A Grateful Rest - Your Nightly Prayer

Your Nightly Prayer

A Grateful Rest
Your Nightly Prayer for Feb. 4, 2025
by Candice Lucey

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." - Colossians 4:2

SOMETHING TO PONDER

Prayer is one way I get to sleep when rest evades me, but my mind often wanders into the ways my spiritual life could be better. I get distracted in prayer and wind up down a side road, then have to ask God for help staying with my prayers. That’s when I’m reminded of how gracious our God is. He has already forgiven me for the selfish wanderings of my mind, and he has always been there to strengthen me spiritually.

One Bible scholar writes that we need to stay alert in prayer, aware of the dangers to our spiritual life, yet also “recognizing and appreciating God's past grace and present assistance.” Gratitude is a balm that does two things:

-Firstly, an attitude of thankfulness sees the positive in whatever has already taken place and in what is happening right now. This is a far more restful state of mind than, say, pining for what we want and cannot have, and it helps us to avoid the spiritual traps of grumbling and doubt, which we need to be alert for.

-Secondly, when we trust Christ to care for us as we sleep, we rest IN HIM. It’s the equivalent of laying our weapons down in a refuge, confident that no one can hurt us. “In peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8). We acknowledge that God is trustworthy and that he, the Lord of the Universe, cares enough to watch over us at our most vulnerable.

Gratitude encourages me to find peace no matter what has gone on in the day or what is in store for me tomorrow. It’s not easy to let it all go, and learning to do it takes time, but a thankful heart can help lessen the turmoil of your mind and help you drift off to sleep at night. When I make gratitude a part of my routine, I am astounded by the legacy of Christ’s faithfulness, which he brings to mind, and how that fortifies me.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Father,
It’s easy to think of things that make me mad or sad, so please fill my heart with thankfulness. You are good and gracious, all-powerful and omniscient. I can trust you, and I can sleep while you guard me against stressors and against myself. Highlight the gifts all around me that come from you, and if life is difficult, remind me of those many times in the past when you led me out of danger or when circumstances were peaceful and joyful. Never let me forget to be grateful, most of all, that you guard me like a shepherd against any roaming beasts of the spiritual realms at night.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO PONDER

1. Thankfulness is sometimes a gateway into light or joyous thoughts, which naturally inclines us towards rest and sleep. When you remember the wonderful things God has done in your life, a whole story unfolds like a pleasant dream.

2. ”Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Thankfulness is a discipline. We easily grumble, and yet it seems difficult to give thanks. But the more you do it, the easier and more natural it becomes.

3. If you need a place to start, begin with something small. If everything went wrong 90% of the time today, remember the 10% of times when it didn’t, and give thanks for those times. What you will probably find is that your 90% is exaggerated,d and it’s the other way around: 10% of the day was tainted by negative experiences that stand out. It wasn’t a bad day, but a few bad moments. Use this exercise to change your perspective when you’re awake, too.

Candice Lucey is a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her family. Find out more about her here.