Night Prayer Before Sleep
This page features a mixture of inspiring traditional and contemporary bedtime prayers. There is a powerful night prayer for protection, two simple ancient Celtic evening prayers, and a beautiful good night prayer for a loved one. There are also an uplifting Anglican prayer to say, a short night prayer for friends, a great bedtime prayer for children and several good bible verses to meditate on before sleep.
Powerful Night Prayer
(a powerful prayer of protection to say when feeling afraid)
Short Night Prayer
resources on this page
The Lord will protect you now and always wherever you go.
Psalm 121:8, (CEV)
Short Prayer Before Sleep
Goodnight Father God,
Thank you for your presence
Stay beside me as I sleep and dream
That I might wake with you to greet the morning.
Amen.
(a short bedtime prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com)
Good Night Prayer for My Love
(a short prayer blessing for my partner)
Celtic Prayers
May the Sacred Three
Save,
Sheild,
Surround,
The hearth,
The house,
The household,
This eve,
This night,
Oh! This eve,
This night,
And every night,
Each single night.
Amen.
Traditional Celtic blessing used to celebrate the start of the Celtic New Year (Samhain - November 1st)
When I see the moon in the night sky
I speak my evening prayer:
Praise be to the Being of Life,
For His kindness and His goodness.
Bedtime Prayer
The Wings of Sleep
O Lord our God, King of the Universe.
Let the wings of sleep fall upon my eyes,
and upon my eyelids.
O Blessed One,
Let me lie down in peace,
and rise in peace.
Into Your hand I entrust my spirit.
(Adapted from a Jewish prayer)
Night Prayer
A reflective and poetic night prayer accompanied by inspiring images of the Sea of Galilee as the sun sets over the waters. Useful for meditation before bed or for late evening prayer:-
Good night prayer for friends
Dear Father,
I treasure my friend so much, I thank you for their presence in my life.
I ask you to watch over them, to lead them into hope and blessing.
I trust that you will protect and hold them when life is hard.
Lord, help me to be a good friend to them.
Amen.
(a short bedtime petition for friends or loved ones, from www.lords-prayer-words.com)
Quietude
Calm instrumental music for encountering God's peace before sleep (this may be used in conjunction with the scripture meditation below):-
Scripture for Meditation
Here is a suitable bible passage to meditated on before going to sleep. It speaks of God's everlasting love and protection. Once read, try closing your eyes and filling your mind with these thoughts:-
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
(Psalm 91:1-7, NIV)
(this page explores this scripture in greater depth)
I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son,
that Thou hast kept me this night from all harm and danger;
and I pray Thee to keep me this day also from sin and all evil,
that all my doings and life may please Thee.
For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.
Let Thy holy angel be with me,
that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me.
Amen.
Source: "The Small Catechism" by Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Powerful Night Prayer for Protection
Almighty God, radiant with light,
Cast your goodness to shine upon me.
Most wonderful Lord, creator of all things,
Hold your truth to shield me.
Majestic King who reigns over all,
Slay with great love all the shadows around me.
Prince of Peace, glorious and true,
Lift your arms of strength to cover me
All this night through.
Amen.
(a prayer for protection from www.lords-prayer-words.com)
Children's Prayer Before Sleep
"Cheeky Monkey TV!" is a fun way of introducing prayer to children. In this episode, Cheeky Monkey teaches us a great prayer to say before going to bed:-
Anglican Evening Prayers
O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful,
the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead:
We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past,
and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night.
Bring us in safety to the morning hours;
through him who died and rose again for us,
your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
A Collect for the Presence of Christ
Lord Jesus, stay with us,
for evening is at hand and the day is past;
be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts,
and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread.
Grant this for the sake of your love.
Amen.
Source: " Daily Evening Prayer: Rite Two", Book of Common Prayer, 1979 version, Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America
Night Vigil
(Ancient Christian Prayer)Watch thou, dear Lord,
with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,
and give thine angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend thy sick ones, Lord Christ.
Rest thy weary ones.
Bless thy dying ones.
Soothe thy suffering ones.
Pity thine afflicted ones.
Shield thy joyous ones.
And all, for thy love's sake.
Amen.
Saint Augustine of Hippo
(4th Century, North Africa)
May the Lord Fill Your Dreaming
(a good night prayer for my love)May the Lord fill your dreaming,
As you dwell on this passing day.
May the Lord hear your prayers,
And every longing you say.
May the Lord gently keep you,
As you soak in grace this night.
May the Lord sing a sweet lullaby,
May you sleep well tonight.
May the Lord restore your being,
As you settle now to rest.
May you sleep in heavens arms,
And awaken fully blessed.
(a night prayer for loved ones from www.lords-prayer-words.com)
Bedtime Prayer
I lay my head down, with every thought of the day given to you.
I lay my heart down, with every worry, joy or care safe in you.
I lay my body down, with every ache, toil and muscle renewed in you.
I lay my soul down, with every fragment of my being I glorify you, I am yours. Amen.
(a bedtime prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com
Bible verses about sleep and rest
Below are featured some useful scriptures related to sleep and resting which are found in the Old and New Testaments. They may be useful to inspire your night prayers to God, or for a period of meditation on scripture and worship.
More prayers for different occasions...
here are links to some wonderfully inspired prayers to aid your journey