Top 40 Nighttime Prayers

Evenings are a time for reflection. The day is done, and we can sit down in a quiet place to observe our thoughts and feelings. Over the centuries, this practice has become a sacred tradition because it allows us to have communion with the Divine as we survey our souls vigilantly. 

It’s a time to reflect, find reasons to feel grateful, ask for forgiveness, feel the renewal, and start from a clean slate. The old has gone. Everything is new. Prayer allows us to experience “resurrection” repeatedly in God on a daily basis.

We have collected 40 nighttime prayers to help you stay vigilant and guard against spiritual slumber. 

Why Pray at Night?

Nighttime prayers have been practiced since time immemorial. Jesus commanded us to watch and pray, not fall into spiritual slumber. Spiritual slumber comes over us when we stop watching our thoughts and feelings. As the day concludes, we may feel angry, frustrated, sad, dull, moody, or apathetic, but we don’t notice it. 

Unless we catch ourselves having these feelings, they will go unnoticed and eventually yield bitter fruit. The feelings will give birth to sinful desires, and when those desires conceive, we could be enslaved to sin again.  

The quiet of the night amplifies God’s voice for us. It’s a sacred moment of rest to surrender all our desires and burdens to him.

Benefits of Nighttime Prayer

1. Inner Peace: Nighttime prayer is a way to release all emotional and physical tension. Stress is inevitable, and unless we find serenity in God’s presence, our body and mind will suffer.
2. Reflection: As we pause and still our minds, we can acknowledge our thoughts and feelings as they are. From the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks. What is my heart full of? As we watch and pray, we can give it over to God and trust Him to heal us.
3. Guidance: How often do we go to bed feeling confused? What’s the best course of action? What should I do with my kids, work situation, and finances? When we lack clarity, we need to ask God and wait in expectation because He is faithful.
4. Connection: Disconnection from God is a cause of all sin and misery in the world. Nighttime prayer is a powerful tool to tune in to the voice of the Spirit and relish the longed-for sense of intimacy and security in God.

How to Pray at Night

There are no rules for praying at night or day. Prayer is a time of quieting your senses so you can hear the voice of God in the silence of the heart. As David prayed in Psalm 119:62,

“At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances.”

He would rise in the middle of the night to reconnect to God. He knew that in the morning, he would be caught up in a whirlwind of cares and worries. So, he took his time while on his bed to sincerely seek the face of the Lord. Knowing his weakness, he sought the strength of the Lord. 

Tips for Making the Most of Your Nighttime Prayers

Image Source

1. Be consistent: Pick a good time for nighttime prayer so you can pray continually and consistently. 
2. Practice gratitude: Keep a journal of what you are grateful for every day. Over time, you will be surprised at how many blessings you have. It will boost your mood, immunity, and vitality.
3. Breathe deeply and be mindful: Mental and physical release is a part of sincere prayer. As you breathe, mentally release all burdens to God, asking Him to take all your cares and bless you with peace. As you continue to do it, you welcome the tranquility of the Holy Spirit into your heart.
4. Find a Sacred Space: Whether it’s your bed, a balcony, a deck, or a corner in your room, make it a sacred place for your communion with God. With time, the calming influence of prayer will come over you the moment you step inside your sacred space or even contemplate being there. 

How to Choose the Right Nighttime Prayer for You

There are many existing nighttime prayers that you can use. For example, David prayed,

“In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.” 

You can also pray your own prayers, speaking from your heart. As you reflect on your day, pour out your heart to God. Don’t hold anything back. God’s Spirit inside you will lead you as you sincerely seek to connect with God.

Making Nighttime Prayer a Habit

Jesus warned his disciples, 

“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus told us to overcome the weakness of the flesh by watchfulness and prayer. To make it a habit, we must repeatedly remind ourselves that we must abide in God and His Word day and night to be filled with Him. Don’t push or force yourself. Pushing is always counterproductive. Start small. Seek progress, not perfection. As Scripture says, “Taste the Lord and see that He is good.” 

As you taste communion with God, it will gradually become part of your life and transform your nightly routine.

Nighttime Prayers for Children

Image Source

Teaching your children to pray before bed is a great way to instill a spiritual awareness in them. As they watch us pray consistently and patiently, they will internalize prayer as a practice of turning to God throughout the day that makes one joyful, resilient, and strong. 

Nighttime Prayers for Specific Situations

1. Prayer for Forgiveness Before Bed: Ask God to cleanse your heart, soul, and mind of everything that burdens your soul. Forget what’s behind and stretch forward toward what’s ahead.
2. Prayer for Peaceful Sleep: God grants sleep to those He loves. He wants us to rest and replenish our resources. He makes us lie down in green pastures so we can fully rely on Him and rest peacefully. 
3. Prayer for Guidance Before Sleep: When life is uncertain, don’t make rash decisions. Turn to God in prayer and patiently wait for His wisdom. God loves to give wisdom to His children who are ready to wait for Him. 
4. Prayer for Healing: Pray to God to restore your body as you sleep. Seek His face to experience healing grace for yourself and others.
5. Prayer for Protection at Night: Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the forces of darkness that neither sleep nor slumber. But God, too, doesn’t sleep or slumber. “Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:4) Ask Him to protect you against all evil.

Top 40 Night Prayers

Image Source

Prayers for Peace and Tranquility at Night

1. The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy. Let Your Kingdom come. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Bring us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
2. Serenity Prayer: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the ones I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
3. Prayer for Safety: “In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.” Psalm 4:8
4. Prayer to the Good Shepherd: “Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3
5. Prayer for Tranquility: Lord, I have put my trust in You. Therefore, deliver me. You said: “I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble.” Psalm 91:14-15
6. Prayer for Deliverance: Lord, I know that you will deliver me from trouble. You are “my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2
7. Prayer for Contentment: God, grant me godliness with contentment, which is great gain. “For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:6-9
8. Prayer for Faith: Lord, grant me faith, which is “assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
9. Prayer for Calm: Lord, calm the storm that rages all around me. For You “rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39

Prayers for Forgiveness and Mercy

10. Psalm 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
    Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.”
11. Asking for Forgiveness: Lord, You said in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Help me forgive those who sin against me so I can receive Your forgiveness fully.
12. Prayer of Repentance: Lord, give me a broken spirit so I can bring You the right sacrifices – repentance and trust. “For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.” Psalm 51:16-17
13. Prayer for Mercy: “Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1
14. Praying for Grace: O Lord, I am saved by grace alone through faith. Help me see and receive Your grace day and night so I can extend it to those around me. Without You, I can do nothing.

Prayers for Guidance and Protection

Image Source

16. Prayer for Trust: Lord, You said we must not rely on our own minds and understanding. Instead, we should acknowledge You in all our ways. Help me not to overthink anything but to rely totally on Your Spirit as You lead me into all truth.
17. Prayer for Guidance: Lord, I am lost. I don’t know what to do. Show me my next step in accordance with Your wisdom. I don’t want to act rashly. I want to hear You and do as You say.
18. Prayer for Safety: Lord, You are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Protect us from our physical and spiritual foes and deliver us from the evil one.
19. Prayer for Wisdom: Lord God, man’s wisdom is foolishness in Your sight, and Your wisdom is foolishness in man’s sight. I would rather be foolish with You than wise with those who turn away You. Grant me Your divine insight, which the world cannot understand.

Prayers for Healing and Wholeness

21. Praying for the Healing of the Soul: God, I acknowledge You as the Good Shepherd of the soul. You make me lie down in green pastures and lead me beside quiet waters. Restore my soul at night so I wake up renewed and refreshed. Fill my soul with You.
22. Praying for Physical Wellness: As night descends, I seek the light of Your face, Lord. Look down on me from heaven and touch me with Your healing touch so I can be well physically and spiritually.
23. Prayer for Strength: Strengthen me, Lord, according to Your mercy. Pour Your divine strength into the earthen vessel of my body. I trust in Your empowerment and timing.
24. Prayer for Restoration: Make me whole again, Lord, for my heart is broken. May my soul, spirit, and body be renewed. Restore me, cleanse me of all iniquity, and grant me harmony with myself and You.
25. Praying for Comfort: Lord, I need Your divine comfort. I am weeping, and my soul is in anguish. Listen to my cry and hear me. I know that You always hear me, so I pour out my heart to You. Alleviate my grief as I turn my situation over to You.

Night Prayer for Family and Friends

26. Prayer for God’s Provision: Lord, You commanded me to provide for my family, both materially and spiritually. But ultimately, You are Jehovah Jireh, my Provider. Your grace is sufficient. Give me the strength and possibilities to provide for my loved ones.
27. Prayer for Family: God, grant us love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. You alone are the God of love, so instill Your love into our hearts and souls that we may reflect it more in our relationships.
28. Prayer for Parents: Lord, bless our parents and help them feel appreciated, cared for, and respected.
29. Prayer for Children: Lord, we turn our kids over to You because You will protect and guide them better than we ever can. You gave them to us for a time so we can be witnesses of Your divine love for them.
30. Nighttime Prayer for Friends: God, bless my friends who bring me so much joy. Thank you for the divine pleasure of sharing my life with those who have similar views and values.

Nighttime Prayer for the World

31. Psalm 67:1-2: May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. That your way may be known on earth and your salvation among all nations.
32. Prayer for Unity: O God, we are so disconnected. Nations rise and make war on each other. Mend our wounds and give us true peace inside and out.
33. Prayer for Peace Before Bedtime: Lord, grant us peace that rules in our hearts and minds. Guard us against sinful passions that tear our souls apart.
34. Prayer for Justice: Lord, Your ways are higher than our ways. Your justice is higher than our justice. Reign supreme in our hearts and in the world.
35. Prayer for Compassion: O God of all compassion. Soften our hardened hearts with Your love. Make us gentler and kinder because we know what it means to be weak. Help us not to judge so we won’t be judged, for mercy triumphs over judgment.

Universal Nighttime Prayers from the Bible

36. Psalm 4:8: Lord, help me lay myself down and sleep in peace, “for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.”
37. Psalm 91:11-12: God, You have put Your angels in charge of me, so guard me in all my ways. Save me and protect me.
38. Philippians 4:6-7: Lord, help me be anxious in nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let my requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and my thoughts in Christ Jesus.
39. Matthew 11:28-30: Lord, you said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily 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.” Take my burdens and teach me Your humility.
40. Psalm 121:7-8: Lord, I trust that You will protect me from all evil throughout the day. I am assured of Your Word that says, “He will keep your soul. Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forth, and forever more.”

Communion with God

Communing with God through prayer helps us to abide in Him. Day and night, we keep our minds sober in watchful prayer and meditation, knowing that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Therefore, we have a deeper assurance of peace, protection, and provision as we end our days with heartfelt prayers to the Lord.