Bedtime Reading Plan

<p><strong>Why this helps:</strong> Sleep Foundation sleep-hygiene guidance (2024) supports a calming, non-stimulating pre-sleep reading habit as part of a consistent wind-down that lowers cognitive arousal before sleep. A short, familiar, comforting passage read at the same time each night reinforces the routine; the goal here is reassurance and stillness, not study. All Scripture below was fetched live from bible-api.com and confirmed as translation_id "kjv."</p><h4>Intro screen</h4><p><strong>Header:</strong> Seven nights of rest</p><p><strong>Body:</strong><br>One short passage a night, for seven nights. Each one is chosen to quiet you, not to make you think hard. Read it slowly, once or twice. Let the last line stay with you as you close your eyes. You do not have to finish anything. You only have to receive it.</p><p>---</p><h4>Night 1 — Psalm 4:8</h4><p>*Framing:* The oldest bedtime prayer there is. Lay it down with you.</p><blockquote>I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.<br>— Psalm 4:8, KJV</blockquote><p>---</p><h4>Night 2 — Matthew 11:28</h4><p>*Framing:* You do not have to carry the day into the bed. Hand it over.</p><blockquote>Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.<br>— Matthew 11:28, KJV</blockquote><p>---</p><h4>Night 3 — Psalm 23:1-3</h4><p>*Framing:* You are led, fed, and restored. Let the Shepherd keep the watch tonight.</p><blockquote>The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.<br>— Psalm 23:1-3, KJV</blockquote><p>---</p><h4>Night 4 — John 14:27</h4><p>*Framing:* A peace the world cannot give and cannot take. Let it settle your heart.</p><blockquote>Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.<br>— John 14:27, KJV</blockquote><p>---</p><h4>Night 5 — Psalm 121:3-4</h4><p>*Framing:* You can close your eyes because Someone who never sleeps is keeping watch.</p><blockquote>He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.<br>— Psalm 121:3-4, KJV</blockquote><p>---</p><h4>Night 6 — Philippians 4:6-7</h4><p>*Framing:* Trade the worry for prayer, and let a peace beyond understanding guard you.</p><blockquote>Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.<br>— Philippians 4:6-7, KJV</blockquote><p>---</p><h4>Night 7 — Proverbs 3:24</h4><p>*Framing:* The promise to close the week on. Lie down without fear.</p><blockquote>When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.<br>— Proverbs 3:24, KJV</blockquote><p>---</p><h4>Closing screen (after Night 7)</h4><p><strong>Header:</strong> Seven nights kept.</p><p><strong>Body:</strong><br>You ended each of seven days with peace instead of worry. That is a rhythm worth keeping. Begin the plan again tomorrow, or carry the verse that stayed with you most into the nights ahead. Rest well.</p><h2>Sources</h2><ul><li>Sleep Foundation, sleep-hygiene guidance, 2024 — calming, non-stimulating pre-sleep reading supports a consistent wind-down and lowers cognitive arousal.</li><li>bible-api.com (King James Version, Public Domain) — all seven passages fetched live and confirmed translation_id "kjv."</li></ul>