Demons in Your Sleep? Here’s What to Do

The idea that the spiritual realm affects our sleep is not new and is not only mentioned in the Bible. In fact, in ancient Mesopotamia, the Sumerians (3100 BC) saw dreams as a form of divine intervention, and in ancient Egypt, dreams were mediums through which gods communicated. We also see that in Greece, the god Morpheus was believed to send messages to mortals through dreams, while in Judaism, dreams were considered a means by which God spoke to people through them. Despite the minor difference, many ancient religions believed in the significance of dreams.

Three Sources of Dreams

• Godly Dreams – God communicates divine instruction through dreams (Genesis 37, Daniel 2, Acts 10). Often, a tell-tale sign is when you have a very clear peace, guidance, or sharp warning in the dream. It’s as if something is dropped into your spirit.
• Subconscious Dreams – These types of dreams are often random, chaotic, and influenced by emotions life events, or bad diet. Disconnected imagery without lasting emotional or spiritual impact is also a sign of these dreams. 
• Demonic Dreams – Indications of spiritual intrusion in dreams are those that can cause fear, confusion, paralysis, or disturbances.

How to Discern Demonic Attacks vs. Bad Dreams

Now it’s important to understand that occasional attacks in dreams do not necessarily mean possession, but constant attacks may be a sign that deliverance is needed. The signs that you are being attacked demonically include feelings of paralysis, oppression, or being drained upon waking, vivid images of snakes, darkness, death, or battles, and a lingering sense of fear or confusion.

In contrast, however, nightmares that come from our subconscious mind are usually connected to stress, diet, or life circumstances. An important distinction to remember is that dreams coming from our subconscious mind have random and disconnected imagery, and they don’t often leave people feeling confused and emotionally impacted throughout the day.

To discern where your dreams came from, take time to ask God for clarity and wisdom.

Practical Steps to Overcome Sleep Attacks

1. Prepare Spiritually

The first thing to do when trying to overcome nightmares is to take time and prepare spiritually before bed. Choose to pray, worship, and meditate on Scripture. I would also encourage you to anoint your room and bed with oil as a symbol of God’s protection.

2. Remove Ungodly Things

Another important thing to do is to remove all ungodly influences from your sleeping area. While many may not see this as a big deal, I believe that influences such as certain media, books, or objects from your environment can often have an effect on your mind, rest, and your spirit.

3. Walk With God Daily

Lastly, your night starts in the morning. In other words, what we do throughout the day will have an effect on our sleep and spirit. I encourage you to make sure you are walking with God daily and striving to align with His Word. Living in obedience and in pursuit of holiness will only strengthen your spirit to fight off any attack from the enemy. What happens during the day affects your night.

Remember that God wants to meet you in your dreams, but Satan seeks to torment you. Stand firm in the promises of Scripture, walk in your spiritual authority, and believe that freedom and deliverance are yours in Jesus’ name.

Read: Prayers to Help You Sleep