Every person has experienced lack of sleep at least once in their life. Everyone deals with insomnia differently. Some people are doing something, like reading or watching movies, while others are tossing and turning in bed, trying to sleep at least for a short time.
As a rule, those who take advantage of the lack of sleep for doing household chores or watching movies, reading, drawing or something else, staying up at night does not bother at all. These people simply do not want to sleep and find a way to spend the night differently. But those who feel the need for a night's rest, but cannot close their eyes and toss and turn all night, feel extremely ill the next morning without sleep, suffer from headaches and lack of vitality. These people need help, and prayer for insomnia may well provide it.
Reasons for lack of sleep
In order to understand exactly how reading prayers helps, it is necessary to imagine in general terms the reasons why people lose sleep. As a rule, its loss is directly related to violations inactivity of the body's nervous system.
In simple terms, sleep is lost because of:
- stress both permanent and temporary;
- excessive worries or worries;
- feelings of responsibility for others;
- fears, both real and fictional;
- tendency to analyze life situation;
- excessive mental and nervous stress.
This list could go on, but it is clear from this list that sleep disappears due to the fact that the nervous system is in an excited state, which is not replaced by relaxation.
How does prayer help?
Prayer helps with insomnia due to its calming, pacifying effect on the mind and soul of a person. When asking for help from the saints and the Almighty, people concentrate on this, that is, they free their own minds from all vain thoughts and anxieties that do not allow them to fall asleep.
Without a doubt, the power of prayer is not only in this. A sincerely believing person trusts in what is said, he does not allow even a shadow of a doubt that prayer from insomnia will not help him. An adult, as a rule, has a burden of responsibility and worries on his shoulders, which sometimes turns out to be unnecessarily heavy. Praying, people share this burden with the Lord, entrusting their worries and aspirations to him. Accordingly, their emotional state returns to normal and problems with going to sleep disappear.
How and when to read such a prayer?
Like any other prayer, from insomniaOrthodox requests to the Almighty and the saints can be pronounced both in their own words and using ready-made texts. Prayer is a daily work for a Christian. Don't expect that after reading a few words once, a person will immediately and permanently get rid of problems with going to bed.
Pray should be daily and earnestly, sincerely, completely surrendering to this action. Of course, one should also unconditionally believe in the power of the Lord God, not allowing even a shadow of doubt that he will not help to cope with adversity and will not return sleep.
The same prayer is read for insomnia after the completion of all evening affairs, washing. That is, just before going to bed. As for the duration of prayer, each person addresses the saints in his own way. One prays for a long time and reads passages from the Holy Scriptures, the other formulates a request in his own words and is very laconic. The Lord doesn't care how long a person prays. In order for the request to be heard in Heaven, sincerity, absolute faith, purity of thoughts and hope for help from above are needed, and not the duration of reading.
Who should be prayed to?
Those who have trouble falling asleep traditionally turn to the following saints for help:
- Nicholas the Wonderworker;
- Reverend Irinarch of Rostov;
- seven youths of Ephesus;
- Alexander Svirsky.
Of course, they pray for help from the Lord himself, they also turn to the Virgin.
How to pray to Nicholas the Wonderworker?
Nikolai Ugodnik, as this saint is often called in Russia, from time immemorial has been especially revered in the Slavic lands. To his image, people went and go so far with all their troubles, worries, sorrows, needs, both large and small. Of course, in case of difficulties with going to sleep, people from time immemorial also turn to this saint.
Prayer for insomnia to Nicholas the Wonderworker can be like this:
“Nikolai the Pleasant, father, our helper in Heaven, patron and intercessor, knowledgeable in every earthly aspiration! You help in all troubles, large and small, and give success to every charitable deed. Do not leave, Nikolai Ugodnik, father, me, a slave (proper name), look after my need and grant peace at night. There is no sleep for me, a slave (proper name), I crush pillows at night, I drive demonic thoughts. Help, Nikolai Ugodnik, father! Cleanse my mind, strengthen my spirit, help curb my weakness. Grant he alth of mind and body, good rest, save me, a slave (proper name), and bless! Amen.”
In the old days, people who suffered from lack of sleep not only prayed for deliverance from this problem at home in the evenings, they went to church and put a candle in front of the image of the saint.
A prayer for insomnia to Nikolai Ugodnik, read in the church in front of his image, can be like this:
Nicholas the Wonderworker, our patron saint! Hear my request, for I, a slave (proper name), need your help and participation. The dream left me, the body weakened and the soul was exhausted. Help, Nicholas the Wonderworker,cope with misfortune, take away unexpected misfortune. Return peace to my soul, fill my thoughts with purity and strengthen faith. Heal and bless me, Holy Wonderworker Father! Amen.”
How to pray to Irinarkh of Rostov?
Reverend Irinarkh lived in the Rostov land in the 17th century. This man was a recluse. He spent all his days in prayer, and also devoted time to taming the flesh. His feat in the name of the Lord was so great that God singled out Irinarch among many. Of course, after the Almighty called the recluse to himself, the earthly church canonized him in the rank of reverend.
Prayer for insomnia to Irinarch of Rostov may be:
Father! Reverend Irinarch, the great recluse of the land of Rostov, the patron saint in all human needs and disasters! Reason me, slave (proper name), tell me. How to be in trouble unexpected. Cursed insomnia torments my body and soul. There is no light of God for me during the day, and peace at night. I suffer and I suffer. Help, father, do not leave a dashing hour. Grant strength to me, the slave (proper name), to overcome the attack! Amen.”
How to pray to the youths of Ephesus?
In Russia, these saints are not particularly known, but they are often asked for help in the Balkans and the Mediterranean. They are usually asked for help for children with sleep integrity issues or nightmares.
A prayer for insomnia to the seven holy youths for a small child can be like this: “Sufferers of the Lord, eternal sleepers! Have mercyand see my misfortune, my soul's trouble. My child does not sleep, and I am with him. Screaming, harassing, tearing my soul. Behold and help, youths! Grant a strong and sweet sleep, fill my soul with peace. Amen.”
As a rule, mothers pray for good sleep for their little children within the walls of the temple, placing a candle in front of the icon.
How to pray to Alexander Svirsky?
This man lived at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. He devoted his life to church service. Father Alexander died, being hegumen of the Trinity Monastery. Now this monastery is called Holy Trinity Alexandro-Svirskaya. Father Alexander was canonized in the rank of reverend in the middle of the 16th century, at the same time his Life was compiled by one of his students.
Reverend Alexander does not disregard the needs of those whose hearts are filled with sincere faith in the power of the Lord, and whose thoughts are devoid of deceit and are pure.
A prayer for insomnia addressed to this saint might be:
“Reverend Father Alexander, who has done many favors with prayers to people! Take care of me, the humble servant of God (proper name), console me and do not leave me without help in fierce sorrow. It should not be for a person without rest at night and, like a demon, toil in the corners. Heal me from the accursed misfortune, grant peace and quiet, father! Bless my soul, endow the mind with clarity, and the body with good he alth. Strengthen my spirit and take away the attack of demons. Amen.”
