Posts Tagged ‘sleep prayer’

 

Insomnia

Posted on: May 31st, 2018 by Alden

A prayer to be said by those suffering from insomnia. May you find the rest you need.

Insomnia
Oh, to sleep,
To rest,
To find relief
From fitful nights and half-awake days.
To slumber.
To feel refreshed.

G-d of mercy,
I need your comfort and shelter.
Grant me respite and repose,
A night of quiet and tranquility
That leads to another,
And another,
So that I may do Your will,
In the fullness of my abilities,
With wisdom and strength.

.ברוך אתה ה’ אלהינו מלך העולם הנותן ליעף כח
Blessed are you Adonai our G-d, king of the world, who gives to strength to the weary.
Baruch atah Adonai, Ehloheinu melech ha’olam, ha’notayn layaef koach.

© 2018 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

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Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: Health Status

Bird Song at Midnight

Posted on: July 26th, 2015 by Alden

This is a prayer for comfort on restless nights. It’s my fourth using birds as the central metaphor. See also: “Bird is Bird,” “First Bird” and “Soarbird.” Click on the video to hear students from HUC-JIR in New York recite it. The text follows. This meditation appears in This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day from CCAR Press.

 

Bird Song at Midnight
Sometimes a bird will sing at midnight.
Perhaps restless, perhaps confused,
Perhaps so full of joy and love
That music bursts forth.

Fill me with song on sleepless nights.
Fill me with music in the lonely deep.
Let the promise of a new day
Bring comfort and consolation.

© 2017 CCAR Press from This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day

Postscript: Thanks to CCAR Press and HUC-JIR for creating this lovely video. See also: “Bird is Bird,” “First Bird” and “Soarbird.”

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Video Source: CCAR Press

Prayer before Sleep

Posted on: June 24th, 2015 by Alden

Flaming_June,_by_Frederic_Lord_Leighton_(1830-1896)This is a prayer to be said before going to sleep. This piece appears in This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day from CCAR Press. Here’s a related prayer for those who suffer from insomnia.

Prayer before Sleep
G-d,
Watch over my sleep.
Grant me a night of rest and renewal,
And spread Your loving shelter
Over my family and friends,
My [wife/husband/partner/child(ren)/mother/father]
And all who are dear to me.
Keep us safe through the night
And stay present when the morning comes.
This night I’m keenly aware of those in special need of Your care.

Ancient One,
Ease my mind,
Soothe my heart,
Rejuvenate my body,
Restore my strength,
Revive my faith,
So that when I open my eyes
To the new day
I see beauty in Your creation
And marvel in all Your works.
Then, I will rise up
In service to Torah and mitzvot,
In service to Your will,
A testimony to Your Holy Name.

© 2017 CCAR Press from This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day

Postscript: Other “quick prayers” include: “Quick Meditation for Today,” “Quick Meditation at Noon,” “Your Name: Quick Prayer at Dusk,” “Quick Meditation at Night” and “Quick Prayer for Healing.”

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Photo Source: Wilkimedia Commons, Flaming June, by Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896)

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