Moses told the Israelites to talk about God’s commands “when you lie down and when you get up,” bookending the day with the same truths on both ends. Bedtime wasn’t treated as a break from faith in that household, it was one of the two set times faith was specifically supposed to show up.
These thirty verses are for the whole family, said together before everyone scatters to their own rooms for the night.
Pray these out loud, letting even the youngest voice in the house join in.
Night Prayer for Family
1. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (KJV)
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
Prayer: Let Your words be on our hearts tonight, and let us actually pass them to the children listening.
Let this moment teach faith, not just mark the end of the day.
2. Psalms 127:1 (KJV)
“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
Prayer: Unless You build this house, we labor in vain. Build this family, Lord, starting with tonight.
Let our home rest on what You’re building, not just what we’re managing.
3. Psalms 121:7-8 (KJV)
“The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
Prayer: Keep us from all harm tonight, watch over our coming in and going out.
Let watching cover every person under this roof.
4. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Prayer: Bless this family and keep us, make Your face shine on us, give us peace tonight.
Let this old blessing settle over every bedroom in this house.
5. Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Prayer: As for me and my house, let us serve You, Lord, tonight and every night after this one.
Let this declaration mean something real, not just words before sleep.
6. Psalms 4:8 (KJV)
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
Prayer: Let us lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone make us dwell in safety.
Let peace tonight not depend on how the day went.
7. Psalms 91:1-2 (KJV)
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
Prayer: Let us dwell in Your shelter tonight, our refuge and fortress, the God in whom we trust.
Let this house feel like shelter, not just a building with locked doors.
8. Psalms 91:11 (KJV)
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
Prayer: Command Your angels concerning us, to guard us in all our ways tonight.
Let their guarding cover every room in this house.
9. Proverbs 3:24 (KJV)
“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”
Prayer: When we lie down, let us not be afraid, and let our sleep be sweet.
Let fear stay outside every bedroom door tonight.
10. Psalms 3:5 (KJV)
“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.”
Prayer: We lie down and sleep, we wake again, because You sustain this family through the whole night.
Let waking up tomorrow be evidence of tonight’s answered prayer.
11. Deuteronomy 11:19 (KJV)
“And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
Prayer: Let us teach these things to our children tonight, talking about them at home and on the way, and yes, at bedtime too.
Let tonight’s prayer become tomorrow’s habit for the whole family.
12. Psalms 128:1-3 (KJV)
“Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.”
Prayer: Bless everyone in this family who fears You, and let our home reflect the blessing this psalm describes.
Let blessing be visible in how we treat each other, not just in words.
13. Psalms 133:1 (KJV)
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Prayer: How good and pleasant it is when family dwells together in unity. Let that be true here tonight.
Let unity hold even after a day that had its share of friction.
14. Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Prayer: Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts tonight, and let us be thankful as a family.
Let peace be the last thing felt in this house before sleep.
15. 1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”
Prayer: Let us live in harmony with one another, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, humble, even after a long day.
Let tonight end gently, whatever the day was actually like.
16. Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Prayer: Let us be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other before the lights go off.
Let no one in this house go to sleep still holding a grudge from today.
17. Psalms 34:7 (KJV)
“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
Prayer: Your angel encamps around those who fear You, and delivers them. Encamp around this house tonight.
Let that circle hold from lights-out until morning.
18. Psalms 46:1 (KJV)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Prayer: You are our refuge and strength, a very present help, even in the middle of the night.
Let help be as close at midnight as it is at noon.
19. Proverbs 14:26 (KJV)
“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.”
Prayer: Let fearing You give this family confidence, and let our children have a refuge in that too.
Let our kids grow up trusting You the way we’re trying to.
20. Psalms 145:4 (KJV)
“One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.”
Prayer: Let one generation commend Your works to the next, right here, tonight, at this bedside.
Let our kids grow up remembering this family actually talked about You.
21. Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Prayer: Let us be strong and courageous tonight, not afraid, for You go with this family into tomorrow too.
Let courage cover whoever’s the last one to fall asleep tonight.
22. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (KJV)
“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.”
Prayer: Lord of peace, give this family peace at all times and in every way, not just on the easy nights.
Let peace be constant here, not conditional on a good day.
23. Isaiah 54:13 (KJV)
“And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
Prayer: Let all our children be taught by You, and let their peace be great because of it.
Let Your teaching go with them into tomorrow, wherever it takes them.
24. Psalms 112:1-2 (KJV)
“Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.”
Prayer: Blessed is this family for fearing You. Let our children be mighty, upright, and blessed too.
Let this blessing carry forward into the next generation of this family.
25. Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Prayer: Let us not be anxious about tomorrow tonight, but bring every worry to You, and let peace guard us as we sleep.
Let peace stand guard the way the locked doors alone can’t.
26. Psalms 5:11-12 (KJV)
“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”
Prayer: Spread Your protection over this family, surround us with Your favor as with a shield tonight.
Let that shield be up before anyone closes their eyes.
27. John 14:27 (KJV)
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Prayer: Give this family the peace You give, not what the world offers. Let no heart here be troubled tonight.
Let this peace hold even if something in the house creaks at midnight.
28. Psalms 90:17 (KJV)
“And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”
Prayer: Let Your favor rest on us, and establish the work of our hands, even the small, unfinished work of raising this family.
Let this feel like enough tonight, even if today wasn’t perfect.
29. Proverbs 24:3-4 (KJV)
“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
Prayer: By wisdom let this house be built, through understanding let it be established.
Let this family keep being built on wisdom, one ordinary night at a time.
30. Psalms 20:1 (KJV)
“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;”
Prayer: May You answer this family in the day of trouble, and may the name of the God of Jacob protect us.
Let this protection be real tomorrow, whatever it brings.
Conclusion
Moses bookended the day with the same truths, morning and night, not because mornings and nights are special, but because repetition is how anything actually takes root in a family.
Make this part of the routine, not a one-time prayer for a hard night.
For the kids specifically, a nightly prayer for children pairs well with this one, and a bedtime prayer for protection goes deeper into the safety side alone.