Bedtime Prayer For Families

The Importance of Daily Prayer for Children & Families

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The Importance of Daily Prayer for Children & Families

November 05, 2015

Prayer is talking to God. It’s the simple opening of one’s heart to our father in Heaven. It’s coming to Him and telling Him everything in our hearts. God Himself asks us to pray.

This is expressed through the Apostle Paul, who told the Christians at Ephesus. ‘Pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…’ (Ephesians 6: 18). Prayer is powerful and can change a life.

Daily prayer is important for the following reasons:

1. Prayer brings you closer to God

In any relationship, communication is the key to success. When you communicate, you are able to know more about a person. This also applies to your relationship with God.

Through talking to God, we learn more about who He is. To understand our Father, we need to pray and read the Bible each day both as individuals and as a family.

It’s the only way we can lead a life of intimacy with God.

2. Prayer protects

The words uttered in a prayer have wonder-working powers. Never underestimate the power of prayer. Life is full of trials and obstacles that can sometimes lead us to question faith.

Pray every morning and evening, pray for your children and teach them how to pray. When you make prayer part of your life, you reinforce your faith in the face of obstacles.

Even when challenges come your way, with prayer, you know that you are not alone as no weapon forged against you shall proper, as Isaiah 54:17 teaches us.

3. Prayer Heals

Jesus healed the sick while He was on earth. He gave authority to His disciples to heal. Jesus Christ has also given those who believe in him authority to heal. James 5: 14-16, talks about how prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. If you have any physical or emotional pain, then praying and reading the bible can begin the healing process.

4. Prayer brings breakthrough

If you are struggling to work through an issue, prayer can bring miracles. Open your heart to God and share your burdens. Even if the breakthrough doesn’t happen immediately, God gives you the grace and strength to keep going.

Teaching Our Children to Pray

The Bible contains many promises that we can include in both our prayers for children and daily confessions for our families. Children are gifts from God, and it’s the duty of parents to instill in them the values and characters they need to become good Christians. Here are simple ways to teach children how to pray.

1. Pray together every day

To begin with, pray with your child every day. He or she will be able to learn by example, and seeing you pray is a great example. Let your children know the importance of praying before a meal, in the morning and before bedtime. By setting a routine, your children will want to continue on their own.

2. Let them see you pray

It’s important that you pray aloud when your children are around. Whenever a situation arises that evokes prayer, take time and involve children. Children take note and will learn to use prayer in the same way.

3. Talk about prayer

From the beginning of your child’s life, teach them about prayer. Give your children simple explanation about prayer. It opens up dialogue and allows your children to ask questions.

1. Before meals

Praying before meals is a good habit to teach your child to be thankful for what they have.

If your children are involved in any community service, this is the perfect time to reflect on how others may find themselves in different circumstances.

Many children can learn this simple prayer over meals, “God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By his hands we are fed. Provide us with our daily bread. Amen.”

2. Bedtime prayer

Getting children on the habit of praying before bed helps them reflect on their actions for the day, and ask for guidance for the following day. Try teaching them a simple bedtime prayer such as this: “Father, thank you for your blessings today. Thank you for taking good care of me and my family. Protect us throughout the night. Amen.”

3. Morning Prayer

This simple prayer sets the tone for the day, “Dear God, as I rise this morning, I thank you for a restful night and the gift of a new day. Guide me as I walk through this day. I am grateful for all the blessings in my life. As I start my day, I trust you to guide me in everything I do. Amen.”

Additional resources for daily prayer

There are countless Christian books and resources online to find inspiration for daily prayer rituals. For example, websites Josh McDowell Ministries and Focus on the Family offer daily devotionals and prayers for kids and adults.

For families on the go, bible apps YouVersion puts the Bible at your fingertips in an instant.
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Источник: //ccanv.com/the-importance-of-daily-prayer-for-children-families/

Two Bedtime Prayers for Weary Parents

God has called parents to a difficult task. We are called to prevent the giant pile of children’s laundry from overtaking the house, cook meals for picky eaters, and clean up never-ending messes. But most importantly, we are given the eternally significant duty to “bring [our children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

It can be a tiresome undertaking. Some days you plunge headlong into another challenging day of childrearing, praying God will help you make it to bedtime alive.

After the bath and toothbrushing, and fetching a glass of water, and the search for the lost stuffed animal, and the barrage of excuses trying to delay lights out, you’re tempted to skip prayer time, say a quick goodnight, shut the door, and crumb into the nearest sofa.

I want to suggest two modest prayers to help you slow down during those moments when you tuck the kids into bed. This isn’t a list of theoretical principles or a fifteen-item list of prayer requests for your kids.

Weary parents need simple and memorable prayers.

When your mind is still spinning from the day’s labors, may these three-word prayers enable you to take the few extra moments to linger with your children in the quietness of bedtime.

“Father, forgive me.”

The best way to avoid putting your children to bed in frustration or anger is to remind yourself and your kids that you, too, are a sinner in need of forgiveness.

Confess your parenting failures to God before your children. Plead with him to protect your children from your anger, lack of patience, and failure to display the gospel in all its glory.

Ask the Father for forgiveness in front of your children.

In doing so, you set an example for your children. They see what it looks to be a child of God. Our Father does not want us to hide our sins from him or one another.

He wants us to confess them so that he can “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). In the still moments before they fall asleep, they will get to listen as you experience reconciliation with the Father anew.

They get to watch as the grace of the gospel washes over your spirit, reviving your weary soul.

“Father, forgive them.”

I often look into the eyes of my little boys after they have hit their brother or yelled in disobedient anger, searching with the question: “Why did you do this?” The most common response I receive is: “I don’t know.

” In those sad moments, I’m reminded of Christ’s prayer as he hung on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” That is the state of our children’s hearts. When they sin, they don’t always fully comprehend what they’ve done or why they’ve done it.

As parents, we must imitate Jesus by pleading for God’s mercy and forgiveness for our kids with the simple prayer, “Father, forgive them.”

Each night, God will begin to cultivate in us the compassionate heart of Jesus. He sees our children as “harassed and helpless, sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

As we pray, the irritations of the day will melt into gentle, soft pleading on behalf of our children who do not comprehend the wrath that awaits sinful and grumbling souls who do not repent.

When it comes to this kind of intercessory prayer, Paul tells us, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3–4).

Ultimately, this is a prayer of trust. It tells God, “I trust you with the life of this child. I trust the gospel. I trust that you want to save sinners, just my little boy, my little girl.” God has placed that child in your family and under your loving care for a purpose. Plead with him to forgive through the blood of Jesus and pray that in his good time he will bring salvation.

A Father to You and Your Children

Both prayers begin with one of the most gracious words in the Christian parent’s vocabulary: Father.

In the midst of parenting failures and struggles, it’s easy to forget that we have a heavenly Father who is watching over us in love.

No one can put it better than the apostle: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are!” (1 John 3:1).

At the end of a taxing day, as you kneel bedside with your kids, find comfort in the Father who is also laying your tired heart to rest. The final moments before your children fall asleep could become your most treasured moments together. May these prayers help your family grow in the grace of God our Savior.

Источник: //www.desiringgod.org/articles/two-bedtime-prayers-for-weary-parents

12 Good Bedtime Prayers for Adults

A bedtime prayer is a perfect way to give thanks for the blessing of the day and pray for the hope for tomorrow. Here is a listing to some of the best and original Christian bedtime prayers for adults.

Prayer #1

“Heavenly Father, how we thank You for bringing us safely to the end of the day and we praise and thank You for Your loving-kindness and great goodness to us today.

Thank You for the many blessings and provisions that You bestowed on us today – for keeping us safe and guiding us and brining us once again to that time of the day when we can recharge our spirits and souls with a refreshing nights sleep.

Forgive me I pray if I have said or done anything that was not honouring to Your name or have sought to do things in my own strength rather than relying totally on You – for I praise You that Your grace is sufficient for Your strength is perfected in our weakness.

And now Lord as we lie down we pray that You would watch over us to protect and keep us safe. Give us a deep and refreshing sleep and may we cast any burdens or difficulties on You and not allow our minds to fret or worry… for You have promised to carry all our burdens if we will just give them to You.

Protect those we love and bring us we pray into Your kingdom in Your time and in Your way for we thank You that our times are safe in Your hands.. this we pray in Jesus name, Amen.”

Prayer #2

“Father, Thank you for today, for all the ways in which I have known you…

For the sunrise and the birdsong, For the music I’ve heard, and the things I’ve enjoyed, For the meals, and for the cosy home I live in, For my close family and for my special friends,

Most of all, thank you for being beside me through each moment.

May I dream good dreams and arise again tomorrow to thank you once more.

Amen.”

Prayer #3

“Dear Father in Heaven, Here, safe in my home, I drink in your peace. Help me to sift through the many experiences, feelings and thoughts I have encountered today. I allow myself to rest, to wind down and to sleep. Help me to surrender all I am to you, my fatigue, my concerns, my hopes and fears.

As I drift into sleeping I choose to hold your hand. I choose to live with you. I choose to believe, I choose to trust, I choose you always. Amen.”

Prayer #4

“O Lord our God, King of the Universe. Let the wings of sleep fall upon my eyes, and upon my eyelids. O Blessed One, Let me lie down in peace, and rise in peace.

Into Your hand I entrust my spirit.”

Prayer #5

“Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray to God my soul to take. If I should live for other days,

I pray the Lord to guide my ways.

Father, unto thee I pray, Thou hast guarded me all day; Safe I am while in thy sight, Safely let me sleep tonight. Bless my friends, the whole world bless; Help me to learn helpfulness; Keep me every in thy sight;

So to all I say good night.”

Prayer #6

“The day is done; O God the Son, Look down upon

Thy little one!

O Light of Light, Keep me this night, And shed round me

Thy presence bright.

I need not fear If Thou art near; Thou art my Savior

Kind and dear.”

Prayer #7

“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes; I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray; Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,

And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.”

Prayer #8

“Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me: Bless Thy little child to-night; Through the darkness be Thou near me, Keep me safe till morning light. All this day Thy hand has led me, And I thank Thee for Thy care; Thou hast warmed me, clothed me, fed me; Listen to my evening prayer. May my sins be all forgiven; Bless the friends I love so well; Take me, Lord, at last to heaven.

Happy there with Thee to dwell.”

Prayer #9

“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.”

Prayer #10

“Dear God,

The day was long and trying. I am grateful for its end. As I lay here waiting for sleep to overtake me, I count the blessings in the day that has passed. Work was hard, I’m blessed to have a job.

My kids were frustrating, I’m blessed to have them. My body aches, I’m blessed to have medication. The list goes on, but #1 is, even when I struggle, I am blessed to have faith.

Thank You Lord for giving me a daily opportunity to rest and refresh.

Amen”

Prayer #11

“Dear God,

The day was long and trying. I am grateful for its end. As I lay here waiting for sleep to overtake me, I count the blessings in the day that has passed. Work was hard, I’m blessed to have a job.

My kids were frustrating, I’m blessed to have them. My body aches, I’m blessed to have medication. The list goes on, but #1 is, even when I struggle, I am blessed to have faith.

Thank You Lord for giving me a daily opportunity to rest and refresh.

Amen”

Prayer #12

“Dear God,

Dispel my fear. End my anxiety, wipe worry from my mind. May I know the power of Your love and the wisdom of Your word. Grant me a peaceful sleep tonight and bring me back tomorrow to a place of safety, security, and right-minded thinking.

Amen”

Here is a look at some great bedtime prayers for Christian meditation followed by some uplifting relaxation music to help you release your burdens to God for a nice restful sleep.

About the Author of this Blog Post
Crystal Ayres has served as our editor-in-chief for the last five years. She is a proud veteran, wife and mother. The goal of ConnectUs is to publish compelling content that addresses some of the biggest issues the world faces. If you would to reach out to contact Crystal, then go here to send her a message.

Источник: //connectusfund.org/12-good-bedtime-prayers-for-adults

9 Good Night Prayers for the Evening – Sleep Peacefully at Bedtime!

Ending your day with prayer is a wonderful way to let go of stress and find peace before falling asleep. No matter what you faced today, talking to God through goodnight prayers will renew your faith. Evening prayer also helps you reflect on all the throughout your day and the ways that God has been present with you. 

Share these nine bedtime and evening prayers with your children, spouse and friends so they too can fall asleep feeling blessed and thankful! 

Goodnight Prayer for Blessings

Bless us with rest tonight, Jesus, and a good night’s sleep. Forgive us for the things we did today that did not honor you. Thank you for loving us so much and that you know us through and through.

We need your help every day, and we thank you for the strength you give and for helping us know that with you, even hard things are possible. Bless our family and our home, and keep us safe through the night.

May your angels guard us and watch over us, just you promised.

You've told us we are just sheep. And that you lead us and guard us a shepherd. You know our names, and you make us feel special and loved. When we hurt, you help us feel better.

Thank you, Jesus, for your good care and for giving us [mom/dad/parents/foster parents/pastors] to help. Thank you for the Bible, and for teaching us stuff in life that helps us grow. Bless the people in our world, and help them to know you love them, too.

Thank you for all the people who help us so much: teachers, doctors, policeman, and fireman—and so many more.

Thank you for your good plan for our lives. Help us to obey you and love you more and more. When we awake in the morning, put a smile on our face and your purpose in our hearts, ready to start a new day. We love you, Jesus. Good night. In Jesus's precious name, Amen. ~ ~ Rebecca Barlow Jordan

A Bedtime Prayer to Stop an Anxious Heart

Dear Lord, please help me trust You and empower me through Your Spirit to stop my emotions from bossing me around. I want to quit worrying about what might happen and focus on what has already happened by remembering and praising You for Your faithfulness in my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen. ~ Renee Swoop

Giving Thanks Evening Prayer

Dear God, we thank you tonight for the good day and for the special way you take care of us all the time. Thank you for the fun times outside and the quiet times inside, and for helping us learn new things every day.

Thank you for creating us special, exactly the way you wanted. Thank you for protecting us throughout the day. Forgive us for the wrong things we do.

Thank you for loving us even when we disobey or try to do things our way. Help us to always choose your way, God, because it’s always best.

We pray for all the people who don’t know you, and that they will come to understand your love for them, too.

Bless our family and thank you for good times together and apart. Bless our friends and those we love, including our grandparents, our aunts and uncles and cousins. Thank you for our home and a place to sleep and good food to eat.

Help us rest well, give us peaceful dreams, and send your angels around our home to protect us throughout the night. Teach us to trust you and to love you more and more. You are good; you are great; and you are faithful, God. And we love you. Good night.

In Jesus’s precious name, Amen. ~ Rebecca Barlow Jordan

A Short Night-time Prayer (2 Timothy 1:7)

For God’s not given me a spirit of fear,  But a spirit of love,  and of power, and a sound mind,

To live each day and glorify his name. 

Popular Child’s Bedtime Prayer, 18th Century

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Alternative Version for Children: Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, Watch and guard me through the night, and wake me with the morning light.

Amen.

A Beautiful Prayer to End the Day

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.

Forgive me for any foolish actions on my part today or things I did without first asking your blessing or wisdom. Those are moments I'd rather forget, but I'm so grateful for your forgiveness when I ask.

I never want to go to bed without clearing the air between us, Lord. Our friendship means too much, and your holiness deserves that. Thank you for loving me just as I am.

Your love compels me to give you my all and fills my heart with praise for the relationship we share because of Jesus.

As I close my eyes tonight, I'm praying for loved ones around me, for friends and those who need to know you, Lord. I'm praying that your love, the billions of stars in the night sky outside, will touch them and help them see who you really are. I pray for our world and those in it. I pray for their needs as well as my own.

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

Father, We Thank Thee

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 – 1890

Bedtime Prayer (song by Twila Paris)

Now I lay me down to sleep I pray dear Lord that you will keep Your eyes upon this sleeping world

Every little boy and girl

Bless the children far away The ones who don't know how to pray Those who are not feeling well

The little one the slipped and fell

Bless the puppy down the street The neighbors I have yet to meet

Bless my mom and dad especially

Just one more thing I'd to say Before I close another day I'd to thank you Lord for all the ways

That You bless me

Bless the child whose home is torn The babies who are not yet born Bless the ones who take your word
To all the hearts that have not heard

Bless all your children everywhere I hope they know how much you care Maybe someday I can go

And tell them that You love them so

Bless Grandma and my Grandpa too And all my friend and all they do

Bless every twig upon my family tree

Just one more thing I'll say to you I'm so amazed by all you do I'll thank you once again because it's true

That you bless me

The Examen (Evening Reflection)

Written by St. Ignatius Loyola, the Examen is a daily process for prayerfully reflecting on your day. 

1. Remember God’s presence.
Even after a trying day, God will quiet your soul as you remember His presence and intentionally seek to enter into it. Remember He’s with you. Invite Him to make Himself present to you. 

2. Respond to Him with thanks.
Giving thanks gives God glory and helps us look on the bright side of a bad day. What small blessings can you thank God for?

3. Reflect on how God showed Himself to you.
God reveals himself through scripture, but we also see glimpses of him in nature, events, and people.

Sometimes He shows up loudly through miraculous, divine intervention. Other times He shows Himself quietly through the beauty of a flower or an earnest conversation.

As you look back over your day, can you identify moments where you sensed God’s revelation or intervention? 

4. Repent of your failings.
I don’t recognizing my own sin, but repentance is key to continual renewal in our relationship with God.As you reflect on your day, remember specific points where you failed. Bring your shortcomings before God and ask Him to forgive you.  

5. Resolve to grow. 
God is in the business of changing us, so don’t let your failings discourage or define you. His mercies are always new. Accept His forgiveness. Ask Him for grace to change. Is there anything you need to make right or anyone you need to apologize to? What can you do differently tomorrow?

Do you have a favorite goodnight prayer you use at bedtime? One that your parents taught you or that you are teaching your children? Share it with our community in the comments below!

This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

Prayer for Healing
Prayer for Strength
Prayer for Protection
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers
The Prayer of Jabez
Short Prayers
The Lord's Prayer
The Prayer of St Francis
Serenity Prayer
A Birthday Prayer
Sinner’s Prayer
Prayer for Forgiveness
Prayer for Guidance
Intercessory Prayer
 

Now available is our new Daily Prayer devotional! An easy way to find start your day with prayer, read today’s prayer and sign up to receive by email.

Источник: //www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/9-good-night-prayers-sleep-peacefully-at-bedtime.html