It was one of those nights where, no matter what I did, I couldn’t quiet my mind. After spending the evening tidying up from the day and trying to get a head start on tomorrow, I was stuck thinking about bills that needed paying, grocery shopping after work and a thousand other worries that felt too big to let go. When I finally crawled into bed, I found my wife, ever the calm one, peacefully asleep. Meanwhile, I lay there staring at the ceiling, wide awake and frustrated, with an endless to-do list running laps in my head.
At some point, out of pure exhaustion, I got up, made my way to the living room, and sat down on the couch with my Bible. I didn’t know what else to do. I started flipping through the pages, and that’s when my eyes landed on a verse I’ve read a hundred times:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”
(Matthew 11:28).
In that quiet moment, I took a deep breath and just started talking to God. No script, no structure—just me pouring out all the things weighing on my heart.
That simple act of praying and giving my worries to Him felt like I had lifted something heavy off my chest. Before I knew it, I was back in bed, feeling lighter and finally able to fall asleep. The next morning, I realized something: I had been going about bedtime all wrong. Instead of trying to force myself to sleep, I needed to make space for peace, for prayer, for rest.
That’s why I’m sharing this with you today. I know how hard it can be to let go of the day’s stresses, especially when your mind feels like it’s running a marathon. But creating a nightly prayer routine has helped me more than I ever expected, and I truly believe it can do the same for you.
Here’s how I do it, and how you can too.
Step 1: Set the Mood for Stillness
The first thing I realized was that I couldn’t jump straight from the chaos of the day into peaceful prayer. I needed to intentionally slow down. So, about 30 minutes before bed, I dim the lights, turn off the TV, and step away from my phone. Sometimes I even light a candle or put on some soft music—something calming to shift my mind toward quietness.
When I do this, I think of it as setting the stage for prayer. It’s like creating a sacred space in my home, even if it’s just the corner of my bedroom. This small shift helps signal to my brain that it’s time to transition from the busyness of life to rest and reflection.
Pro tip: find one thing that calms your mind—maybe soft lighting, soothing music, or even the scent of lavender—and make it part of your nightly routine.
Step 2: Begin with Gratitude
When I finally sit down to pray, I start with gratitude. It’s a habit I picked up because I realized how important it is to acknowledge the good. Even on the tough days. I’ll sit quietly, take a deep breath, and thank God for something from the day, no matter how small. Maybe it’s a simple moment I shared with my kids, or even the fact that I made it through a stressful situation.
Starting with gratitude shifts the focus from all the things that are going wrong to what’s going right. It helps me reset my mindset, making me more open to the peace that prayer can bring. And it doesn’t have to be long—just a few moments of reflection can make a world of difference.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).
Step 3: Ask for Restful Sleep
After gratitude, I move into asking God for what I need. And in this case, it’s restful sleep. I simply ask God to ease my mind, relax my body, and fill my heart with His peace. I don’t worry about getting the words perfect—I just speak from the heart, trusting that He knows what I need, even if I can’t always articulate it.
A prayer might sound something like this:
“Lord, help me to release the worries of today and the concerns of tomorrow. Please grant me rest, so I can wake up refreshed and ready to serve You.”
It’s a simple request, but it’s powerful. And I’ve found that when I give my worries over to Him, I actually sleep better. It’s that whole “cast your cares on Him” thing really working.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Step 4: Meditate on a Bible Verse
This is one of my favorite parts of the routine. I take a moment to meditate on a Bible verse—something simple, like
“The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing”
(Psalm 23:1).
I’ll repeat it quietly in my head, letting the words sink in. Sometimes, I even fall asleep with that verse in my mind, and it feels like I’m carrying God’s peace with me as I drift off.
If I’m feeling particularly restless, I might choose a verse that speaks directly to anxiety or fear. There’s something deeply comforting about ending the day with scripture—it helps me let go of the day’s stress and refocus on what really matters.
Pro tip: Find a verse that resonates with you and use it as your “sleep verse.” Over time, it’ll become a soothing mantra for your nights.
Step 5: Close with Surrender
Before I end my prayer, I always take a moment to surrender. I remind myself that not everything is in my control, and that’s okay. It’s in God’s hands. I’ll whisper something simple, like, “Lord, I give you my worries, my stress, and my exhaustion. I trust You to take care of what I can’t.”
That final moment of surrender is what really lets me rest. Knowing that I don’t have to carry it all alone gives me peace, and I sleep better because of it. This is probably the most powerful part of the routine—letting go of the need to solve everything before bed.
Final Thoughts: Finding Peace in Prayer
Creating a nightly prayer routine isn’t about getting the perfect words or sticking to a strict ritual. It’s about taking time to connect with God, reflect on the day, and release your worries into His hands. Since I started doing this, my nights have become less restless, and I wake up feeling more grounded and ready for the day ahead.
If you’re struggling with sleep or finding it hard to unwind, I encourage you to try this. Prayer isn’t just about asking for things – it’s about finding peace in God’s presence. And that, I’ve found, is the real key to restful sleep.
Sleep well, wake blessed. – Josh
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