The beloved bedtime prayer “Now I lay me down to sleep” is not found verbatim in the Bible. However, the prayer expresses biblical themes of God’s protection and care. While the exact origin of this prayer is unknown, it likely emerged sometime in the 18th or 19th century. Let’s explore what the Bible does say about rest, prayer, and entrusting ourselves to God’s care as we sleep.
Themes in the Prayer Aligned with Biblical Teaching
Though not quoted directly, “Now I lay me down to sleep” resonates with several biblical ideas:
- Asking for God’s protection – “If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take” expresses trust in God’s care and a desire to belong to Him in life and death (Psalm 31:5).
- Gratitude for blessings – “I pray the Lord my soul to keep” acknowledges God as the giver of life and health (James 1:17).
- Dependence on God – Laying down to rest is a picture of entrusting oneself to God’s faithful keeping (Psalm 3:5).
- Childlike faith – This simple prayer models approaching God with humble, childlike trust (Matthew 18:3).
Though not directly quoted, these themes find abundant support in the teachings of Scripture.
What the Bible Says About Rest and God’s Protection
While not mentioning this specific prayer, the Bible has much to say about finding rest in God alone and experiencing His protection through the night. Here are some key passages:
Psalm 3:3-6
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. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
This psalm powerfully expresses trust in God’s protection. David laid down to sleep in confidence because God was his shield.
Psalm 4:8
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
David affirms that true peace and safety are found in God alone, allowing him to lie down and sleep.
Psalm 121:3-4
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
This psalm poetically describes God’s tireless watch over His people. He never slumbers or sleeps, but continually guards our coming and going.
Proverbs 3:24
If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
In Proverbs, a life lived in the fear of the Lord brings the blessing of sweet sleep, undisturbed by fear.
Psalm 16:7-8
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Keeping our eyes on the Lord day and night provides security and wise counsel when we lie down.
New Testament Encouragement
While not speaking directly of nighttime prayer, the New Testament also encourages entrusting ourselves to God’s care:
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
This exhortation to humble ourselves and cast our cares on God applies beautifully to our evening prayers.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Bringing our requests to God with thanksgiving at night can calm our worries and give supernatural peace.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest. Laying down our labors at night is one way to accept His offer.
Principles for Evening Prayer from Scripture
Though the exact words of “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” aren’t in the Bible, we can find several principles for evening prayer:
- Thank God for His presence and protection (Psalm 4:8)
- Entrust yourself and your loved ones to His care (Psalm 3:5)
- Ask for safety through the night (Psalm 121:7-8)
- Renew trust in God’s sovereignty over life and death (Psalm 31:5)
- Pray for a mind at rest and undisturbed sleep (Proverbs 3:24)
Using these biblical principles, we can craft evening prayers to help us lie down in peace and sleep in Jesus.
The Value of Habitual Evening Prayers
Praying before bedtime has unique benefits and blessings:
- Releases burdens – Coming to God in prayer releases the worries of the day into His capable hands.
- Promotes peace – Evening prayer focuses our minds on God’s presence, combating anxiety.
- Prioritizes dependence – The habit of evening prayer nurtures our continual reliance on the Lord.
- Calms the mind – Entrusting concerns to God clears our mind for restful sleep.
- Provides comfort – The familiar words of a lifelong prayer soothe and reassure in times of distress.
- Teaches children – A simple bedtime prayer lays the foundation of faith for the youngest believer.
- Creates a legacy – Faithful use of timeless evening prayers passes on a godly heritage.
Many have treasured the daily practice of the “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” or other evening prayers for these reasons.
Evening Prayer as an Act of Worship
Praying through the transition between wakefulness and sleep is also a unique form of worship. As we lay our bodies down to rest, we have the opportunity to symbolically lay down our labors, plans, and worries into the Lord’s hands. Nightly surrender can become a discipline of humility, releasing control to the One who never sleeps (Psalm 121:4).
Personalized evening prayers, reciting the ageless words of “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” or simply conversing with God in our own words all have value. Times of transition often lead to focused intimacy with God. The pilgrim’s hymn “Abide with Me” touchingly expresses this desire for God’s presence from dusk through darkness into dawn. Praying through the night invites God to share in the most vulnerable hour of our day.
As we yield to much-needed sleep, commending ourselves and our loves ones to the Shepherd’s care, we honor Him as Lord of night and day. What a beautiful act of worship as we open and close our eyes each evening!
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep – A Prayer for All Ages
In summary, reciting or singing the “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” prayer can be meaningful at every stage of life:
- For children, it builds security, trust, and habits for lifelong faith.
- For adults, its familiar words stimulate gratitude, surrender, and childlike intimacy with God.
- For the elderly and infirm, it evokes sweet memories and confidence in God’s faithfulness.
This simple prayer meets us where we are. It grows with us through life’s changing seasons while keeping our hearts anchored in Christian hope. For these reasons, “Now I lay me down to sleep” remains a treasured nighttime blessing after more than two centuries of use.
Though not directly biblical, this prayer succinctly expresses our reliance on the One who alone “gives His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2). Laying our weary bodies down, we can confidently entrust our resting souls to the Lord’s kind keeping, until morning light arrives or He calls us to eternal waking in His presence.