Silent Night: A Prayer For Sleep
Fulfilling, deep sleep doesn’t come easy for some of us. There are dark, restless nights. Chances are, if you're reading this, you’ve experienced those sleepless nights.
Our body evades sleep, our mind races, our thoughts bubble between the episode we just watched and existential dread.
“What if I never get to sleep?”
You’ve tried it all: cold rooms, warm socks, no socks, going to sleep early, going to sleep late. You’ve done all of the sleep clichés: counted sheep, drank warm milk, and read some really dry reading.
Now a Christmas song repeats in your head: “Silent night, holy night / All is calm and all is bright.” But your mind isn’t silent or calm and sleeping in heavenly peace seems ridiculously, out of the question.
A deep breath prayer for sleep and healing may be just the thing to ease your mind and comfort your weary soul.
Our body evades sleep, our mind races, our thoughts bubble between the episode we just watched and existential dread.
“What if I never get to sleep?”
You’ve tried it all: cold rooms, warm socks, no socks, going to sleep early, going to sleep late. You’ve done all of the sleep clichés: counted sheep, drank warm milk, and read some really dry reading.
Now a Christmas song repeats in your head: “Silent night, holy night / All is calm and all is bright.” But your mind isn’t silent or calm and sleeping in heavenly peace seems ridiculously, out of the question.
A deep breath prayer for sleep and healing may be just the thing to ease your mind and comfort your weary soul.
A Deep Breath Prayer For Sleep & Healing
Stress is a big reason adults lose sleep. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America found that about 50% of adults experience daily stress that affects their sleep.
However, people with regular spiritual practices tend to have better sleep than their nonreligious counterparts.
When your mind focuses on breathing and simplicity amazing things happen (like falling asleep without trying or not feeling tired and unexpectedly drifting off to sleep).
In the middle of the night when I wake up; what do I do to get back to real, restful sleep? It seems a little counterintuitive but I take out my phone and open the Everyday Sanctuary app because I know I will drift back to glorious sleep if I focus on just two words: The IN and OUT of that day’s Deep Breath Prayer.
However, people with regular spiritual practices tend to have better sleep than their nonreligious counterparts.
When your mind focuses on breathing and simplicity amazing things happen (like falling asleep without trying or not feeling tired and unexpectedly drifting off to sleep).
In the middle of the night when I wake up; what do I do to get back to real, restful sleep? It seems a little counterintuitive but I take out my phone and open the Everyday Sanctuary app because I know I will drift back to glorious sleep if I focus on just two words: The IN and OUT of that day’s Deep Breath Prayer.
You are Safe to Rest
As I write this, today’s Everyday Sanctuary Practice is “You are Safe to Rest.”
You can join us in this exercise by breathing deeply for 2 minutes using the IN phrase for your inhale and the OUT phrase for your exhale.
IN | Safe
OUT | To Rest
Breathing and spirituality are connected. Everyday simple words like this, words with intention, lead you to a silent night’s sleep and a deeper connection with God.
We include deep breathing as part of the Everyday Sanctuary daily practice because it allows us to actively participate in healing our physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds. I find this routine to be a powerful spiritual practice.
“Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright.”
As your mind relaxes and releases the cares of the day, the words of this Christmas hymn become less of an aspiration and more a prayer before sleep. Sleeping in heavenly peace becomes a reality.
IN | Safe
OUT | To Rest
Breathing and spirituality are connected. Everyday simple words like this, words with intention, lead you to a silent night’s sleep and a deeper connection with God.
We include deep breathing as part of the Everyday Sanctuary daily practice because it allows us to actively participate in healing our physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds. I find this routine to be a powerful spiritual practice.
“Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright.”
As your mind relaxes and releases the cares of the day, the words of this Christmas hymn become less of an aspiration and more a prayer before sleep. Sleeping in heavenly peace becomes a reality.
Routine Helps the Mind Find Rest
Building a nightly routine helps your mind relax from the day and prepare for sleep. Practicing sleep meditation and prayer are crucial to developing consistent restful sleep.
New habits are hard to stick to at first. Don’t be discouraged. Ask God for focus and determination. You’re not on your own!
New habits are hard to stick to at first. Don’t be discouraged. Ask God for focus and determination. You’re not on your own!
Finding Your Daily Sanctuary
Adults need at least 7 hours of nightly sleep in order to function properly. A lack of sleep doesn’t just leave you groggy or cranky; it also brings about attention lapses, reduced cognition, delayed reactions, and mood shifts.
For me, a lack of sleep leaves me feeling unfocused and unprepared for the day ahead. Good sleep provides that daily sanctuary that restores my mind and body and sets me up for success.
For me, a lack of sleep leaves me feeling unfocused and unprepared for the day ahead. Good sleep provides that daily sanctuary that restores my mind and body and sets me up for success.
A Prayer For Peaceful Sleep
Sometimes we have to remember, as I share in one of our daily practices:
the harping of the machine
does not control your life
no longer.
Your longing has led you here.
To rest and sustenance.
For me, this is like a prayer for peaceful sleep. It speaks to my longing for rest. It reminds me that it’s okay to clear busy schedules and build in time for rest. I am welcome to set aside the busyness of life and find rest in a good night’s sleep. I am invited to see my spirituality as not another task to do but an opportunity to rest and heal.
My mind shuts down more easily and heavenly peace becomes reality.
the harping of the machine
does not control your life
no longer.
Your longing has led you here.
To rest and sustenance.
For me, this is like a prayer for peaceful sleep. It speaks to my longing for rest. It reminds me that it’s okay to clear busy schedules and build in time for rest. I am welcome to set aside the busyness of life and find rest in a good night’s sleep. I am invited to see my spirituality as not another task to do but an opportunity to rest and heal.
My mind shuts down more easily and heavenly peace becomes reality.
Too Busy For Your Spiritual Journey?
Mother Teresa once said, “If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy!”
Our lives can be hectic and prayer may be set on the back burner, leading you to wonder how to deepen your spiritual practice with what little time you have. Everyday Sanctuary helps busy people have a satisfying faith practice in just 5 minutes a day.
Download our free app to breathe deep and seek.
Our lives can be hectic and prayer may be set on the back burner, leading you to wonder how to deepen your spiritual practice with what little time you have. Everyday Sanctuary helps busy people have a satisfying faith practice in just 5 minutes a day.
Download our free app to breathe deep and seek.
Pastor Abigail
Creator | Curator of Everyday Sanctuary
www.everydaysanctuary.com
Your Spiritual Life Matters
Support Sanctuary at Patreon
Creator | Curator of Everyday Sanctuary
www.everydaysanctuary.com
Your Spiritual Life Matters
Support Sanctuary at Patreon
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