When I have trouble falling asleep, I find myself praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Sometimes I only make it through a few recitations, sometimes a whole decade, other times the entire prayer sequence. I suppose it depends on how worried or active my brain is in the night. Regardless of how long it lasts, the cadence of the prayer brings calm, soothing my mind and soul.
One might think I am obsessing over failures and in a sense it is true, but not my worldly failures. While praying the chaplet, I beg for mercy for myself and the whole world because we all fail to indemnify all God's graces.
On a daily basis, sometimes hourly even, I fail to guard my thoughts and feelings against evil. Instead, I find myself falling into the trap of judgement, gossip-mongering, and pridefulness. St Paul said it best, "I do not do the good I want, but I do evil I do not want." (Romans 7:19). One day the Lord will deliver me from this earthly body. Until then, I will continue to pray for mercy for myself and the whole world during the night hours. I know he forgives my failing to guard against losing His graces.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
I know I've used the Sacred Heart of Jesus image before on my blog but it is one I can't get enough of and will probably use again as some point.
