Insomnia Prayer

Try this insomnia prayer when you can’t fall asleep or stay asleep at night. This insomnia prayer has four parts:

Asking God to show you practical things you can do the make sleep possible

Meditating on Bible verses on sleep and rest

Praying directly to God for his strength, comfort, aid and protection to help you sleep well.

Asking for God to direct you to professional help if needed.

1.  Instead of praying for morning to come, pray that God will show you helpful strategies that work for you when you can’t sleep.

One thing I have struggled with as an adult is insomnia. Over the years I have learned several things about it from various sources. I used to lie in bed tossing and turning wondering if I would ever fall asleep and praying for morning to come. I have learned that the first mistake is continuing to lie in bed when I cannot fall asleep. These ideas will help you practice good sleep hygiene. Here is my list of things you can do instead of lying awake worrying that you can’t sleep:

1. If you can’t fall asleep after 15-30 minutes, get back up and do something quiet in another room.
2. Before it gets to that point, try concentrating on breathing in and out. Repeating a mantra can help. Mine is simply “breathe in, breathe out.”
3. Don’t drink caffeine after 2 p.m. (4 p.m. at the very latest). Avoid energy drinks. Don’t consume Gatorade, Power Ade, or carrot juice (I like V-8 Splash but it keeps me awake) prior to bed.
4. Avoid spicy foods before bed.
5. Watch your sugar intake.
6. Consult a physician to determine if there could be another underlying health issue contributing to the insomnia like acid reflux or sleep apnea (I have both).
7. The only 2 things you should do in the bedroom are sleep and have sex. Yes, the TV has to go!!!
8. Turn off the TV, computer, phones, etc. about an hour before bedtime so your eyes will not be overwhelmed by their light and prevent you from settling down.
9. If you must have outside stimulus, watching television is better than listening to the radio because it leaves less to the imagination.
10. Sleep in a dark room. Wear a mask if it helps.
11. Keep the temperature between 65-72 degrees during sleep. If it is too cold or too hot, it could cause you to wake up. Wear socks to maintain your body temperature.
12. Get at least 30-60 minutes of natural light a day and ask your doctor to do a blood test to see if you’re vitamin D deficient. If so, take a supplement.
13. Consider trying Magnesium after you consult your physicians. I use it in tablet form. Take it prior to bed to slow your brain down and help your body relax and prepare for sleep.
14. Turn your clock away from you so you don’t keep checking the time.
15. Take a warm bath.
16. Drink warm milk and/or eat a small snack of turkey or some other sleep inducing food prior to bedtime.
17. Have white noise in the background while you sleep. Invest in a sound machine, or download an app and play it while you sleep.
18. While lying in bed, relax your body by tensing and releasing your muscles starting with your toes and working your way up.
19. Get up at the same time every morning.
20. Don’t take naps. If you must, limit it to a 25 minute power nap.
21. If your partner or pets bother you, move to another room or wear ear plugs. You might need to make your pet get off the bed if they sleep with you.
22. Exercise regularly, even if it’s just a walk.
23. If your mind is racing, tell it to “stop” so you can re-center yourself.
24. Don’t balance your checkbook, pay bills, or do anything with finances prior to bed.
25. Before you lie down, write 5 things that you’re grateful for, make a to-do list for tomorrow, or if you’re depressed write something to look forward to as a reason to get up the next morning. As you are trying to fall asleep, say a quick prayer (I often fall asleep before I finish).

This is just my list (I am not a doctor). You may hear different numbers of minutes or degrees which all can be subjective and are open to interpretation, but hopefully this will give you some ideas and tools to help you find relief. I hope it helps.

2.  Meditate on the following Bible verses on sleep and rest and claim them as promises from God.

Here are some Bible verses from the English Standard Version about getting rest.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Genesis 2: 1-3

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:7

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127: 2

Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. Ecclesiastes 5:12

When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!” Isaiah 14:3-4

“Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid.” Jeremiah 30:10

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11

3.  Pray directly to God about your problems with sleep.

Please pray with me:

Dear Lord, please remind me to read these Bible verses to comfort me when I cannot sleep. I pray the Holy Spirit will fill my room and make it safe from any evil spirits which may be present. Holy Spirit, you know the words I am unable to form. Please petition God on my behalf to comfort my soul and those close to me.

Please help me to put these habits into practice so that I may find relief. Please slow my thoughts and take away my suffering, my toiling, and my fears of not being able to go to sleep and help me to find things that work so that I do not have to go through my insomnia any longer.

Please let sleep come so that I may dream. Please speak to me through my dreams and in them provide me with solutions to my problems. I implore you to restore my soul as only you can and help me find rest.

Thank you for hearing my prayer. I ask these things in your Holy son Jesus Christ’s name.

Amen.

4.  Ask God to guide you to other sources of help if you need them.

If you continue to have problems sleeping, ask God’s guidance in finding a medical doctor or a sleep clinic.

Getting enough sleep is essential to your overall health and well being. Not getting enough sleep has a major impact on your quality of life and your ability to perform well. It can lead to fatigue, concentration problems, mood problems, accidents and problems remembering things.

According to the experts, problems sleeping can be caused by physical or mental illness, stress, medications or relationship problems. Most short term sleep problems are caused by stress. Unfortunately, when you can’t sleep, you can develop feelings of anxiety about your lack of sleep which makes it even harder to sleep well.

Sleep issues include having trouble falling asleep, waking up frequently, waking long before morning and not being able to go back to sleep and having poor quality of sleep that leaves you feeling tired in the morning.

Other related articles.

How to Get Up Early to Pray

Trouble Getting Out of Bed Prayer

Copyright Wendy M. Weathers 2015. All rights reserved.