Day's end

The waterfront in Port Orchard, Washington provides a view of Mount Olympus. 

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. ~Psalm 4:8

In the monastic tradition, compline, or night prayers, is said before bed. Compline is a good time to review one’s day and prepare the heart for the day to come. 

Compline can be prayed alone, spontaneously, absent a prayerbook, although former prayers are available in the Book of Common Prayer or online. Praying compline allows for quiet reflection over one’s thoughts, words, actions, and motives. Compline includes a time of confession that can be followed by reading a psalm or two, the Lord’s prayer, and possibly singing or reciting a hymn.

The purpose of compline is to bring the day in alignment to a right relationship with God before going to sleep.

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.” ~Psalm 91:1-2

  

Resources for this post:

A Liturgy of Night Prayer

An Order for Night Prayer

7 Bedtime Prayers for Children