Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

“Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord, my soul to keep. Let angels watch me through the night, and wake me with the morning light.”

This is a poem most children learn early in life in one variation or another. It helps establish a habit of praying at bedtime–a good habit to have.

I was taught by my mother, farther back than my memory goes, a variation of the prayer poem, “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord, Thy child to keep.” At the end we would add “Dear God, thank You for this nice day. Please bless us all, and help us to be good. Amen.” I think the words of the addendum were my mother’s words. I taught that same prayer to my children.

A Revelation from My Child

It was not until my daughter was in about the fourth grade that I began to consider the impact of the words. She wrote a mother’s day message to me that I will never forget. I’m sure it was a class project as it was a list of “reasons why I’m thankful for my mother.” The words that stood out were these (I tear up as I type them.):

“Thank you for coming into my room at night and checking on me, and covering me up when I’m cold.”

“Watched Over”

Being “watched over” at night is truly a blessing. As a child, I was afraid of the dark. It didn’t matter how many times I was reminded that God made the night so we could rest, and it didn’t matter how many night lights were left on, or the fact that a street light was positioned in the alley behind our house so that it glowed through my bedroom window, or even the belief that angels truly did watch over us, the thing that brought me peace was when my mother came in to check on me. I think I often stayed awake until she did, just to know she was watching over me as “I lay me down to sleep.”

Angels Watching

I always loved the song that said, “All night, all day, angels watching over me, my Lord. All night, all day, angels watching over me.” Angels, in my young mind, looked like my mom. Later, angels were mighty, armored warriors.

Psalm 91:11-12

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” -Psalm 91:11-12

Matthew 18:10

“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my Heavenly Father.” -Matthew 18:10

Hebrews 1:14

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”- Hebrews 1:14

Father God Is Watching

Psalm 4:8

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Proverbs 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Psalm 3:5

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Psalm 91:1-2

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Angels and My Father

I think God must understand the need for the reassurance of protection as “now I lay me down to sleep.” After all, that is when we are most vulnerable. Yet, when we are vulnerable, He is not. We are His children, and He is a very good and loving Father.

Angels are watching over us. God, Himself, is watching over us. I no longer pray the exact words, “Now I lay me down to sleep,” but it is with utmost gratitude and security that I pray my bedtime prayers, unafraid in the dark. I know without a doubt that my heavenly Father is watching over me through the night, and that He will cover me when I’m cold.

God bless you, and may you always feel His peace as you lie down to sleep.