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When life gets hectic, I find it hard to keep any sort of sleep schedule. After all, who has time for a 30 to 60-minute bedtime routine when sleep is calling your name? But creating a Bible-based bedtime routine and making rest a priority can have benefits in all areas of your life, from your physical well-being to your spiritual life.
It’s no wonder we see rest come into play in the Bible time and time again. Consider that Jesus was sleeping in the boat during a great storm. Or that in the Bible, God often spoke to people through dreams (See several accounts in Matthew: 1:20, 2:12-13,22). In other words… sleep is important!
After all, the more rest you get, the better you’ll be able to hear God’s voice. With that in mind, I put together a list of my favorite Bible verses for a better night’s sleep, plus helpful tips for how to incorporate these verses into your sleep routine.
How to Use Bible Verses in Your Bedtime Routine
You might be familiar with the idea of a sleep routine when it comes to infants and children. Sleep experts recommend a regular bedtime routine, a.k.a. the activities leading up to sleep, in order to teach kids to expect sleep. Similarly, a bedtime routine can do wonders for grownups in preparing our bodies to get ready for sleep.
When it comes to incorporating Bible verses into your bedtime routine, practice makes perfect. First things first: be consistent. Read a verse at the same point in your sleep routine every night. For many of us, this is right before we fall asleep. What could be more comforting than drifting off to sleep after reading a comforting psalm? You can also incorporate Bible verses into your bedtime prayers. Read a verse, meditate on it, use it to pray, then finish up your prayers and go to sleep.
Of course, there’s always room to get creative! There are many ways to create a Bible-based bedtime routine. Is one of your favorite Bible verses also a hymn? Play that song as you settle into bed. Do you read a bedtime book to your kids or grandchildren every night? Meditate on a “bedtime story” from the Bible before you go to bed too.
Bible Verses for Sleep + Sleep Tips
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul…”—Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)
Sleep tip: This is one of the most beloved bedtime Bible verses for a good reason—it’s completely comforting. Challenge yourself to meditate on one portion of this verse each week for a month.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Sleep tip: Let’s face it—worries are often one of the biggest things that can keep us up at night. Try reflecting on this verse from Philippians to remember that God can handle all your cares and fears.
“On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.”—Psalm 63:6-7 (NIV)
Sleep tip: Add a peaceful melody to your bedtime routine by turning a psalm into a lullaby, like this one about God’s protection.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”—Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Sleep tip: Sleep and rest are two different things, and this verse is perfect for meditating on that idea. Something to think on: What does Jesus mean by “rest” in this verse?
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”—Proverbs 3:24 (NIV)
Sleep tip: Try repeating this verse as your head hits the pillow—it may become a beloved part of your sleep routine!
“In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.”—Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
Sleep tip: This short verse is easy to memorize and perfect for a quick and simple nighttime routine. Repeat it whenever you wake up in the middle of the night and need to soothe yourself back to sleep.
“I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.”—Psalm 3:5 (NIV)
Sleep tip: This is another simple verse that you can memorize and repeat again and again.
“Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’”—Matthew 8:24-25 (NIV)
Sleep tip: The sleep theme of this story makes it the perfect bedtime story to mull over before bedtime. Question to ponder: Why was Jesus sleeping during a storm?
“He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.”—Psalm 121:3-4 (NIV)
Sleep tip: Keep this verse handy should you ever have a sleepless night or whenever you feel frightened at night.
Listen to a short segment of this sleep story from Abide based on Psalm 121:4 about God’s protection.
“For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.”—Psalm 91:11 (NIV)
Sleep tip: This is a great verse to incorporate into your bedtime routine in the form of music—Psalm 91 is the inspiration for the song “On Eagle’s Wings.”
For more help to stress less and sleep better, check out the Abide app, where our 400+ Bible-based sleep stories, like the one above, all exist to help you experience the peace of Christ and get better rest. Use this link for 25% off a premium subscription, giving you access to all our sleep stories plus much more.
Diana Aydin is a writer and editor based in New York.
