Bedtime Prayers #3: A Prayer of Thanks
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits… (Psalm 103:1-2).
Father, you have poured out so many mercies upon me today. To say that I am grateful is a staggering understatement. Thank you that Jesus himself has been praying for me all day. What an incredible blessing.
Thank you for providing abundant food and shelter for me. When I consider how many people don’t have even those most basic things, I can’t help but be filled with gratefulness.
Thank you for the many ways, known and unknown, that you protected me and guarded over my life, as well as the lives of my loved ones.
Thank you for giving me yet another day to live, to please you and to glorify you. Every day I live is a glorious blessing.
Most of all, thank you that you have brought me into a relationship with you. That I am your child and that you delight in me. Thank you that through Jesus, all my sins are forgiven. Thank you that you are my Father and you delight to bless me. As I go to sleep, I want to express my joy and thankfulness.
Bedtime Prayers #4: A Prayer of Confession
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Father, before I go to sleep I want to confess my many sins to you. I have sinned in many ways today, both in omission and commission.
I have neglected to love my neighbor as you’ve called me to, and I have selfishly focused only on the things I desired. I have lusted after things you have forbidden while also not loving you like I should. I’ve been impatient and angry, not merciful and not gracious.
For all my sins, please forgive me. I repent of them and ask you to help me change. I don’t want to sin. I don’t want to do the things that you forbid. So I ask that you would give me supernatural power to change and pursue you.
I thank you that in Christ, all my sins are indeed forgiven. Jesus himself has paid my debt. He is my savior, my hope, my righteousness. As I prepare for sleep, I put all my trust in Jesus Christ as my redeemer and savior. He alone is my hope, and he is a sure hope indeed.
