7 Most Powerful Psalms to Pray Before Bed
One thing is for certain when it comes to our relationship with God — He does not ask for much, He asks for everything. God wants all of us. In His wisdom, He understood that when we give everything to Him, our “first and last fruits,” all of our attention and heart, we will become more attentive to Him and thus hear His voice more clearly. We demonstrate our love and faith by giving Him the first, middle, and last part of our day. How do we do that? Through prayer – morning, afternoon, and night!
The importance of giving God the first and last part of our day is significant because it literally “bookends” our day — shielding it from all evil from the moment we get up until the moment before bed. All throughout the Bible we find God seeking us through our obedience in giving to Him. In return, God gives back to us tenfold. Obviously we should never give to Him in order to solely receive. Yes, He always gives back to us but we must give to Him out of faith, obedience, and love. In so doing, we strengthen our relationship with Him, become protected, and build virtue in the process (virtue creates Saints!).
Oftentimes before bed, our minds begin to race about all that has happened throughout the day and our hearts become burdened thinking about all that needs to be done and what lies ahead in the future. Worry steals our peace and joy. To combat this from happening, we must lie everything at the foot of the Cross before bed and profess: “Lord I trust You with all that happened today, and I believe You are with me now as I fall asleep. If You are for me who or what dare be against me?” Talk about a powerful way to close out the day!
7 Most Powerful Psalms to Pray Before Bed
If you want to end your day seeking God’s face, protecting your life and home, and filling your mind with peace and joy before dreamland, conclude everyday with prayer! This is the surest way to sleep soundly and start the next day off on the right foot. To that end, the Psalms are the perfect evening prayers because they offer countless verses pertaining to real-life struggles, prayers for God’s strength and protection. No matter what you have faced during this day, choose to set your heart and mind on Truth — the Word of God. While you pray, believe that He is going to strengthen and bless you when you wake up as well as in the days to come. Remember, it is your faith that enacts Lord’s biggest blessings upon your life.
7 Most Powerful Psalms to Pray Before Bed
Psalm 139:1-17 – A Prayer to the All-Knowing and Ever-present God
Lord, You have probed me, You know me:
You know when I sit and stand;
You understand my thoughts from afar.
You sift through my travels and my rest;
with all my ways You are familiar.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
Lord, You know it all.
Behind and before You encircle me
and rest Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
far too lofty for me to reach.
Where can I go from Your spirit?
From Your presence, where can I flee?
If I ascend to the heavens, You are there;
if I lie down in Sheol, there You are.
If I take the wings of dawn
and dwell beyond the sea,
even there Your hand guides me,
Your right hand holds me fast.
If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me,
and night shall be my light”—
darkness is not dark for You,
and night shines as the day.
Darkness and light are but one.
You formed my inmost being;
You knit me in my mother’s womb.
I praise You, because I am wonderfully made;
wonderful are Your works!
My very self you know.
My bones are not hidden from You,
When I was being made in secret,
fashioned in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw me unformed;
in Your Book all are written down;
my days were shaped, before one came to be.
How precious to me are Your designs, O God;
how vast the sum of them!
Psalm 121 – The Lord My Guardian
I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
From whence shall come my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of Heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
or your guardian to sleep.
Behold, the guardian of Israel
never slumbers nor sleeps.
The Lord is your Guardian;
the Lord is your shade
at your right hand.
By day the sun will not strike you,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will guard you from all evil;
He will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your coming and going
both now and forever.
Psalm 147:7-11 – A prayer of Thanksgiving
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
with the lyre make music to our God,
Who covers the heavens with clouds,
provides rain for the earth,
makes grass sprout on the mountains,
Who gives animals their food
and young ravens what they cry for.
He takes no delight in the strength of horses,
no pleasure in the runner’s stride.
Rather the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
those who put their hope in His mercy.
Psalm 42:1-6 – A prayer for God’s presence
As the deer longs for streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, the living God.
When can I enter and see the face of God?
My tears have been my bread day and night,
as they ask me every day, “Where is your God?”
Those times I recall
as I pour out my soul,
when I would cross over to the shrine of the Mighty One,
to the house of God,
amid loud cries of thanksgiving,
with the multitude keeping festival.
Why are you downcast, my soul;
why do you groan within me?
Wait for God, for I shall again praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 91 – Prayer of God’s Protection
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shade of the Almighty,
say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare,
from the destroying plague,
He will shelter you with His pinions,
and under His wings you may take refuge;
His faithfulness is a protecting shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,
nor the plague that ravages at noon.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
near you it shall not come.
You need simply watch;
the punishment of the wicked you will see.
Because you have the Lord for your refuge
and have made the Most High your stronghold,
no evil shall befall you,
no affliction come near your tent.
For He commands His angels with regard to you,
to guard you wherever you go.
With their hands they shall support you,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You can tread upon the asp and the viper,
trample the lion and the dragon.
Because he clings to Me I will deliver him;
because he knows My Name I will set him on high.
He will call upon Me and I will answer;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and give him honor.
With length of days I will satisfy him,
and fill him with My saving power.
Psalm 63:1-9 – A longing prayer for God
O God, You are my God—
it is You I seek!
For You my body yearns;
for You my soul thirsts,
In a land parched, lifeless,
and without water.
I look to You in the sanctuary
to see Your power and glory.
For Your love is better than life;
my lips shall ever praise You!
I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands, calling on Your Name.
My soul shall be sated as with choice food,
with joyous lips my mouth shall praise You!
I think of You upon my bed,
I remember You through the watches of the night
You indeed are my Savior,
and in the shadow of Your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 130 – Prayer of Pardon and Mercy
Out of the depths I call to You, Lord;
Lord, hear my cry!
May Your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If You, Lord, keep account of sins,
Lord, who can stand?
But with You is forgiveness
and so You are revered.
I wait for the Lord,
my soul waits
and I hope for His Word.
My soul looks for the Lord
more than sentinels for daybreak.
More than sentinels for daybreak,
let [the whole world] hope in the Lord;
for with the Lord is mercy,
with Him is plenteous redemption,
and He will redeem [me] from all [my] sins.
Now, sleep well and God bless you!
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