gifts of the season, and to celebrate the love that fills our lives.
1. More Than Enough
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up.
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. (John 6:5, 8-9, 11)
It was hard for Jesus’ disciples to believe a kid’s lunch would feed thousands. Yet for you and me, we ask the same question today: “How far will they go?” How far will our money go when there’s gifts to buy and bills to pay? How far will our time go when the calendar is packed with holiday gatherings and a to-do list a mile long? How far will our patience go when the kids are whiny and the in-laws seem impossible to please? How far will our commitment go when our spouse seems too busy and preoccupied to care for our needs? How far will our strength go when we feel sick, exhausted, and overwhelmed by stress?
The little we have leaves us no room for joy. For hope. For closeness to God and the spouse we love.
Today, put the little you have in God’s hands. Pray, giving him your troubles and needs, hurts and fears. Pray for faith to believe he can do more than you can ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). His grace is enough for what you’re going through. He will show his perfect power in your weakness. In him, you will find more than enough.
Lord,
We feel stretched too thin. We’re anxious and tired. What if we let people down? What if our money, time, and strength just aren’t enough? Help us, Lord, to rest in you. Carry our burdens and provide for our needs. Give us hearts of gratitude and trust in your goodness that never fails. May your love be the greatest joy we know.
Amen.
2. The Gift of Prayer
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:16)
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. (1 John 5:14)
You know your loved one better than anyone else. You know the perfect gift to wrap and place under the tree for their joy. You know their favorite Christmas cookie since childhood, and the special carol they can sing by heart. You’re sensitive to the grief they carry for loved ones lost or miles apart in this season. You’re the keeper of their hopes and disappointments. You’re the lover of their heart. You know more than anyone else how to pray for their life.
In your marriage, you can love one another by praying every day. Ask God to heal your hurts and sickness. Ask for strength to keep up with the season’s demands. Ask him to prosper your work and guard your reputation. Pray he will keep your marriage close and connected. Call on him for wisdom to handle tough decisions. Pray for discernment to understand the Bible and live by its truth. Cry out for courage and rescue when the enemy attacks your faith and family.
Invite God’s love and power into each other’s lives. Your faith will grow as you see him move in your home. You’ll be secure, knowing you’re in his hands. The Spirit will make you one as you lift each other up.
Lord,
Your love is the firm foundation of our marriage. Keep us faithful to pray for each other about every detail of our lives. Be the One we count on for wisdom, help, and strength. Give us thankful hearts for the blessing of our home and the gift of your Son. May we praise you continually as you lead us forward, together.
Amen.
3. Glorious News
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:8-11)
Each day, we’re confronted with more bad news. War and violence, sickness and poverty, slander and corruption…we feel desperate for a ray of hope in this broken and hurting world. Yet the heavenly announcement to shepherds in the night is just as glorious today: No fear. Good news. Great joy. A Savior born to us. Our Jesus is here!
Fear and punishment and death melt away in God’s grace and the hope of heaven. The future holds no dread when we’re promised eternal, joyful life through Jesus. Forgiveness and mercy take guilt and shame away. Our Deliverer has come—the power of Satan and evil are broken in our lives.
Just as the angel brought the greatest news the world has ever known, we’re able to tell a lost and hurting world that Jesus is here. As you gather with friends and family this Christmas, share how you’ve been changed and set free. Tell the stories of how God has rescued you from trouble. Praise his name for the joy he’s brought to your life. As his children, you’re a light in the darkness as you celebrate the Savior born to us all.
In this season, let’s praise God for sending Jesus into this world. Let’s stand in awe of his great power and love. May we take hold, once more, of the joy of our salvation.
Lord,
Jesus changes everything! Thank you for the good news that in you, we have life. Give us courage to tell of the freedom, joy, and transformation you bring to our lives. Guard our hearts from fear and despair when the darkness of this world seems overwhelming. Keep us close to you so we trust you, put our hope in you, and love in your name.
Amen.
4. Pay it Forward
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
At Christmas, we realize our blessings more than any time of the year. We cherish our families and friends as we gather together to celebrate the season. We’re grateful for the bounty of good food and festive gifts we share and receive. Our warm clothes and secure homes give shelter from winter’s cold. Yet as we enjoy the blessings in our lives, we remember the past when we felt alone. When we didn’t have enough. When the valley was so deep and dark that we wondered if we’d see the light again.
This Christmas, let’s remember that on the other side of suffering, we carry a measure of comfort to share. We can identify with the hurt in another’s heart.
The childless relate to the pain of infertility. The jobless know the stress of unemployment. The addict knows the ruin of destructive choices. The abused and rejected know the heart’s deep longing for safety and unconditional love. Those who receive God’s grace and healing are especially enabled to share compassion with others.
How has God met you in your pain? Remember how he cared for you. Share your story with those walking the same dark road. Have courage to enter into their grief. Offer words of hope from your experience and God’s Word. Share your resources to supply others’ needs. Give assurance that just as God has been faithful to you, he is faithful to all his children. Celebrate his power that’s strong enough to hold you to the end.
Lord,
In your infinite love, you brought us out of the darkness into your wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). You met our needs when we were desperate. You gave us our marriage as a haven of support and care. You’ve brought healing and restored our strength. You answered our prayers, forgave our sins, and guided our way. You are good!
Show us how to share your blessings with those around us. Fill us with your compassion and use us to comfort others in your name. May our lives overflow with your love.
Amen.
5. A Brave New Year
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:10, 13)
As the holidays wind down and you reflect over this past year, you can name the challenges and joys that you never saw coming. You realize more than ever that in your life together as husband and wife, God will take you to unexpected places. You will step into new jobs or opportunities, transition to unfamiliar places, and knit yourselves into new relationships. You’ll tackle problems and questions that shake you to the core.
At the first sight of change in the year ahead, you might be tempted to run back to what feels safe and secure. But when God is leading the way, you’re called and empowered to face the future with courage.
Where is God taking you today? Which aspects are the most intimidating? How do you feel inadequate to face what’s ahead? What kind of disasters fill your imagination? Lay down your fears by trusting that God is in control. Take hold of his promise that Emmanuel—”God with us”—will walk beside you every step of the way.
God is keeping you under his wing. Nothing that’s ahead will be a surprise to him. He promises to use everything for your good because he loves you. Be brave—you are his!
Lord,
Thank you for the beauty of Christmas that reflects the beauty of your faithful love in our lives every day. This past year, you never left our side. You met our needs. You never wasted our pain as you showed us your goodness through it all.
Fill us with confidence as we step into the year ahead. Keep us brave and bold to say yes to all you’ve planned. Show us what it means to believe you, depend on you, and trust you with childlike faith. Take us by the hand, Father, and lead the way.
Amen.
This season, we’re reminding ourselves that when things start to feel overwhelming, it’s easy to want to shut down, pull away, or feel like we have to handle everything on our own. But in those moments, we can choose to pause, take a deep breath, and remember that we were never meant to carry the load by ourselves. We can share it with our spouse, and we can always lean on God for strength and comfort.
We shared these devotions because taking time to seek the Lord together is vital to a strong and happy marriage. If you enjoyed sharing these devotions with your spouse, why not continue this practice and build it into your routine every day of 2026?
Our book, Mr and Mrs: 366 Devotions for Couples, is the perfect resource to do just that:
We wrote this book to guide you to a deeper intimacy with God and each other.
The daily insights and advice will help you to grow closer to Him as you reconnect on a spiritual level. Each reading offers a Scripture verse, a short inspiring devotion, and a powerful prayer.
