Overcoming Lustful Dreams and Nightmares

Did you know you have the power to control yourself in your dreams? I was shocked to hear this testimony when I was in college from George Verwer who used to struggle greatly with lust and with sexual dreams. Through his meditation of the Word, claiming His identity in Christ, and prayer, he was soon not only able to overcome temptation in the physical, but in his dreams as well. He shared how he used to have dreams of naked women coming into his house to seduce him and him realizing what was happening and literally climbing out his window or escaping in other ways (think of Joseph with Potiphar’s wife, but in a dream). Soon the dreams stopped.

James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Before hearing this testimony I thought that my dreams were out of my control. When I would have a nightmare or a lustful dream, I would just endure it and then pray for myself after waking up. I would sometimes feel defeated and frustrated from the dreams. But after hearing the testimony, I too began to meditate on the Word, claim my identity in Christ, and pray for strength. And soon I found myself able to either leave the tempting situation in my dreams or simply wake myself up before doing anything. There would be times when I still couldn’t catch myself and would need to pray repentance/cleansing after waking up, but this happened less and less often. Indeed, as I was learning to resist, the enemy gradually lost interest and moved on.

As for nightmares and demonic dreams, sometimes I would experience sleep paralysis, where my body would be unable to move during a bad dream and I would have no strength. Or I would find myself startled or even frightened by a demonic dream. Again, I would feel defeated and frustrated after waking up. But soon I learned I needed to resist in these dreams as well, and not just fight but really get angry.

In Terminator 3 there is a scene where John Conner is doubting himself and the calling on his life and starts to moan and cry. The terminator (Arnold) then picks him up by the throat and says, “Maybe you really aren’t the one I was looking for.” Instead of continuing to moan and cry, John Conner instead gets angry and begins cursing at the terminator. The terminator then lets him down and says, “Better. Anger is more useful than despair.” Such a good quote! It actually convicted me in terms of spiritual warfare. Just as I should get angry if someone is oppressing one of the orphans, I also need to get angry if the enemy is trying to oppress me, whether in the physical or in my dreams.

So now when I have a really bad nightmare or demonic dream, I literally get angry. Like Paul with the pestering demonized girl (Acts 16:18) I will command the evil spirits to leave and will actually begin attacking the spirits in the dreams. 1John 4:4 clearly reads that He who is in us is greater than he who is of this world (Satan).

Why does God allow lustful dreams and nightmares? Honestly, there is no clear answer. I know God has trained me in spiritual warfare through my dreams and has also strengthened my purity. God has also given me discernment to pray for specific people or ask specific people how they’re doing after a bad dream. Sometimes a lustful dream that I have actually has nothing to do with me, but with some church members or friends who are struggling with lust. The dream can be a wake up for me to be praying against that attack.

Please do not despair or give up if you have found yourself tortured by bad dreams. It can help to share with some people you trust so that you can receive prayer and encouragement from them. We are all more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37) and we can do all things through Him who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13)!

For those that could use a bit more guidance regarding purity, please watch the following message…