When I was a kid, I hated taking naps. One day, when I was four years old, my mom told me to nap. I adamantly stomped my foot and said NO. She picked me up and, with me kicking and screaming, put me in bed. Eventually, I fell asleep and had a good nap. As an early riser, I couldn’t wait for 7:00 a.m. to arrive each morning to get up, have my favorite breakfast cereal, and start my day.

Things have changed as an adult. Some days, I can’t wait for my workday to be over so I can climb into bed for a good power nap. As I’ve matured, I’ve realized I don’t get as much good sleep at night as I should. I often toss and turn for one to two hours per night. Although I do take sleep aids and other supplements to help give me a good night’s rest, sometimes it’s not enough.

Instead of getting frustrated with being unable to sleep, however, I have learned to use that time to pray. As someone who also struggles with anxiety, I sometimes wake up feeling nervous. Sometimes, it’s due to an overwhelming schedule. Other times, it’s due to different physical ailments that may be plaguing me at the time. However, with ingenuity, I can use my awake time to enhance my sleep life. Here are nighttime prayers to pray if you’re tossing and turning:

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Viacheslav Peretiatko