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TL;DR: End your day with peace by turning your focus to God’s protection instead of daily worries. Simple, powerful prayers for protection—rooted in Scripture—can calm your heart, guard your family, and help you sleep with confidence in His care.

I’ll admit that prayer is a struggle in my life. I believe it works, and I believe it’s a necessary part of being a godly man and raising a godly family. I just don’t practice it the way I should.

Maybe you know the feeling.

But some of my more meaningful times of talking with God come in my prayers for protection and peace before sleep. During those quiet moments, I can share my heart about the struggles of the day and my hopes for the future.

Such powerful prayers are simple, but they put my mind and my heart at ease.

Take It to the Lord

Let’s be honest, most guys—even Christian men—accumulate a ton of stress and anxiety each day. A prayer for safety or a prayer before bed can be a powerful outlet for what’s weighing us down. It’s like dumping out a backpack filled with heavy stones. We’re letting go of stuff that we’ve been struggling to carry.

And releasing those concerns and fears to God is biblical. In the Old Testament, Isaiah said that God will provide “perfect (that is, complete) peace” to those who trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3). Centuries later, Paul wrote that we can experience a peace from God that goes beyond anything we can imagine if we will avoid worry and “let [our] requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). And Peter encouraged believers to cast “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

God wants us to come to Him with our struggles. And the stillness of the night is a great time. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray in the mornings or afternoons. After all, we’re also commanded to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But prayers for protection before bed can anchor us in God’s peace and prepare our hearts for restful sleep.

Prayers Before Going to Sleep

When you were a kid, you might have voiced the “now I lay me down to sleep” prayer at bedtime. You might even use some form of that prayer with your own kids. That’s great for building a habit of powerful prayers before sleep, but don’t miss the chance to target your specific concerns with specific prayers.

In the space below, I’ve provided five prayers for protection based on five different verses from the book of Psalms. You can use these prayers before bed as you wind down from your day. Of course, you can adapt them to fit your context. You can also use them as models for praying with your wife and kids at night.

A Prayer for Peace (Psalm 91:4–6)

“He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.”

Father, I need Your protective shield. During this quiet moment, I want to hear Your voice, not the voices of fear and anxiety. Provide Your peace during the night, even as You begin preparing me for the battles I will face tomorrow. You are my refuge. I trust You.

A Prayer for Calm Sleep (Psalm 4:8)

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Lord, You created me to need sleep and rest. You did not create me to be controlled by fear, anxiety, and doubt. I confess that I often let my internal struggles get the best of me. I let my questions rob me of the sweet sleep that You have promised. Thank You for the assurance of safety during the night. Thank You that I can sleep in peace because You never sleep. Even in the night, You are watching over me and working out Your plan for my good and Your glory.

A Prayer Against Evil (Psalm 121:7–8)

“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

Father God, I live in a world filled with evil. It’s easy to fear all kinds of dangers and disasters. But You have promised Your protection, even in difficult circumstances. Both now and forever, You stand ready to guide and eager to defend. Cover this family with Your strength and Your peace. Stand between us and the dangers of this world. Guard us from the evil that could disturb our hearts and minds tonight.

A Prayer for God’s Strength (Psalm 119:114)

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”

Lord, the worries and stresses of this day have worn me out. My struggles have sapped my energy and left me vulnerable to fear in this quiet moment. At times like this, I am sensitive to my own weakness. I need Your strength and Your peace. Remind me that You are my shelter, my shield. While I face battles, I do not fight them alone. I have hope because of Your promises. Fill me with the peace and security that comes from overwhelming confidence in Your protection. Let that guard my heart and mind as I drift off to sleep tonight.

A Prayer of Gratitude (Psalm 31:7–8)

“I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.”

Heavenly Father, nothing catches You by surprise. You have seen every affliction in my life, and Your faithful love has stood by me each step of the way. Instead of leaving me to be eaten alive by my problems, You have promised victory. Instead of being trapped, You have given me a spacious place. I bless You and thank You, both for who You are and for what You’ve done in my life. Help me to remember Your mercies in the days ahead and to wake up with gratitude and praise on my lips.

Not Going Anywhere

My son helps lead the security team at our church. Every Sunday, he stands on the floor, off to the side of the stage. He’s always watching, always present in the moment. He’s a silent, but clear, reminder that someone is ready to protect our congregation.

What makes a prayer for protection before bed so significant is the truth that God is standing with you. It’s the knowledge that the Creator of the universe places Himself between you and any enemies that might come your way. That’s why powerful prayers before sleep can hold your heart and mind steady.

As Israel stood on the border of Canaan, God promised that He would never leave His people or forsake them (Deuteronomy 31:8). The writer of Hebrews affirmed that promise for believers in the church age (Hebrews 13:5).

We serve a God who has guaranteed His presence in our lives, whether we are awake or sleeping. We can trust Him to guard our hearts and bodies. We can count on Him to protect our families. We can express our reliance on Him and our gratitude through prayers for protection before we sleep.