Evening prayer has a long history among Christians: David spoke of lifting his hands in prayer “as the evening sacrifice”. It does not have to be long. A few honest sentences, said slowly, are often the best way to hand the day back to God and let sleep come.
“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
1. A prayer for peace before sleep
Lord, the day is done, and I give it back to you.
What went well, I thank you for. What went wrong, I leave with you.
Quiet my thoughts and slow my heart.
Let me lie down in peace and sleep, because you alone keep me safe. Amen.
2. A prayer for an anxious mind
Father, my mind will not stop turning over tomorrow.
You tell me to be anxious for nothing and to bring you everything, so here it is: the worries I can name and the ones I cannot.
I cast this care on you, because you care for me.
Guard my heart and mind with your peace tonight, the peace I cannot explain. Amen.
3. A prayer for protection through the night
Lord, you neither slumber nor sleep.
Watch over this house and everyone in it.
Keep us under the shadow of your wings, from every danger and every fear.
Let us wake refreshed and ready to serve you. Amen.
4. A prayer of thanks at the end of the day
Thank you, Lord, for the gifts of today, noticed and unnoticed:
for food and shelter, for the people I love, for strength to work and for this moment of rest.
Forgive me where I fell short, and help me to begin again tomorrow.
Your mercies are new every morning. Amen.
5. A prayer when you cannot sleep
Lord, it is late and I am still awake.
Instead of fighting it, I will remember you here, in the night watches.
Be near me in the dark. Rest my body even if my mind is slow to follow.
I trust you with the hours that are left. Amen.
6. A prayer for the people you love
Father, I bring before you the people on my heart tonight.
Those who are tired, give them rest. Those who are unwell, comfort and heal them. Those who are far from you, draw them near.
Keep them safe while they sleep, and hold them when I cannot. Amen.
A blessing to end with
This blessing from the book of Numbers is one of the oldest in Scripture. Say it over yourself, or over the people you love.
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
A simple pattern for evening prayer
- Read. Start with one verse or a short psalm. Try our psalms for sleep.
- Remember. Look back over the day: where you saw God’s kindness, and where you need forgiveness.
- Release. Name what you are worried about and hand it over, one thing at a time.
- Rest. End with a short line you can repeat as you fall asleep, such as Psalm 4:8.
Looking for more Scripture to pray? Our Bible verses for sleep are grouped by the kind of night you are having.
Questions
What is a good short prayer before bed?
“Lord, I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone keep me safe. Amen.” It is drawn from Psalm 4:8 and is short enough to remember when you are tired.
How do I pray when I am too tired to think?
Use a single line of Scripture as your prayer, such as Psalm 4:8 or 1 Peter 5:7, and repeat it slowly. God does not need long words, and a short honest prayer is still prayer.
Should I pray before or after reading the Bible at night?
Either works, but many people find it easiest to read a short passage first and then pray from it. The Bible Bedtimes app gives you one King James passage and a Daily Teaching each evening for this.
Can I use these prayers with my spouse or family?
Yes. They are written in the first person but work just as well said together. Change “I” to “we” and take turns reading a line each.