GWLW: God’s Word, Your Last Word

Jim Downing suggests, “…we need to give God the night key to our hearts. That night key is the Word of God.” (Downing 1977, 43) I heard about this practice when I was in college. I thought it was a good idea but dismissed it. Years later, I stumbled upon this concept again; a friend who struggled mightily with negative thinking mentioned how valuable this practice had been for him. Partly out of a desire to share his enthusiasm and be in solidarity with him, I decided to try it and realized its power in settling my mind. For some time, I selected a verse in the morning that I would use for GWLW, but now, as I go to bed, I think about a verse that I have prayed in the evening prayer, or very often, I review the Ten Commandments or another scripture.

The practice of praying Compline has a long history in the Christian Church. The name Compline comes from a Latin word meaning “completion,” signifying the close of the day. For those in religious orders, it was the final prayer of the day, following a pattern of seven daily prayers. I use the liturgy from The Book of Common Prayer, which offers a rich way to end the day with Scripture. The Compline liturgy is filled with biblical passages, providing phrases that can guide your thoughts as you fall asleep, grounding you in God’s grace, love, and trust.

Several years ago, I had a conversation with a man who had lost his way in ministry by his own admission. As he shared his story, he recounted how he had become consumed with keeping the ministry going. He paused for a moment and reflected that only in hindsight did he realize something significant: When he first entered ministry, he had made it a habit to meditate on Scripture as he fell asleep. But over time—almost without noticing—he had inadvertently shifted to brooding over the problems and logistics of the growing ministry instead. It’s so easy, even with the best intentions, to let the weight of responsibilities take the place of quiet trust in God.

Reference: Downing, Jim. 1977. Meditation: The Bible Tells You How. Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress.