The Significance of the Goodnight Prayer

Prayer doesn't need to be mysterious.

By  Corine Gatti

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The significance of the goodnight prayer is not just for children before they go to sleep.

For many adults, every day is a day of prayer as more than half of Americans maintain that they
pray. A Pew Research Center survey found that 55 percent of the country prays and a majority of
believers admitted that prayer is a "reflection when making major life decisions. The same
survey found that 63 percent of Christians in the U.S. said praying regularly is an essential part
of their Christian identity."
"People who pray before they go to bed suffer less from pain, depression, anger and they are
generally happier people."
Being involved in a goodnight prayer can change lives as well. People who pray before they go
to bed suffer less from pain, depression, anger and they are generally happier people. Who
wouldn't desire to get on this bandwagon! Here are more reasons why the goodnight prayer is
paramount for our spiritual lives and can be an effective tool for daily life.

Make saying a goodnight prayer a priority.

Prayer is your connection with God and it opens up the Heavens to hear your petitions. In the
book of James, we are told to ask God for enlightenment. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him
ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given him." Making prayer
a goal before bedtime keeps the lines of communication open. It also gives us a voice when we
feel that we have none in the world.

Jesus commands us to pray.

We are commanded to pray for ourselves and for others, the Bible instructed. In Mathew Jesus
said to pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom comes, you will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we
also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." We
definitely need this as the basis of our goodnight prayer life. If Jesus shared that we needed to
add this to our prayer life, there was a reason. This is so our souls could be nourished.

Praying at night helps ease physical pain.

People who pray a goodnight prayer for 20 minutes, along with using affirmations found that
they had less painful headaches! Praying also helped petitioners and their pain threshold. When
commonly practiced, these calming effects are not temporary, but long term. Prayer not only
helps you focus less on your pain, but it helps you feel less pain, Beliefnet reported. Here is a
prayer to get you started: "Lord, I feel worn down by the reoccurring pain I have. It makes every
small thing feel like a big deal. Please help me to manage this illness and continue to find time to
rest and treat the pain. May my waking hours be restful and my sleep is peaceful."

Praying at night combats anxiety.

Praying a goodnight prayer can help ease anxiety. Incorporate Romans 8:18 into your goodnight
prayer: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the
glory that is to be revealed to us.” Prayer can heal emotional wounds can help you harness wild
thoughts that work to keep you captive. Pray that the Lord will deliver you from anxiety and
depression. Ask Him to ease your mind and help you to focus on His thoughts and His ways.

Praying at night helps clinical depression.

Patricia Murphy, Ph.D. at Rush University Medical Center found that patients had more of a
positive response to medications for clinical depression by praying. "In our study, the positive
response to medication had little to do with the feeling of hope that typically accompanies
spiritual belief," she said. A great way to start your goodnight prayer in this area can be: "Father
God, please give me the courage. Guide me to find peace, joy and comfort in myself and in life."

It gives you an outlet.

King David struggled at times during his walk with God and wrote about this in the Psalms. He
said "I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the
slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."
Do you feel like you are in a pit in your life? Well, you are not alone and prayer is your tool to
get out of it. Use it as a way to talk through your problems. Prayer is great at night to help ease
restlessness. When we pray for a length of time the body also will undergo a change. It will go
into a more relax state. Dr. Herbert Benson, a cardiovascular specialist at Harvard Medical
School explained this state as “the relaxation response.” What happens is that the heart rate
slows, blood pressure levels off and we become calmer.

It can maximize your health.

The goodnight prayer may heal your body over time. More and more physicians are finding that
most illnesses are caused by stress. Ulcers, migraine headaches, obesity, diabetes and
gastrointestinal issues are rooted in stress. "It doesn’t matter if you pray for yourself or for
others, pray to heal an illness or for peace in the world, or simply sit in silence and quiet the
mind," the Huffington Post reported. By implementing prayer like this before bedtime, you
actually improve your overall health.

It helps you sleep better.

If nightmares are keeping you up at night, it can impact how the following day will go. Praying a
goodnight prayer on having better sleep quality can help you overcome these obstacles at night.
It will also help you reach that relaxed state that you've been dreaming of.

The goodnight prayer is essential for people of all ages and can really change your life and your
overall well-being. Incorporate prayer to help transition the body, the mind and the soul for a
more restful state and to become a happier person.

All Night Prayers

Most Relevant Verses
Luke 6:12
Verse Concepts

It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in
prayer to God.

Genesis 32:24
Verse Concepts

Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

1 Samuel 15:11
Verse Concepts

"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not
carried out My commands " And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night.

Psalm 55:17
Verse Concepts

Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice.

Psalm 119:62
Verse Concepts

At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances.

Acts 16:25
Verse Concepts

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the
prisoners were listening to them;

Psalm 63:6
Verse Concepts

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,

Psalm 119:148
Verse Concepts

My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.

Psalm 119:55
Verse Concepts

O LORD, I remember Your name in the night, And keep Your law.
Psalm 134:1
Verse Concepts

Behold, bless the LORD, all servants of the LORD, Who serve by night in the house of the
LORD!

Lamentations 2:19
Verse Concepts

"Arise, cry aloud in the night At the beginning of the night watches; Pour out your heart like
water Before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him For the life of your little ones
Who are faint because of hunger At the head of every street."

2 Samuel 12:16
Verse Concepts

David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the
ground.

Psalm 30:5
Verse Concepts

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Joel 1:13
Verse Concepts

Gird yourselves with sackcloth And lament, O priests; Wail, O ministers of the altar! Come,
spend the night in sackcloth O ministers of my God, For the grain offering and the drink offering
Are withheld from the house of your God.

7 Bible Verses to Help You Sleep

 

1. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s
trouble is enough for today.

–Matthew 6:34
 

2. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

–Psalm 4:8

3. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

–Proverbs 3:24
 

4. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.

–Psalm 3:5

5. I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

    he who watches over you will not slumber;
 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

-Psalm 121:1-4

 
 

6. Come to me, all you who are weary and 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. 

–Matthew 11:28-29

7. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for
he gives to his beloved sleep.

-Psalm 127:2
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you
in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 | NIV |
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 | NIV |
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will,
he hears us.
1 John 5:14 | NIV |
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 | NIV |
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will
be yours.
Mark 11:24 | NIV |
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 | NIV |
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 | NIV |
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard
because of their many words.
Matthew 6:7 | NIV |
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:18 | NIV |
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
Jeremiah 33:3 | NIV |
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20 | NIV |
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and
find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 | NIV |
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6 | NIV |
In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
Psalm 18:6 | NIV |
And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of
him.
1 John 5:15 | NIV |
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The
prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16 | NIV |
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of
the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 | NIV |
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners
were listening to them.
Acts 16:25 | NIV |
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:27-28 | NIV |
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—
fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
John 15:16 | NIV |
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of
Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 1:14 | NIV |
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
1 Peter 4:7 | NIV |
You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you
quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
James 4:2 | NIV |
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:13 | NIV |
I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
Psalm 66:17 | NIV

How Often Should We Pray

1 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was
given you in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end
keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Philippians 1:3-4 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine
for you all making my prayer with joy,

Colossians 1:3 (KJV) We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying
always for you,

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing

How Should We Pray

Psalm 66:17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.

Psalm 95:2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him
with songs of praise!

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us
this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind
also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the
sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

What Should We Pray For

Psalm 50:14-15 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most
High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalm 118:25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!

Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you!

Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Who Should We Pray For

Romans 15:30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,
to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,

2 Corinthians 1:11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf
for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may
lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

James 5:13-14 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing
praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may
be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Christian Quotes About Prayer

“Those persons who know the deep peace of God, the unfathomable peace that passeth all
understanding, are always men and women of much prayer.”~ R. A. Torrey

“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is
powerful on his knees.” ~ Corrie ten Boom

“You may as soon find a living man that does not breath, as a living Christian that does not
pray.”  ~ Matthew Henry

“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”  ~ John
Bunyan

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” ~ Oswald Chambers 

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out these great scriptures about peace.

25 Bible Verses For Strength– Are you looking for Strength? Check out these scriptures about
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Resources:  The Holy Bible, English Standard Version The Holy Bible, King James Version
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