Why should you say your prayers at bedtime?
Need a reason to hit your knees before hitting the hay? Look no further than John 15:1-8: communicating with God right as you drift off can help wrap up an eventful day and keep you on top of all that needs doing. Plus, it’s easy to fit into bedtime routines!
Here’s what it says:
I’m the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. My Father examines every branch in Me and cuts away those who do not bear fruit. He leaves those bearing fruit and carefully prunes them so they will bear more fruit;already you are clean because you have heard My voice. Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. A branch cannot bear fruit if it’s disconnected from the vine, and neither will you if you are not connected to Me.
Jesus is saying you’ve got to stay in touch. He follows it up with some concrete examples.
I’m the vine, and you’re the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is like a branch that is tossed out and shrivels up and is later gathered to be tossed into the fire to burn. If you abide in Me and My voice abides in you, anything you ask will come to pass for you. Your abundant growth and your faithfulness as My followers will bring glory to the Father.
Stay in touch or you’re going to do stupid stuff. You’ll be like that branch that’s cut off from the rest of the vine. How could the pear branch above bear actual pears cut off from God.
Practically speaking, the best time to do that for most people is probably at bedtime when you drift off to sleep.
What’s a good prayer for an adult to say?
There are many prayers you can use to address God. Prayers that someone else has written can be good models. They can be eloquent. They can remind you of ideas you can forget. You can read these examples as spiritual reading.
That being said, even if the prayer comes directly out of the Bible, it’s not any better than anything you might come up with on your own. Don’t overthink it. Even if you’re having feelings about something that you shouldn’t be having, even if it’s a sin, take them to God.
Even if it’s a sin, add that you know that it is, and ask Him to help you do right.
More important than anything, however, is that you listen for the response. Keep your heart open. Prayer is a conversation and bedtime is a great time to have it.
For further reading:
James Cobb, RN, MSN, is an emergency department nurse and the founder of the Dream Recovery System. His goal is to provide his readers with simple, actionable ways to improve their health and maximize their quality of life.
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