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The

Concise Lexicon of Christianity

Teachings, worship, rites, sermons, and terminology

Bedtime Prayer

Psalm

Read an appropriate psalm, out loud if possible. I suggest one of the following psalms:

Psalm 4 | Psalm 31 | Psalm 91

Reading

Find an appropriate Bible passage, then read it—out loud, if possible—and think about how it relates to you. I suggest the following:

Affirmation

Affirm your faith by reciting one of the following historic creeds or a statement of faith of your own choosing or composition.

The Apostles Creed
The Nicene Creed

Prayer

Pray thanksgivings and petitions; asking God for your specific needs as you see them and giving thanks for specific things in your life. You can pray one gargantuan prayer, or a series of small prayers. You can pray the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), or you can use it as an outline for a prayer of your own.

Address God with praises
Our Father, who art…
Submit to God’s will
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done…
Ask for your specific physical needs
Give us this day our daily bread…
Ask for forgiveness
Forgive us our debts…
To the degree that you yourself are willing to forgive others…
As we forgive our debtors…
Ask for help with temptations
Lead us not into temptation…
And preservation from evil
Deliver us from evil…

Collect

End by praying this or a similar prayer:

Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with me to preserve me in peace; and let your blessing be upon me always; through Jesus Christ my Lord. AMEN.

Morning Prayer | Noontime Prayer | Evening Prayer | Bedtime Prayer