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Parents start telling bedtime stories to their children right from their toddlerhood. Reading is definitely a good habit, but one more good habit to follow before sleeping is to say a prayer.
If you and your spouse are religious and do a prayer yourself, then you might want to introduce bedtime prayers for children. These prayers allow children to spend some quiet moments before they retire to bed.
Prayers for children need to be rhythmic and simple to recite. In this post, MomJunction shares 15 such easy bedtime prayers for kids to learn because what they learn early in life stays with them forever.
Benefits Of Bedtime Prayers
The habit not only stays forever but also brings in a few other benefits. Let’s have a look at some benefits of bedtime prayers.
- Teach gratitude: Prayers are a wonderful way to express our thankfulness and gratitude to the Almighty for the blessings in our lives. Inculcating such habits to children from an early age makes them humble and down to earth.
- Help in improving focus: Mind is a hub of relevant and irrelevant thoughts. Offering prayers and dedicating a few minutes to calmness, helps in clearing our mind and improves focus. This stillness also helps in reducing stress and anxiety.
- Build trust and faith: Praying establishes a strong connection with God. Offering prayers together with your children builds trust among each other. Kids also learn the importance of placing their faith in the values and morals taught by the elders in the family.
- Aid in leading a disciplined life: Having a routine that includes praying, makes an individual disciplined and also helps them restrain from wrongdoings.
In the next section, we share some of the most relevant nightly prayers for kids.
Bedtime Prayers For Children
Prayers for children can be simple or lengthy but if you include a rhythmic tone to their recitation, kids would easily grasp the prayer. Here are 15 easy bedtime prayers for children to start with:
1. Now I lay me down to sleep
This traditional bedtime prayer for children can be recited every night.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
May God guard me through the night,
And wake me with the morning’s light. Amen.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
May the angels watch me through the night,
And keep me in their blessed sight. Amen.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should live another day,
I pray the Lord to guide my way. Amen.
2. The Lord’s prayer
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The Lord’s Prayer teaches children to be thankful for the blessings they receive in life and the differentiation of good and bad.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
3. Now the light has gone away
A simple prayer, which underlines the importance of life and family.
Now the light has gone away, Savior, listen while I pray.
Asking Thee to watch and keep and to send me quiet sleep.
Jesus, Savior, wash away all that has been wrong today.
Help me every day to be good and gentle, more like Thee.
Let my near and dear ones be always near and dear to Thee.
Oh bring me and all I love to Thy happy home above.
4. Dear God
This prayer is ideal for children who had a bad day at school and are finding it difficult to fall asleep.
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Dear God,
I’ve felt a bit sad today.
Sometimes people say things that upset me,
Sometimes I feel lonely at school,
Sometimes I feel misunderstood by my mum and dad,
Sometimes my feelings are all mixed up inside.
Please make me feel better,
Please make me sleep with good dreams,
Please make a happier day tomorrow.
5. Thank you, God
A Prayer to express gratitude to the Almighty.
Dear God, thank you for this day.
Thank you for providing food, a home, and a warm bed.
Thank you for the love people showed me.
Please guide me as I prepare to head to bed and start the day again tomorrow.
Please guide my thoughts and actions. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
6. Forgive, O Lord
A simple prayer to ask for forgiveness.
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Forgive, O Lord,
Forgive, O Lord, for Thy dear Son.
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
7. Holy Lord
This prayer is for children who are struggling in personal life or academically, and wish to overcome that.
Holy Lord, Thank you for grace.
Please help me move beyond the hurdles that trip me up,
And give me the strength and wisdom to look up and see the hope,
I run toward in Christ.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
8. Hurry to pray
A prayer to seek protection from worrisome situations.
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I won’t fret and I won’t worry,
Instead, I’ll hurry to pray,
I’ll turn my problems into petitions,
And lift my hands in praise.
I’ll say goodbye to all my fears,
His presence sets me free,
Although I may not understand,
I feel God’s peace in me. Amen.
9. God, my friend
The purpose of this prayer is to thank the Lord for a wonderful life and also seek blessings for near and dear ones.
God, my friend, it is time for bed,
Time to rest my sleepy head,
I pray to you before I do,
Please guide me down the path that’s true.
God, my friend, please bless my mother,
All your children — sisters, brothers.
Oh! And then there’s daddy, too —
He says I am his gift from you.
God, my friend, it is time to sleep,
I thank you for a soul unique,
And thank you for another day,
To run and jump and laugh and play!
God, my friend, it is time to go,
But before I do I hope you know,
I am thankful for my blessing, too,
And God, my friend, I love you. – By Michael J. Edger III MS
10. God is near
A prayer to express your trust and show your faith in the Lord.
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I hear no voice, I feel no touch,
I see no glory bright;
But yet I know that God is near,
In darkness as in light,
He watches ever by my side,
And hears my whispered prayer,
The Father for His little child,
Both night and day doth care.
11. Jesus, tender Shepherd
This is a thank you prayer for Jesus. Kids can offer this prayer every day or on special days when they have succeeded in a competition or excelled at school.
Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me:
Bless Thy little child tonight;
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.
12. Savior, lay Thy hand on me
This prayer is for older children who want to thank the Lord and ask for a serene life.
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Savior, lay Thy hand on me,
Bless me, and remember me. Amen.
Oh Lord, support us all the day long,
Until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,
And the busy world is hushed.
Then in Thy mercy grant us a safe lodging,
And a holy rest and peace at the last, Amen.
Ah dearest Jesus, Holy Child,
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be,
A quiet chamber kept for thee.
13. Heavenly father
This is a simple bedtime prayer for days when your kid is tired but does not want to break the habit of bedtime prayers.
In my little bed I lie:
Heavenly Father, hear my cry;
Lord, keep Thou me through this night.
Bring me safe to morning light. Amen.
14. Lord, send me sleep that I may live
A bedtime prayer to ask for sound sleep and forgiveness.
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Lord, send me sleep that I may live,
The wrongs I’ve done this day forgive.
Bless every deed and thought and word,
I’ve rightly done, or said, or heard.
Bless relatives and friends always,
Teach all the world to watch and pray.
My thanks for all my blessings take,
And hear my prayer for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
15. Lord in heaven
A prayer to ask the Lord for care and guidance in life.
Lord in heaven, hear my prayer,
Keep me in your loving care.
Be my guide in all I do.
Bless all those who love me, too. Amen.
Spending quality time with your children just before their bedtime provides a great opportunity to bond with them. This is also the time when you can inspire them to learn positive habits and imbibe the right values. Therefore, try these night time prayer for kids to familiarize them with prayers and their significant impact on life.
What is your favorite goodnight prayer for children? Let us know in the comments section below.
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