Having trouble getting a good night’s sleep? Download Abide for Christian sleep meditations that use calming techniques and Scripture verses framed in soothing stories to lull you into a peaceful slumber.
I was an adult the first time I read Prince Caspian, the second book in the classic Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. I reached one passage that blew me away. At this point in the story, the Pevensie children are scattered about Narnia but trying to gather together with Prince Caspian. Susan and Lucy were with Aslan when they came upon a school class. The teacher was urging them to run from the Lion: “But Gwendolen hesitated. ‘You’ll stay with us, sweetheart?’ asked Aslan. ‘Oh, may I?!’ said Gwendolen.”
If you’re not familiar with the classic stories, Aslan is the Christ-figure. There was something so special about seeing my name in the story in such a tender way. Gwendolen stayed with Aslan, and he called her sweetheart! I was simply delighted.
God’s Word Is Alive
Although the words of Scripture were not originally written to you, for you, or about you, we serve a God Who is far more active and alive than in any one moment. When you put yourself into the pages of Scripture—by personalizing the psalms, for example—they come alive in a new way.
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (ESV).
Making the Psalms Your Own
The psalms were written as prayers and songs from individuals to the Lord. You can borrow these prayers for your own heart. Soothe your soul and prepare yourself for a good night’s rest by speaking the words of Scripture over your own life. Personalizing the psalms and turning them into your own prayers paves the way for peaceful nights.
Turn These Psalms Into Personalized Prayers
Psalm 16:2: “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing’” (NIV).
Prayer: God, You are everything to me. It is only because of you that I have anything good in my life.
Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (NIV)
Prayer: Lord, You are my light and my salvation; because of You, I don’t have to be afraid.
Psalm 36:5: “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies” (NIV). Prayer: Lord, Your love and faithfulness are unchanging and endlessly expansive. Help me to see how big You really are.
Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (ESV).
Prayer: God, in You I find safety and strength; I know You are present with me in the midst of my struggles.
Psalm 62:1: “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation” (ESV).
Prayer: Lord, help me to embrace the silence tonight as I lie down to sleep. I know that it is from You alone that I find rescue.
Psalm 73:26, 28: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever… But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works” (ESV)
Prayer: How good it is to be near you, God! Even when my body seems to let me down, you are my strength, my portion, and my refuge.
Now listen to a short segment from a sleep story from Abide based on Psalm 27 about having no fear. Experience how a Bible-based sleep story can help you experience a more peaceful night.
Getting better sleep helps you have better mental clarity, more energy, and a brighter outlook on life. Meditating on God’s Word as you fall asleep can help you achieve that goal. Abide sleep stories have brought better sleep to thousands around the world. Download the app now and save 25% off a premium subscription. Start experiencing better sleep with God’s Word.
Gwen lives in Atlanta with her husband, Paul. She loves black coffee, a good novel, and she is always looking for a new skill to try or adventure to take.
