What to Pray Before Bed: 10 Simple Christian Bedtime Prayers
Ending the day with prayer is a beautiful way to let go of the worries of a busy day, find peace, and reconnect with God’s unfailing love. And a simple bedtime prayer can soothe your heart, bring comfort, and prepare your mind for restful sleep.
In those quiet moments before bed, offering gratitude, seeking guidance, and asking for protection reminds us of God’s presence, even in the night hours.
It’s a wonderful way to reflect on the good things in your life and trust in His perfect peace for tomorrow.
If you’re looking for meaningful prayers to incorporate into your nighttime routine, you’ll love the ones gathered here.
Bedtime Prayer from Prayers for Your Day
To begin, we invite you to join us in a heartfelt and simple prayer straight from our YouTube channel, Prayers for Your Day.
This bedtime prayer focuses on finding peace, releasing the stress of a busy day, and resting in God’s unfailing love.
It’s a wonderful way to end your day—inviting the Holy Spirit to bring comfort and a sense of calm as you prepare for restful sleep.
By taking a few quiet moments to pray, you can let go of the day’s worries and place them in God’s hands.
Let this prayer guide you into a peaceful night.
9 More Simple Bedtime Prayers for a Peaceful Night
Next up, 9 additional simple night prayers that are perfect for calming your mind, reflecting on the blessings of the day, and entrusting your rest to Christ Jesus.
1. A Prayer for Peaceful Rest
Dear Heavenly Father,
As I lay down to rest, I surrender my anxieties to You. Calm my racing thoughts and quiet the worries that linger from this long day.
Wrap me in Your perfect peace. I ask for the peace of God to fill my heart and mind tonight.
Quiet the wrong thoughts that trouble me, and guard me with Your holy angels as I rest. Grant me peaceful sleep, free from fear or unrest, and let me wake refreshed and ready to walk in Your light.
May I wake with the morning light renewed and ready for the new day You have prepared for me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
2. A Prayer for Family Protection
Dear Lord Jesus,
As I lay down to sleep, I ask for Your protection over me and my family members.
Guard us with Your holy angels, grant us sweet dreams, keep us safe through the night.
Let no harm or spirit of fear come near us, and may we rest in the shelter of Your unwavering love. Let no unclean spirit come near our home.
Thank You for always watching over us and providing for our every need.
In Your mighty name I pray,
Amen
Related: 30 Powerful Prayers and Scriptures to Pray Over Your Family and Home
3. A Prayer for Forgiveness
Dear Lord,
As this day comes to an end, I come before You with an evening prayer and a humble heart, seeking Your mercy.
O Lord, forgive me for the wrong things I’ve done today—both the words I should not have spoken and the actions I failed to take.
Cleanse my heart and renew my spirit as I rest in Your peace. Thank You for Your unfailing love and for always welcoming me back into Your arms, no matter how far I’ve strayed.
Teach me to walk closer with You tomorrow and to reflect Your grace in all that I do.
In Jesus’s precious name,
Amen
4. A Prayer for Comfort and Calm
Dear God,
As I prepare to close my eyes and rest, please comfort me with Your presence.
Let Your peace wash over me and fill me with the knowledge that You are here with me, holding me in Your loving arms.
May Your love be a shield against any worries or fears that try to enter my mind. Help me to trust in You completely as I drift off into peaceful sleep.
O Lord, let this nighttime prayer be a reminder of Your constant presence as my source of comfort.
Grant me peaceful sleep and the assurance that You are with me, guarding my soul all through the night.
In Your precious name I pray,
Amen
5. A Prayer of Gratitude
Dear God,
Thank You for the daily bread You’ve provided me and for the moments of joy that have filled this day.
Even in its challenges, I see Your hand at work in my life. As I close my eyes tonight, I pray for a heart full of thankfulness and peace.
Help me not to take my blessings for granted and to regularly reflect on Your goodness.
When I am tempted to compare myself with others or feel lacking, remind me of Your abundant love and provision in my life. I
trust in the work of Your precious hands.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
6. A Prayer for Strength for Tomorrow
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to You weary but hopeful. Strengthen me for the day to come and guide me with the light of Your Word.
Give me a sound mind, the right words to speak, and the courage to face whatever tomorrow may bring.
I trust in Your power and love to sustain me.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
7. A Prayer for the Blessings of the Day
O God,
At the end of this day, I give thanks for every blessing You have given me. Thank You for the moments of joy, the good food, and the quiet times I’ve had to reflect on Your love.
Though this day may have had challenges, I see Your hand at work in all things concerning me.
As I rest tonight, help me to focus on Your Word and prepare my spirit for a new morning, one that is filled with Your grace.
In Your precious and powerful name I pray,
Amen
8. A Prayer for Guidance and Protection
Dear Father,
I lift my heart to You in this time of prayer, asking for Your guidance and protection.
Watch over my family and loved ones, and place Your loving arms around us as we sleep. Send Your holy angels to guard our souls and grant us sweet dreams.
With Your help, O Lord, may we rise tomorrow ready to walk in faith and do the work of Your hands.
In Jesus’s name,
Amen
9. A Prayer of Praise
Dear Lord Almighty,
Tonight, I lift my heart in praise to You, for You alone are worthy of all glory and honor.
Thank You for Your unwavering love and the countless blessings You pour into my life each day. You are my rock, my refuge, and the source of all good things.
I stand in awe of Your power and grace, which sustain me in every moment of every day.
Let my life be a reflection of Your goodness, and may my worship bring You joy.
I rest tonight knowing that You hold all things in Your hands.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
A Reflective Note on the Lord’s Prayer (Bonus Section)
As I was putting together these short nightly prayers and reflecting on my blessings, my mind kept drifting to the Lord’s Prayer.
This beautiful prayer that Jesus taught His disciples embodies everything we have been discussing – gratitude, guidance, protection, and praise.
In this simple yet powerful prayer, we acknowledge God as our Father and give Him honor and reverence. We ask for His will to be done in our lives and pray for our daily needs to be met. We seek forgiveness for our sins and extend that forgiveness to others.
And ultimately, we recognize God’s sovereignty and power over all things.
When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we are reminded of our dependence on God and His faithfulness towards us.
Reciting this timeless prayer before sleep is a wonderful way to center our hearts and minds on Him and thank Him for another day of His goodness:
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”
Bible Verses About Sleep and Rest
Here are some Bible verses about sleep and rest to reflect on.
As important as it is to pray before bed, it is equally important to actually get a good night’s rest. God designed our bodies to need sleep, and He promises to give us rest when we turn to Him:
- “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8
- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
- “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” – Proverbs 3:24
- “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.” – Psalm 127:2
As we rest, we can trust that God is watching over us and protecting us. And when we wake up, we can give thanks for another day under His care and guidance.
Finding Rest in God: A Short Bible Study
Focus Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Introduction:
This passage is an invitation from Jesus to trade life’s weariness and burdens for the rest that only He can provide.
Rest in this context goes beyond physical sleep—it’s a deep spiritual peace that comes from trusting fully in Him.
Reflection:
- Jesus’ call to “come to me” is personal and intentional. It’s a reminder that God is always ready to receive His children, no matter how tired, stressed, or overwhelmed they feel.
- The promise of rest offers strength and peace through surrendering life’s challenges to Him, rather than avoiding them.
Application:
Before bed, take a moment to reflect on anything that feels heavy—whether it’s worries, mistakes, or plans for tomorrow.
Surrender those things to God and trust that He is both willing and able to carry the load.
Reflective Questions:
- What burdens or anxieties can be released into God’s hands tonight?
- How does trusting in God’s care make it easier to let go of control?
- In what ways can focusing on Jesus’s gentleness and humility help bring peace at the end of a long day?
