Compline Prayers

If you're like me, the moment you wake up in the morning, life finds a way of crashing in with a hundred things that need to get done. And while some of it may be exciting and motivate you to jump out of bed, others might cause you to pull the covers over a little tighter and push snooze. Getting up and facing the day is not always easy.

Lately, I've been finding great solace, sanctuary and strength through the practice of morning prayers. These quiet mornings before my children and spouse wake up are precious times when I'm able to sit in silence, directing my thoughts and restless heart towards God, giving attention to God as I meditate on Scripture. It's been a wonderful morning practice. It grounds me. It centers me. It gets me moving.

But after the end of a full day, after dinner is served, the kids have had their "down-time," and after they've been prayed with, kissed, and tucked in for the night, it's "down-time" for us parents. On the docket is a beer or a glass of wine, some conversation and then some parent screen time – Netflix, online chess, social media scrolling, etc. – mindless entertainment to unwind is what it is in a nutshell.

While much of this evening rhythm is satisfying, there's a part of myself that wonders, even longs for something more. I've been wanting a better evening rhythm and practice, a time where, after the fullness of the day, I can turn to God, reflect on the day, express gratitude and/or lament and rest in the faithfulness of God as I lay my head down to sleep. I want to build into my daily rhythm of life an evening prayer practice.

Compline are evening prayers intended for quiet reflection on the events of the day and on scripture. They are times of thanksgiving for sure, but also of contrition and intercession. The form and elements of this prayer can vary, but what is certain is that it’s a time when we learn to rest in the God who not only creates and redeems our life for the day, but sustains and carries throughout the night. God is more present and active in sleeping hours than we would ever know.

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Reflect on the following verses from Psalm 92:1-2. Consider what your day would look like if the LOVE of GOD was the first thing that greeted you in the morning and the FAITHFULLNESS of GOD was the last thing you rested on at night.

It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your LOVE in the MORNING
and your FAITHFULNESS at NIGHT.

Samuel Lee is the campus pastor for The Tapestry Mundy Park
Photo by Christie Kim