Psalms 141:2
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
The evening prayer as an offering: what the temple did with the evening sacrifice, the psalmist does with lifted hands.
Evening prayer
The end of the day is an ancient hour of prayer. The psalmist asked that his lifted hands count as “the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2) and sang of God’s faithfulness “every night” (Psalm 92:2). Praying at nightfall means looking back on the day with God: giving thanks, owning what went wrong and handing him the night and tomorrow. Below is an evening prayer and verses to pray before you close the day.
Lord, the day is ending, and I come to you before I rest. Thank you for everything you gave me today: bread, people and the protection I did not even notice.
I look back on my day with you. Where I was impatient, proud or careless, forgive me. If someone hurt me, help me forgive before I sleep, so that resentment does not lie down with me.
Into your hands I give what is still undone and what worries me about tomorrow. You care for me by day and by night.
Keep my home, my family and those I love, wherever they are. Give my body rest and my mind peace.
I lie down in peace, because you alone make me dwell in safety. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Verses to pray at nightfall
Psalms 92:1-2
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
Lovingkindness in the morning, faithfulness at night: the day begins and ends remembering who God is.
Psalms 63:6
When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
Even the bed is a place of prayer: remembering God in the night watches.
Ephesians 4:26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
The end of the day is the time to settle a grievance: not letting the sun go down on anger.
Acts 16:25
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Even in prison and beaten, Paul and Silas spent midnight praying and singing.
Psalms 4:8
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Rest comes from trust: God is the one who keeps the house through the night.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best time for evening prayer?
- The Bible sets no hour. The psalmist prayed “Evening, and morning, and at noon” (Psalm 55:17), and Daniel knelt three times a day (Daniel 6:10). What matters is closing the day with God: after dinner, before bed or when the house grows quiet.
- What should I say in an evening prayer?
- A simple pattern: thank God for the day, ask forgiveness for what went wrong, forgive whoever hurt you, hand over tomorrow’s worries and ask for protection through the night. Your own words are enough — the prayer above is only a starting point.
- What is the difference between an evening prayer and a bedtime prayer?
- An evening prayer closes the day: it gives thanks, looks back and lets go. A bedtime prayer is the last request before sleep, for anyone who needs peace and rest — the two can be prayed together.
Other prayers
In the Antioquia app, guided prayer prays aloud with you, and the prayer room gathers your church’s requests.