Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
    and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
    and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

(Psalm 63:5-8, NRSV)

"Now I lay me down to sleep,” I pray to you, O God.

But before I go to sleep, 

I take a look back on the day

that you gave to me.

And my heart wells up with gratitude.

Indeed, “My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,”

because I can see how your goodness and mercy

have followed me – indeed, even led me – 

all the day long:

  in the people I have met,

    in the ways you have protected me from evil,

      in the ways you have strengthened me to

      be faithful to you,

        in the new things I have learned,

          in the successes and, yes, 

          even in the failures I have experienced – 

indeed, all of these things and so many more

point to your blessing upon my day.

Now I lay me down to sleep with a full and grateful heart,

for I have reviewed the events of this day,

and I am convinced that you have been my help.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

and my soul is at peace.

For as you have blessed me faithfully

by your providence through this day;

and so I rest in confidence 

that I will experience your faithfulness

again tomorrow.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

embracing you with all my being,

knowing that it is you who sustains me.

When I am asleep, as well as when I’m awake,

I belong to you; I am yours.

And because of that,

tonight I will truly rest in peace.

My soul clings to you, for you are my Savior.

Amen.

During the season of Lent I am “Praying with David,” using prayers found in the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.