When the skies darken, and the moon shines among the stars, God is telling us to close our eyes and rest for the night. However, not all evenings bring us peace, and not all slumbers are full of comfort. Sometimes, our worries and fears follow us into our dreams, haunting us and robbing us of rest. This bedtime prayer will hopefully bring a sense of calmness and security through a conversation with our Almighty Protector before we sleep. Lay down our fears and worries before Him and ask Him to protect our family and us as we reward ourselves with rest after a long day.
Prayer before going to sleep
God, my Shield, and Protector,
As the peacefulness and tranquility of nighttime is upon us again, may You hear my humble prayer before bed.
I bare my unholy sins before You, begging for Your mercy and kindness. I am imperfect and unworthy of Your greatness, but O Lord, I regret my sins deeply and desire Your forgiveness. You gave us Your only begotten son Jesus, and now I place my faith in Him, for only He can wash away the stain of my guilt.
Thank You for each day that I wake up and each night that gives me quiet rest. Thank You for each opportunity I get to embrace, and for the precious life I now enjoy. Thank You for my job, family, best friends, and even the lessons I get from my successes and failures. There are many blessings and miracles that I have yet to thank You for, and recalling each one is like counting the stars in the night sky. From the bottom of my heart, I praise You for my life and everything in it.
Lord God, watch over me as I close my eyes and drift off to sleep. May my dreams be filled with extraordinary visions of heaven and the most beautiful things life has to offer. Drive away nightmares, especially those borne out of my own fears and anxiety. I’ve diligently labored throughout the day, and I pray that I will be able to rest peacefully tonight and replenish the energy I’ve spent.
Tomorrow will bring another day’s worth of work to be completed, but for now, grant me comfort and peace as I lay in the warmth of my bed. Protect my loved ones and me as we close our eyes and let ourselves be vulnerable. By the time the morning comes, may we all awaken with a fresh mind and an eagerness to start the day and make the most out of it. May we sleep soundly tonight, safe from any harm or ill fortune.
All these I humbly ask of You, Lord.
Amen.
Short Divine protection prayer before bed
Almighty Protector, hear my humble prayer before sleep and grant me calmness as I lay down and rest tonight. Watch over me, my family, and my loved ones, and protect us from danger. Drive away our worries and fears and fill our minds with beautiful dreams. May we wake up tomorrow with a refreshed mind and a heart overflowing with gratitude. Amen.
The Word of God
I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
Psalm 4:8 NRSVUE
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NRSVUE
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
John 14:27 NRSVUE
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 NRSVUE
Intercessory prayer to Saint Dymphna
Our generous and peaceful Saint Dymphna,
Your kindness is a blessing to those who your healing hands have touched. You’ve provided sanctuary to the suffering and eased their worries. Your kindness has touched many lives; may you provide sanctuary for me, too, as I lay down on my bed tonight.
I know what a blessing it is to have a home that shields me from the harsh night and a comfortable bed on which I can sleep peacefully. Yet, I know that other people around the world are suffering worse fates than I am. Some do not have a place to stay, while others no longer find comfort in sleep because of the fear, anxiety, and mental illness that troubles them. It breaks my heart that sleep is a luxury for people living in war-torn nations, and nights are never safe. My heart goes out to them, and I pray that the Lord will have mercy upon them. May He shield them from danger and sustain them throughout hardship. May the Lord use me to extend a helping hand to those I can help. I pray they will remain strong, persevere through adversities, and never forget that the almighty God is with them even on the darkest nights.
Send my praises of thanksgiving to Him because I am genuinely blessed never to know the pain and suffering others are experiencing. I beg forgiveness for the times I took His gifts for granted: the stable roof over my head, the presence of my trusted loved ones, the comfort of my bed that I get to enjoy, and the beautiful mornings I wake up to.
May I sleep soundly tonight, not a single worry destroying my peace. Please fill me with calmness and ease my anxiety. I know that there are many more things to do and think about, but for now, I want to relax and recharge the energy I spent throughout the day. Rest is just as important as work, and I deserve to enjoy my sleep before I worry about tomorrow’s work. Drive away demons and protect me from the evil that surrounds us. Give me comfort on sleepless nights when my thoughts are too loud to ignore. Saint Dymphna shield me from nightmares and give me tranquil dreams instead.
With your voice joining mine in prayer, I know that the Lord will listen to my pleas and that he will have mercy upon my loved ones and me. May you tell him of my troubles and ask Him to soothe my soul as we prepare for bed.
Saint Dymphna, pray for us. Amen.
Further reflection
Actively seeking God’s presence and protection in our life can help improve sleep quality whether or not we suffer from frequent troubles like excessive nightmares or insomnia. Establishing a habit of meditating on His Word and praying to Him before sleeping can also help us gain a sense of calmness and peace, especially if problems have been troubling us lately. Then, as it is written in the book of Psalms, He will protect us from our fears, and we will never have to be afraid of the dangers that lurk at night.
