I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
This original bedtime prayer was written by Joseph Addison in 1711, by the son of Reverend Lancelot Addison, and published in “The Spectator,” a daily paper published in London, England.
When I lay me down to Sleep,
I recommend my self to His care;
when I awake, I give my self up to His Direction,
Amen.
The second rendition was published in the New England Primer, in the American Colonies in the 1790’s. It appeared in the 1st reading primer for the beginning reader.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I ‘wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take
Since then several more variations have been added.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
His Love to guard me through the night,
And wake me in the morning’s light.
One of the more popular ones are: A Child’s Bedtime Prayer– Henry Johnstone
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray to God my soul to take.
If I should live for other days,
I pray the Lord to guide my ways.
Father, unto thee I pray,
Thou hast guarded me all day;
Safe I am while in thy sight,
Safely let me sleep tonight.
Bless my friends, the whole world bless;
Help me to learn helpfulness;
Keep me every in thy sight;
So to all I say good night.
As a young mother I taught my children the second rendition of this prayer. One night after our bedtime prayers, one of my children began to cry. I asked what the matter was, their reply was they didn’t want to die. I took the time to explain about the rhyme and about God looking over them while they slept, and that God would never leave them.
Have you ever been afraid to go to sleep at night? With some of the horror films that come out of Hollywood, I would not be surprised. It boggles my mind that people can come up with such atrocities and evil behavior to show our children and then have the audacity to call it entertainment. Long ago there was a “Twilight Zone,” movie where on this particular planet, if you dreamt something it would come true. Imagine Hollywood with a power like that. We would all be zombies roaming the streets eating each other. Why would you ever voluntarily put those ugly thoughts into your or your child’s head?
Look, the world will be happy to show its ugly side all too soon to your children, do you really need to hurry it along? Do you spend as much time showing them the good in the world? Do you tell them about a merciful God who is willing to forgive them their sins and redeem them for a world of beauty and grace? FYI I just saw a reminder that; STOP, DROP, AND ROLL, doesn’t work in hell! What are you doing to make sure your family is safe from that sort of peril?
Sleep is meant for rest, for quiet contemplation, and for renewal. A sweet repose without any monsters in the closet or under the bed. But if you were to die in your sleep tonight, where would you wake up? Wouldn’t you like to be sure? For whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.
As parents it is our job to ensure the well-being of our children. Allowing them to fill their minds with movies or video games that are graphic and horrific, is not doing our job. The impressions left by that sort of thing will last a lifetime. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. You can only harvest what you plant!
We as authors have always had a way to keep our readers in suspense, and in times past it was done with the reader’s imagination. Now we think we have to be as graphic as we can to out sell a competitor. Is it really worth polluting people’s minds to make a dollar or two? I would hope you do not fall into that category.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalms 4:8
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Proverbs 3:24
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
Psalms 3:5
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Psalms 91:4-5