Prayers

The Examen is a method of reviewing your day in the presence of God. It’s actually an attitude more than a method, a time set aside for thankful reflection on where God is in your everyday life. It has five steps.

1. Be still. Ask God for light.

• I want to look at my day with God’s eyes, not merely my own.

2. Give thanks.
• The day I have just lived is a gift from God. Be grateful for it.

3. Review the day.
• I carefully look back on the day just completed, being guided by the Holy Spirit.

4. Face your shortcomings. Ask for forgiveness.
• I face up to what is wrong—in my life and in me.

5. Look toward the day to come.
• I ask where I need God in the day to come.

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give Your angels and saints charge over those who sleep. Tend Your sick ones, O loving Lord; rest Your weary ones; bless Your dying ones; soothe Your suffering ones; pity Your afflicted ones; shield Your joyous ones. And all for Your love’s sake. Amen.

I adore You, my God, and I love You with all my heart. I thank You for having created me, for having made me a Christian, and for having preserved me this day. Pardon me for the evil I have done today. If I have done anything good, be pleased to accept it for the conversion of sinners and for the salvation of souls. Protect me while I take my rest and deliver me from all dangers.

May Your grace be always with me. We beseech You, O Lord, visit this home, and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy; let Your holy angels dwell therein so as to preserve us in peace; and let Your blessing be always upon us.

Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in His peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus Christ, my God, I adore You and thank You for all the graces You have given me this day. I offer You my sleep and all the moments of this night, and I ask You to keep me from sin. I put myself within Your sacred side and under the mantle of our Lady. Let Your holy angels stand around me and keep me in peace. And let Your blessing be upon me. Amen.

Dear Lord, as I settle down once again for the night, I pray for Your healing touch on every part of my life—both spiritual and physical. Lord, You know all the little niggles and pains that I am going through at the moment, and I pray for Your healing touch upon every area of my life in general and for relief from the aches, pains, and problems that I have in my body, in particular.

Ease away all the stresses and strains of the day, and heal the physical problems I have. And I pray that in Your goodness and grace, You would give me a good, pain-free night’s sleep, so that I may wake refreshed in body, soul, and spirit, ready to do Your bidding—this I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thank You, Father, for the many friends, family, and loved ones that by Your grace You have placed in my life, and I lift them up to You tonight, praying that You would protect and care for each one during these hours of darkness.

We thank You that the angel of Your presence encamps around those that fear You and that our lives are hidden with Christ in God, so that nothing can pluck us out of Your hand—and no darkness, danger, or perils of the night can come near us or harm us, for You are our Fortress and our Shield—our Stronghold and our Protector.

Thank You for the many precious promises that we can pray for our loved ones, and tonight I thank You that those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Be with all those I love tonight and give each one the beloved sleep that You have promised to all Your children—this I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Father, as we come to the end of another very busy day, we praise and thank You for the gift of sleep and the wonderful way that the night-time hours seem to sweep away all our cares, and melt away all our worries, as we rest in You. Thank You, that we may confidently cast all our cares and concerns upon You and lay all of our burdens down at Your feet, knowing that You love us with a perfect love and care for us with Fatherly concern.

Keep us safe this night from any perils and dangers, and lighten the darkness of this night with Your perfect peace, Your gracious tranquility, and Your serene grace.

Protect us, we pray, through the hours of darkness, knowing that there are many dangers and much wickedness that may stalk outside our home, but thank You that You are our shield and protection, our rock of salvation, our hope and strength.

Purify our minds, comfort our hearts, soothe our souls and give us all a good night’s sleep, we pray, for we are Yours, and You have promised that You would give Your beloved children refreshing sleep and rejuvenating rest in the night-time hours.

May the angel of Your presence, who is the Lord Jesus Himself, encamp around us tonight and protect us under the shadow of His wings.

And so, Father, into Your hands we commend our spirit and pray that You would wake us up in the morning, refreshed and ready to do Your will. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Loving Heavenly Father, as the night is fast approaching, I pray that as I climb into bed, I may rest my weary soul in You, and allow all the business of the day to melt away. Help me Lord to find my rest in You, as I keep my heart abiding in You.

Lord, so many things are changing in my life and at times I feel so lonely, as those that are nearest and dearest to me have been taken from me, for one reason or another. Lord, I know that You have promised to be with me every moment of the day and night, but somehow the nighttime makes me feel more on my own.

Hold me close, Lord Jesus, and, as I face the long night of darkness, I pray that I may sleep securely knowing that You are by my bed every moment of the night. Thank You, that moment by moment I am kept in Your love. Amen.

Heavenly Father, I do thank You for the gift of sleep and the opportunity for our bodies to be renewed and our souls to be refreshed during these quiet hours of the night, and as bedtime draws nearer, I just want to thank You for the benefits of sleep You have given us and ask that You would give me Your beloved sleep tonight.

Thank You for today and all the blessings and grace that have been poured out on me and those I love, and as I reflect on the different people I have met, I pray Your love and peace would guard and guide each one. And Lord, as I reflect on the different things that I have done, I ask Your forgiveness for anything that was not honoring You—but praise and thank You for the opportunities You have given me to carry out Your purpose through my life today.

As I settle down for the night, I ask and pray that I would soon fall asleep, but first, I want to hand all my cares and worries over to You, for You have promised to carry our burdens if we will simply lay them down at Your feet. I also want to lift up to You all those that mean so much to me, my family and friends, neighbors and other acquaintances, and ask Your blessing on each one—and I ask that You would wake me in the morning refreshed and ready to do Your bidding and may I be blessed with one more day to live for Jesus. Amen.