Most nightmares can be easily dismissed as the product of stress, anxiety or an overactive imagination. But what happens when a nightmare seems to be something more?
The Influence of Demons on Nightmares
We have all had nightmares at some time in our lives. They unsettle you, terrify you, and may even bring you to tears. When you wake from these types of dreams, you are left shaken. The memory of what you witnessed may continue to haunt you throughout your day and even years later.
The conventional explanation is that bad dreams are simply an extension of the fears, anxieties and experiences we carry with us during the day. And undoubtedly, some are.
But over time, I began to encounter nightmares that didn’t seem to fit that explanation.
Through my own experiences, I eventually became convinced that some nightmares can have a spiritual source.
Recognizing the Demons Behind the Nightmares
Demons may influence nightmares in subtle ways by preying on our fears or tempting us.
As an example, I was staying in a hotel and as I slept, a girl in a dream started hitting on me. I told her to leave and woke up immediately. As I came to, something about the dream felt different to me. I began to wonder whether I was dealing with something spiritual — a spirit appealing to lust. (I’ll talk more about hotels later.)
I bound this spirit and went back to sleep.
Then I had a second dream of my family being missing and not knowing if they were okay. Once again, I woke up immediately with an overwhelming sense of anxiety. Once again, I believed something spiritual was behind it.
I bound this spirit and went back to sleep.
Then I had a third dream, this one more intense, seeing my family in a car accident and badly hurt. Once again I woke up immediately and recognized the same pattern, this time centered on fear.
After three nightmares I had enough. This time I bound every demon that was in the room.
Having bound the demons behind the nightmares, I had a good night’s sleep.
Could someone argue that these dreams were psychological? Of course. I cannot clinically prove what caused them. What I can tell you is that I began noticing a repeated pattern: when these particular nightmares occurred and I responded to them spiritually, they stopped.
I have experienced this pattern more times than I can remember. Through those repeated experiences, I became convinced that demons are the source of at least some nightmares.
When Dreams Cross into the Physical
Some dreams are even more intense and seem to cross over into the physical world.
Have you ever had sleep paralysis? If you have, you will know what I mean.
Here is one example that happened to me several times until I discovered how to deal with these experiences.
As I slept in a hotel in Austin, I found myself staring into the nasty, twisted, ugly faces of three demons (see my post, Are Demons Real?). I quickly awoke, choking and unable to breathe, my throat constricted as if an invisible hand was on it. At the same time, something was shaking me or the bed I was in.
As I fought for breath, I gradually began to regain my breathing and the shaking slowly subsided. I have no doubt that this was a demonic attack.
You may have had a similar experience referred to as sleep paralysis, during which you feel trapped and can’t move or are unable to wake yourself fully.
I have had sleep paralysis before, and many times these episodes were accompanied by something terrifying, such as evil laughter or demonic faces.
Science will try to convince you that these are normal psychological events, and who knows, maybe some are. But once again, the solution I used was a spiritual solution, so I have to attribute these attacks to a spiritual source.
Of course, if you repeatedly wake unable to breathe, choking or experiencing other significant physical symptoms, those symptoms should also be medically evaluated. Recognizing a possible spiritual component does not mean ignoring a possible physical one.
How to Stop Demons Attacking You in Nightmares
First, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ and are submitted to Him, then Jesus has given His followers authority over “all of the power of the enemy.”
As believers, we do not have to remain passive when confronted by spiritual attack.
We can use that authority to resist and cast out the demons affecting us in every way, even through nightmares. Saying something as short as, “In Jesus’ name, leave,” will suffice.
You may find it hard to get the words out – the demons will resist you, but do not give up! Know that you have authority and fight to get Jesus’ name out.
How to Prevent Demon Attacks in Nightmares
Even with the authority to make demons flee, who wants to be attacked in the first place?
Not me.
The good news is that we can pray for protection and exercise spiritual authority before an attack ever occurs.
Exercise authority over your home regularly. Ask for the blood of Jesus to cover your home and declare that no demons may enter. Ask God to place His protection around your home and to send His angels to guard you and your family. Do this regularly.
Once you have established this protection, avoid bringing things into the house that may reopen doors to spiritual influence. I will discuss what I mean by these spiritual “open doors” in a future post.
When you leave your home and stay elsewhere, establish this same protection around you. This especially includes hotels.
Hotel rooms are unusual environments. Hundreds or even thousands of strangers may have occupied the same room before you, and you have no idea what may have taken place there. I have come to believe that some of that activity can leave behind a spiritual influence.
Ever wonder why you sleep so poorly in hotel rooms? You could argue that the poor sleep is a result of being in unfamiliar surroundings, and sometimes that may certainly be the explanation. But my own experiences have convinced me that sometimes there may be more to it.
I have learned this the hard way.
After sleeping peacefully in my home free of nightmares, I slept in a hotel room and had the encounter I described above. After that, I got into the practice of praying over the room, commanding any demonic spirits to leave, and asking God for protection every time I stay in a new room.
As long as I do this, I sleep peacefully. When I forget, I have frequently experienced disturbing dreams or attacks again.
Know Your Authority! Use It!
We live in both a natural and supernatural world, and dreams may be one of the ways many people first encounter something they cannot easily explain.
I’ll confess that once I started using my authority, I found I had to use it regularly. But if you believe that by living quietly and ignoring the spirit realm around you, you will be left alone by demonic spirits, you are wrong.
You do not need to live in fear of the spiritual world. But neither should you ignore it.
Recognize the battle, know your authority in Jesus Christ, and use it!
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Supporting Scripture:
1 Peter 3:22 – who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him..
Ephesians 2:6 – and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Luke 10:19-20 – 19 “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.”
Job 1:10 – (spoken by satan) “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side?…”
Psalm 91:11-12 – For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
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