35 Powerful Night Prayers to Read to Family Before Bed (2024)

O Lord our God, keep us in peace during this night and at all times. Keep our hearts and thoughts secure in holy reverence for you, so that we may be protected at all times from the snares of the enemy. And let us offer blessing and glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

— Armenian Prayer

Dear Lord, break me of the need to be busy pursuing a sense of self-worth. Make me secure in who You are and who You’ve made me to be, and as a result, teach me what it means to truly rest. Help me catch my breath. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

— Max Lucado

Grant me a good night's sleep tonight, God, so that I can awake refreshed and ready to begin another day loving you. Thank you again for blessings so undeserved and too numerous to count. I love being your child, and I long for the word "faithful" to describe my service to you, each day of every year. When I awake in the morning, may it be with a joyful smile, not a grumpy spirit. May your protection and your presence bathe this place with peace and safety against the enemy. Good night, Lord. In Jesus's name, Amen.

— Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Lord, I lay down in my bed full of hope for tomorrow because you alone, O Lord, sustain me. Although life is full of challenges, I choose to believe and trust in you. I surrender all of me to you tonight, and I choose to rest in the warmth of your embrace, knowing that you are an ever-present help in time of need. In Jesus’ name, I believe and pray, Amen.

— Connect Us Fund

O Lord, I have been anxious the whole day, and to be honest, my heart is still troubled. Lord, I do not want to go to bed feeling this way. Your word says we should not be anxious, but in prayer and supplications, we should make our requests known to you. I place everything that is making me anxious at your feet and choose to rest in your love tonight. Cover me with your arms of love all through the night and grant me sleep. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

— Connect Us Fund

As I lay down in sleep to safely wake again only by Your grace, keep me in a joyful, lively remembrance that whatever happens, I will someday know my final rising — the resurrection — because Jesus Christ lay down in death for me and rose for my justification. In His name I pray, Amen.

— Tim Keller

Heavenly Father, who gives rest to His children — will You wash over me a peace that passes all understanding as I lay down to sleep tonight? I ask that You would ease the load of the burdens I am carrying. My desire is to be an effective mother, wife, and friend and I know my attitude, energy level, and spiritual life will not be sufficient to do this if I don’t have the deep spiritual rest You long to give me. Be merciful, O Lord, and give sweet sleep to Your child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

— Lysa TerKeurst

Father, I can barely lift my eyes to you. It's all I can do to cry out for help. Please extend your grace to me this day. Help me to see that you are in this and that you are with me. Help me to remember that you are not surprised or taken off guard by the events of this day. Forgive me for my fears about this day. Forgive me for how I have complained and muttered about how hard this day has been. Forgive me for forgetting that you are with me. Forgive me for forgetting who I am because of what your Son, Jesus Christ, has done. Forgive me for failing to remember the glorious truths and riches I have because of the gospel. Father, hear my prayer. Grant me gospel hope in the midst of this hard day. Help me to cling to your grace, your wisdom, and your strength.

— Christina Fox

Heavenly Father, my day is drawing to an end, and I'm ready to turn in. But before I do, I have to thank you for your faithfulness today. It's always a good day, even when things may not go the way I plan, or when the world seems in chaos because you are in control.For all the times when I was aware of your help today, all the times when your unseen presence seemed so near, thank you, God. But for all the ways you worked behind the scenes, unknown to me, moments when heaven-sent angels moved on my behalf in ways I'll never know, thank you for those also, Lord. Amen.

— Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Lord, I long for those moments early in my faith when I felt your closeness, your joy, your energy and zest for life. I confess that the daily grind has ground down my passion for you. I confess that I allow the cares of the world to choke out the joy of the gospel. Lord, turn my heart toward you again. Fix my eyes on you, fix my heart on you. Help me have a reset in my faith and in my life, starting today. Renew my heart, renew my life for you and your ways. Help me see the daily routines of life as moments to gracefully submit to your will. Thank you for being the Lord of my life everyday. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

— Jennifer Waddle

Lord,

You bless us as we rest
Restore us as we sleep
You care for us as we drift off
And make our dreaming sweet.

You are the safest place
You are the God of Grace
Forgiven, loved and held by you
Is each small seed of faith.

You know our thoughts and feelings
You see our deep desires
You understand our weariness
And catch each tear we cry.

You walk beside us every day
You are a constant friend
You stay with us all through the night
On you we can depend.

— Unknown

Dear Father,

I can’t sleep.
I’m tossing and turning.
Again.
I’m so thankful You never grow weary
And You never sleep.
I’m thankful that You are here with me right now,
Even when my mind won’t stop churning
And my head won’t stop spinning.
Even when I know that worrying gets me nowhere
And my heart needs to rely on You.
I need You — the Good Shepherd —
Because counting sheep just doesn’t work.
Would you comfort my heart as only You can?
Will you rescue me from my own spiral of thoughts?
For I know that when I rest in You,
peace like a river overflows my soul and
I can praise You in advance for sweet rest.
Amen.

— Rachel Wojo

Jesus, tender shepherd, hear me.Bless this little lamb tonight.Through the darkness be down near me,Keep me safe till morning light.

— Mary Duncan

Dear Father,

I admit that I often forget that you are with me. I often forget what you’re like. Would you please forgive me for that? I need to get to know you better. I need to get to know your Word and your promises better. Help me to put you first in every area of my life. Help me to live one day at a time. Help me to not worry about tomorrow but instead focus on what you’re doing in my life right now. I want to trust in your promise to take care of every one of my needs — financial, relational, physical, social, spiritual, and emotional. Help me to trust you more and worry less. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

— Rick Warren

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.

— Martin Luther

Oh Lord,

Go with each of us to rest; if any awake, temper to them the dark hours of watching; and when the day returns, return to us, our sun and comforter, and call us up with morning faces and with morning hearts, eager to labor, eager to be happy, and if the day be marked for sorrow, strong to endure it.

— Robert Louis Stevenson

Father, we thank thee for the night, and for the pleasant morning light. For rest and food and loving care, and all that makes the day so fair. Help us to do the things we should, to be to others kind and good. In all we do, in work or play, to grow more loving every day.

— Rebecca Weston

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.

— Unknown

Father, you know my worries and care for my troubles. So I give these heavy concerns to you. I lay these situations at your feet. The empty cross is a place of rest, where I can reflect upon your resurrection and the moment when love overcame. Thank you that your love in me can transform the landscape of my life. I walk with peace into the new day, and put my hope in you. Nothing is outside of your redeeming love, might I rest now in the knowledge that you will light my path and guide my life. Amen.

— Unknown

Lord, thank you for your abundant, abounding grace. Thank you that we don't have to earn a drop of the mighty river of grace that flows freely for us today. Thank you for the unexpected, unmerited favor you've showered on my life. Help me put myself in the path of your love and grace. Help me not neglect the disciplines I need to meet with you regularly and to drink from the water of life. Thank you for your rich love. Amen.

— David Mathis