Prayers for Sleep
Prayer for Insomnia, Blessing a Good Night's Rest, and More
Sleep is essential to a healthy body, mind, and spirit. Yet many people struggle with sleep due to insomnia, nerves, or bad dreams. The following prayers — prayer for insomnia, prayer after a nightmare, blessing for a good night’s rest, and thanksgiving for a new day — invite God to comfort and heal the sleepless so that he/she might find much needed rest.
Prayer for Insomnia
Many people struggle with insomnia and the agony of tossing and turning for a variety of reasons. The following prayer asks God to grant rest and peace during the night:
“Loving God. You guard and protect all Your beloved children. Be with me now as I try to sleep. Let me feel safe, secure, and sleepy as I imagine myself resting in Your arms. Guide me into rest, that I may begin tomorrow afresh, to the glory of Your name. Amen.”
If saying the prayer slowly and resting in silence does not grant sleep soon, one might repeat the second phrase of the prayer — “guide me into rest” — to induce drowsiness. If there is a particular reason causing insomnia, and sleep does not come, one might ask God for insight into why one is awake and see what wisdom might be granted.
Prayer After a Nightmare
Having a nightmare can terrify both children and adults. The worst kind of nightmare is the one where the dreamer wakes up and fears the dream’s monster is out to get them. The following prayer asks God to protect the dreamer, young or old, after a nightmare:
“God of power and might, thank you that [insert monster or most terrifying part of dream] is not real. Let me breathe deeply in the light of your love [one may close eyes and breathe deeply until one feels calmer, if desired.] Send Your holy angels to guard my bed, that I might go back to sleep in peace, to the glory of Your name. Amen.”
Blessing for a Good Night’s Rest
If one has a big day tomorrow, a blessing before bed invites God’s protection and peace. The following prayer blesses the sleeper, his/her room, and the night, that he/she might sleep well and in peace:
“Loving God, thank you for the gift of sleep. You know I have a big day tomorrow [one might share events of the next day, if desired.] Please bless me that I may sleep well tonight. Keep my house, bedroom, and [one may include any family or pets, if desired] safe and secure, that I may lay down my head and awake refreshed and renewed in the light of Your love. Amen.”
One might offer this prayer before a job interview, new day at school, or the night before any major event that has the potential to be life changing. Friends or family might also pray this prayer for a loved one the night before a big day.
Thanksgiving for a New Day
Nothing is more refreshing than a good night’s sleep. The following prayer thanks God for a new day and asks God to bless that day and many more to come:
“Loving God, thank you for a good night’s sleep. Please bless this new day, all that I do and all whom I meet, and especially [one may share any hopes for the day, if desired.] Thank you for the gift of life [one may offer specific thanksgivings, if desired.] Let me enjoy many, many more mornings in the light of Your love. Amen.”
One might offer God this prayer as a quick way to check in at the beginning of the day or as a special prayer of thanks for much needed rest.
Getting enough sleep is important for mental, physical, and emotional balance. For those who believe, spiritual balance is also important. By praying for sleep, believers are offered yet another way to interact with God and seek God’s action in their lives.
To learn more about prayer, one may enjoy Prayers of Petition: How to Pray for the Self. If drowsiness during the day is a problem, How to Stay Awake at Work: Healthy Ways to Fight Fatigue may help.
Prayers for Sleep Invite God's Blessing
|
What do you think about this article?
Latest Articles