Night Prayer (Friday 9/26) — An evening examen about time, service, and rest

# What this post is

# How the prayer is structured

A sequence of short confessions follows. Each line asks forgiveness for a specific failing related to time: wasting the day, selfishness, foolishness, giving attention to unworthy purposes, taking the day for granted, and failing to praise or thank God for the gift of the day.

The post invokes Scripture in a concise way: the line "Scripture tells me there's a time for everything, Lord, and a time for every purpose under heaven" ties the reflection to Ecclesiastes. The familiar song "Turn, Turn, Turn" (Pete Seeger, sung by Judy Collins) appears with its lyrics that echo that same biblical idea.

The post ends with a compact set of short, almost litany-like requests and images — phrases such as "Calm me, quiet me, settle me" and a longer list of verbs asking for guidance, healing, renewal, and protection — culminating in "Lord, hear my prayer today!"

# What the prayer asks you to do

• Review your day with blunt questions about time and service.
• Make concrete confessions: name where time was wasted or misapplied.
• Ask for forgiveness and for renewal of the ability to use tomorrow's time well.
• Seek restful sleep and protection overnight so you can rise ready to love and serve.

# Notable elements to notice

• The prayer is short and conversational rather than formal liturgy. It resembles a private examen or bedtime examen.
• It explicitly ties daily time management to spiritual responsibility: time is a gift that can be used generously or squandered.
• The inclusion of the Ecclesiastes motif and the full lyrics to "Turn, Turn, Turn" connects the personal reflection to a broader theological and cultural text.

# Related posts and context

# Quick takeaway

This is a practical, plainspoken bedtime prayer aimed at helping readers assess daily use of time, confess specific failures, request forgiveness, and ask for sleep that restores the capacity to serve others tomorrow.