In our home, we often try to use scripture as bedtime prayers with our kids, especially these 3 particular Psalms.
Of course, we all know how typical bedtime prayers go:
“Now I lay me down to sleep…”
“Father, we thank Thee for night…”
My wife and I try to pray with our kids every night before they go to sleep. Probably a lot of Christian parents do the same. One way to infuse a lot of rich meaning into bedtime prayers is to use fitting verses from the Psalms.
Reciting a short section from the Psalms not only fills our children’s minds with God’s truths as they drift off to sleep, but doing so repeatedly can teach them to memorize key sections of Scripture. These are the top three Psalms we use for bedtime prayers with our kids.
Using Scriptures as Bedtime Prayers: 3 Nighttime Psalms
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Psalm 121
This entire Psalm is great for bedtime prayers. It is short, easily memorable, and contains many timely truths for children trying to get to sleep in a dark room all by themselves.
The Psalm was originally sung by pilgrims traveling long distances to Jerusalem for an annual feast. The caravans of travelers would have to brave bad weather, rough terrain, hot days, cold nights, and the dangers of the dark. This Psalm celebrates a God who is with us throughout all our travels.
Psalm 121 teaches our kids they have nothing to fear, even in the night. Though we drift off to sleep, “he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (v.3b-4).
Psalm 139:7-12
This whole Psalm is worth memorizing if you can find the time, especially as a bedtime prayer. It one of King David’s most notable songs. Charles Spurgeon said that David must have dedicated this Psalm to the Chief Musician because “this sacred song is worthy of the most excellent of the singers.”
Verses 7-12 in particular are great for bedtime. They remind our children that nothing can separate us from God’s presence—not even the darkest night. God is present in the highest heaven, the deepest abyss, and the most distant land imaginable. God is everywhere. The night itself cannot hide us from Him: “even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you” (v.12).
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Psalm 63:5-8
David wrote this song during one of the most troubled times of his later life. His son Absolom had taken over the kingdom, and David was on the run to escape the usurping army. David was not only weary from running, he was also weary in his soul: he hungered and thirsted for God.
David instructs our children what they can do at night when they find it hard to sleep. He says, “I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night” (v.6). David teaches us to meditate on all the times God has been our help (v.7), so as parents, before we pray this bedtime prayer with our restless children, we can remind them of the times God has shown himself faithful to us. Only as our children remember these things will their souls be satisfied (v.5)..
Other perfect nighttime Psalms for Bedtime Prayers
“By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” – Psalm 42:8
“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.” – Psalm 3:3-5
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:7-8
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Free Psalms for Bedtime Prayers Printable Signs:
Download these free printable signs to put near your child’s bed: Psalms for Bedtime Prayers (pdf)
More Biblical Parenting Tips:
- Parenting with Proverbs: The Art of Correction Using Biblical Wisdom
- Write Through the Bible Curriculum
- Screen Sense: 3 No-Fail Strategies for Ending the Struggle Over Screen Time
- 4 Dynamite Devotional Tools for Parents
- 3 Ways Every Parent Should Be Praying For Their Kids
My daughter and I usually sing Psalm 4 right before she goes to bed. She’s not even three, but has already memorized it, along with Psalm 127 and Psalm 45.
That’s great. Do you use a Psalter or some kind of Bible-set-to-music CD to sing it?
We use a Psalter, usually the Book of Psalms for Singing. But, we’ve also used the Book of Psalms for Worship and the Scottish Metrical Psalter. My husband is fluent in Spanish, so sometimes he sings from a Spanish Genevan Psalter.
These are beautiful! Great idea. We always pray before bed, but don’t use scripture for it except the model of the Lord’s Prayer.
Tonight I was searching for a little scripture to sooth me off to sleep. This site was as helpful to me as an adult as it will be to the children whose parents use it to teach!
So happy you found this, Dee!
What a great idea! We are expecting our first little blessing in a few weeks. I am pinning this for a reference. Thank you!
Glad you like them!
Each time l make a prayer and sing throught the scriptures -psalm, which l discoved from you, since then l always experience an enternal peace. Before that l never l used to feel dissatification, l didn’t know how to deal with it,l couldn’t understand myself. Praise the living God.
Praise God Mr and Mrs Luke. God bless u for this website. You’ve inspired me to uapply scripture in every aspect of my life. Most importantly u’ve inspired me to write a prayer guide for christian families.
Love these. Ib wiki share with my grands. My morning prayer is Psalm 139. Thank you for sharing……4….<3
You’re welcome!
im actually 16.. and ive had trouble sleeping lately, always pray before bed but this is great!
That is Wonderful that you pray Rachel. Keep learning More and more about God Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Sweet Blessings to you.
God bless u Luke n Trisha , will put to practice all these, when I start a family
Good to hear!
Thank you for the prayer lines
All is well says the Lord,today I got to thank my Lord for all his wonderful works he has brought me from nothing,to being somebody,and just put it in words to express his love for me today,I got to thank Lord for you seeing me throw it all,I love you heavenly father,happy thanksgiving.
I am glad I have this. It helped me alot.
Thank you guys so much for this website, I have always prayed with my kids but we only say the Our Father, then we thank God for everything for that day n to help us sleep well, my son died (19) 4yrs ago, my daughter is 21 now n we still pray the same, but tonight it will be different, we will have Psalm. God’s blessings to both of you.
Thanks to you all for the great Psalms I know thry are going to be of much help in my life thus strengthen my faith..
I also read the Psalms at night, but now I am inspired to memorize them also. May the Lord bless your ministry and thank you so much for your web site.
Thanks for sharing such an informative post with us.