An Evening Blessing
Bob, (and Biscuit) and I have begun a new, nighttime ritual. It's an 8-minute guided prayer time on the app Lectio365. We find it a calming, thoughtful and a gentle way to review the day, keep present to Jesus and fall into the grace of sleep together. I especially love the Closing Prayer, which I am slowly memorizing. Plus, the readers have an English accent!
Here is the script of an evening guide from Tuesday night (they also have morning offerings):
The day is done, the night has come, Tuesday will soon be over. And so, in the quietness of this moment, I still my soul to spend this time with You.
REFLECT
Refrain of the Day
By day the Lord directs His love
at night His song with me.
Psalm 42:8 (NIV UK)
Am I carrying trouble in my mind from the worries of this day?
Breathing in slowly, I receive God’s peace. (Pause.)
Refrain of the Day
By day the Lord directs His love
at night His song with me.
Psalm 42:8 (NIV UK)
Am I carrying tension in my body from the strains of this day?
Breathing out slowly, I relax and release my stress to the Lord. (Pause.)
The Lord your God . . . is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and He will refresh your life with His love.
Zephaniah 3:17 (CEV)
REJOICE
Reflecting on the day that has passed, Lord, show me where You were at work in my life. In what ways did I experience Your goodness and when did I hear You speak? (Pause and pray.)
Night Scripture
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me besides quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for His name sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff
they comfort me.
You prepare a table for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely Your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
REPENT
A call to holiness:
The Lord said to Moses . . .
be holy because I am holy.
Leviticus 19:1,2
Father God, would you remind me now of the ways in which I sinned today in thought, in word or in deed. I take a moment to confess my sins before You now. (Pause and pray.)
Living Lord Jesus, thank You for bearing my sins in Your body on the cross. By Your wounds I am healed and by your blood I am cleansed (1 Peter 2:24). I receive Your forgiveness now. (Pause and pray.)
Refrain of the Day
By day the Lord directs His love
at night His song with me
Psalm 42:8 (NIV UK)
I hear Your word eternal, spoken now to me:
I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your
right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 (NIV UK)
REST
And so, “in peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).
Refrain of the Day
By day the Lord directs His love
at night His song with me.
Psalm 42:8 (NIV UK)
Night Prayer of the Church
I pray now with the 19th-century English poet Christina Rosseti (1830-1894)
O, Lord, Jesus Christ,
Who art as a shadow of a great rock in a weary land,
Who beholdest Thy weak creatures
weary of labor, weary of pleasure
weary of hope deferred, weary of self;
in Thine abundant compassion,
and fellow feeling with us,
and unutterable tenderness,
bring us, we pray Thee,
unto Thy rest.
Closing Prayer
God of all seasons, the sun has set, the night has gathered in, my soul sinks slowly into Your rest, trusting now in the resurrection to come. Amen.
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Isn't it beautiful? Give it a try and let us know what you think!
JUDY
P.S. No one was paid for this endorsement :-) We also like Pray As You Go and Dwell apps!