7 Prayers for the First Day of Winter
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The days are getting shorter, and the air feels crisp and cold. Jackets and shawls are waiting in the closet to keep you warm. Soon, snow will be in the forecast and cold winds will challenge your home's windows and doors. Winter has arrived.
Winter is a season many people dread. The days feel fleeting with more hours of darkness than light. We feel stuck inside our homes and workplaces because it is too cold outside. Seasonal depression and sickness creep in, and we find ourselves longing for spring when winter has just begun.
While winter comes with its woes, it also comes with a feeling of God’s presence in our lives. Below, I will share seven prayers that can help you and me both see the beauty and blessing in the winter days ahead.
Winter in the Bible
In the Bible, winter is characterized as a time of preparation and foresight. In the biblical world, society was mostly agrarian. They depended on the cycles of nature to survive. The rainy season, which runs from October to April, accompanied the winter season. This was the time farmers were relying on the provisions they had stored and were planning for future planting.
Theologically, winter is part of God’s creation (Psalm 74:17) and is a way to remind us of life’s natural cycles. It is a season where we must rely on God’s provision and His wisdom. The imagery of winter in the Bible is used to convey deep spiritual truths. Winter is not just a season used to describe what is going on in the biblical world. It is a metaphor for spiritual truths and the covenant that God made with creation.
With that in mind, let’s turn our hearts to prayer in this new season with six prayers for winter.
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1. Prayer for Winter Blessings
Dear Jesus,
As I enter this winter season, I pray for Your winter blessings. I pray that You would provide Your warmth and comfort during these cold months. Fill my heart and mind with gratitude for the beauty of the winter season. Give me the strength to endure any hardships that may come my way.
Bless my family with health and safety during the months ahead. Remind me that your light is still shining brightly amid the darkness. Allow me to dwell in the beauty of winter, which is a reflection of Your beauty.
In Your Name I pray,
Amen.
“I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire; to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).
2. Prayer for Protection
Lord God,
I enter into your presence with a desire for your protection in this winter season. As the days become shorter and the air gets colder, I humbly ask for your hedge of protection over my friends and family. Keep them safe from illness, winter weather, and accidents as they travel.
Lead us away from anything that could cause us harm. Wrap us in Your loving arms. Give us the wisdom to make good choices and the discernment to take essential precautions. All my trust lies in your power to keep those I love safe.
In Your Name, I pray,
Amen.
“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:1-2).
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3. Prayer for Comfort and Strength
Dear Lord,
In the darkness and cold of winter, I seek the comfort of Your presence in my life and the lives of all people. I ask for your comfort to be extended to anyone who may be struggling mentally, physically, or emotionally. Bring them healing, warmth, and peace. Give their souls the strength to face each day and the perseverance to overcome their battles. Guide us through any darkness in our lives. Reassure them that You are Lord of our lives and will never leave us.
Grant us healing and restoration. Fill our hearts with hope. Let this season be a time for growth and transformation.
In Your Name,
Amen
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our afflictions so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
4. Prayer for Guidance and Wisdom
Dear God,
I come to you, seeking Your guidance and wisdom during this winter season. I realize I am weak and unable to conquer challenges alone. Your Word tells me that even though I am weak, you are strong. With Your strength, I can endure all things.
Help me to remain grounded in my faith even when trials come my way. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me continue to seek your guidance and wisdom through studying Your Word and through daily prayer. Let my faith shine and be a hope for all I meet.
In Your Name,
Amen
“So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
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5. Prayer for Opportunities to Serve and Bless Others
Dear Lord,
I admit to having blinders on to the rest of the world. In this winter season I ask you to open my eyes and my heart to others’ needs. Give me opportunities to share your love with others. Open doors so that through me You can extend your blessings and love to others. Let my actions not be a stumbling block but a reflection of You. Let me be Your hands and feet in this dark world.
In Your Name,
Amen
“But be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
6. Prayer for Provision
My Lord,
In the chilly days ahead, I ask your provision for me and the vulnerable people in our world. I ask for shelter and warmth. Provide us with clothes to wear and warm food to eat. Lead us to the resources we need to establish stability in our lives.
In the days ahead, I ask for your provision of people who see the needs and take action. Help each person in every community become aware of these needs and work toward providing for them. Let us come together and support one another, and in doing so, help us show our communities your love and compassion.
In Your Name,
Amen.
“Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices” (Hebrews 13:16).
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7. Prayer for Hope and New Beginnings
Dear God,
Winter will be cold and long. As this season fades into spring, I seek a hope that only you can give. I pray you fill my soul with anticipation of new beginnings. Open my eyes to new possibilities. Open my heart to new opportunities to share your love with others.
Let this winter season remind us that all things work for your glory. As the snow lies on the ground, let us have hope that we will see the trees bud and the flowers bloom again.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Closing Thoughts
Paul wrote the best advice for us to remember during the winter season. He says, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
During the long months of cold we can become weary. Our strength can fade, and we can begin to lose any hope that spring will arrive. Prayer is a powerful way to stay grounded in your faith and grow closer to God. Through our prayers we will find the peace, guidance, hope, strength, comfort, and the provision God gives to those who love Him.
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