BGEA: I try to pray and read my Bible before I go to bed, but usually I fall asleep. Should I just not bother?

I always try to pray and read my Bible before I go to bed, but half the time I fall asleep before I finish. Should I just not bother, since I'm not getting anything out of it anyway? — Mrs. A.M.

It's a good thing to let our thoughts turn to God and His love for us before we go to sleep, so I don't want to discourage you from praying and reading your Bible then (at least briefly). The Psalmist said of God, "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night" (Psalm 63:6).

But what I would strongly urge you to do is to set aside a time during the day when you are alert and you won't be interrupted, and read your Bible and pray then. Why should we leave our time with God until the end of the day when we're too tired to concentrate? God deserves our best—including the best minutes of our day.

Perhaps you feel you are too busy during the day—but are you too busy to eat? You see, we make time for things we believe are important—and that is what I'm urging you to do. Is anything more important to you than your relationship with God? Make time for God, even if it is only a few minutes at first. You need Him—and He wants your fellowship. No one was busier than Jesus—and yet He gave priority to His time alone with His Father. The Bible says, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35). God will bless you as you spend time with Him every day.

5 Comments

Jessica says 5.16.2013, 10:18 p.m.

I feel like I have this fire burning within me, and I know GOD is working through me and I can go praying, worshipping and reading my bible; then the following week comes around and I start making excuses, start feeling sad, and most of angry. HELP.

Lorraine says 3.2.2013, 00:19 a.m.

I read my bible in the morning for years it is so nice and peaceful just reading and talking to God and when I.m finished I don,t remember what I read can you help me please

Travis says 8.20.2012, 11:30 p.m.

I am in the process of really beginning to know and understand God. Tonight is my first night that I felt compelled to read a scripture and pray!! Thank you Lord

suzy says 5.18.2011, 10:52 p.m.

I've been a christian my whole life. There have been times that I have been really strong, reading my Bible regularly and praying regularly, but lately I don't have enough desire to do so because every time I try I don't feel like I actually get anywhere with it.

Teresa says 9.3.2010, 09:46 a.m.

I was also reading my Bible at night before bedtime. I felt the daily renewal from reading God's Word, and the Spiritual comfort of His Word as I slept. But, I was missing out on the fullness and richness of my daily time with Him. God laid it on my heart to start reading my Bible with my morning coffee as I woke up each day. Right away, I felt a significant change in the quality of time I spent with the Lord. What a wonderful way to start the day! By doing this, it has helped my spiritual growth remarkably. I am amazed at the difference. I thank the Lord for leading me to do this each day! Praise God!