A Bedtime Prayer from the Bible

It is fitting to read and pray God’s Word before sleeping because praying the Bible is praying the Word of God. Praying the Bible also means praying God’s will. That is why, if you want to know how to pray something that is in line with the will of God, then you should be reading your Bible. Not just once in a while, but regularly. We also have to remember not everything in the Bible can be turned into prayer.

What is the prayer you say before going to sleep?

The way you pray any time of the day is the same way you can pray before going to sleep. If you prayed for your family’s safety during your devotional, you could still pray for safety as you go to sleep. There are no rules regarding what is allowed or not allowed when it comes to prayer. Remember that prayer is our way of communicating with God. It is like coming before the throne of grace and speaking to God, who is both our king and father, so there is still respect and reverence before Him.

Perhaps what would make a bedtime prayer different from other prayers is that you are praying it at the end of a long day, meaning there are things about your day that you would like to include in your prayer. One example is thanking God for being able to finish what you needed to finish at work on that day. It may also be praying to God when a friend did something that hurt you. Praying in the evening before you sleep is a way of pouring your heart out to God. You can also pray for something related to the next day, like an event you are preparing for or a loved one’s birthday.

Psalm 18:6

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

As you go to sleep, take time to pray and pour out to God about the day that is coming to an end or what you are about to face the next day. Here is one sample prayer you can pray:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for today—for keeping me safe and sound and able to come home safely. Thank You for the graces You have given me as I have done the things I needed today. I thank You, Lord, because I have peace as I sleep, for You keep me safe. I know I can face whatever challenges may come my way tomorrow, for You are my strength and shield. I lift everything up to You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What are some good Bible verses for bedtime?

Bedtime is associated with physical and mental rest since a person needs to unwind after a long day. Some Bible verses that you could meditate on are also about rest. One passage to look into is Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

It is also strongly encouraged that you check out Hebrews 4. These verses tell us that Jesus is our ultimate rest; that does not mean our physical rest but rather our spiritual rest. Only Christ can give us rest from laboring at good works because only through His work on the cross can we be saved. Therefore Christ is our rest. Whenever you are working hard to get satisfaction and the feeling of being complete, remember that you don’t have to keep on doing that because you can get what you need from Christ, and in Him, you can rest from your insecurities. Physical rest is important, but remembering Jesus as our ultimate rest is even more important.

Mark 2:27

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Hebrews 4:9–11

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

You may pray these verses like this prayer:

Lord Jesus, I thank You because I don’t have to keep living an exhausting life trying to please others – to feel affirmed, accepted, secured, and complete – because in You alone, Lord, I have this. It is in You that I can find rest from chasing those things because I have them in You already. But most of all, You have given me rest from meaningless good works for salvation because you have already worked for it by dying on the cross for me. Remind me to always rest in You, Jesus. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

Rest in Christ is not just in salvation. When we encounter Christ and receive God’s love, mercy, and grace through Him, we rest from finding in other people that which we can find only in God. We have this living water in Christ, with which we shall never thirst.