Do you ever have nightmares?

[Equipped_4_Love]

Hey, you guys;

Last night, I had a rather disturbing dream, and it really frightened me, because it was as though I had literally seen the presence of evil -- The whole dream was creepy, but I remember one specific moment where I was absolutely terrified, and it was weird.

So, then, I guess I would consider it a nightmare. Do any of you experience nightmares still? If so, do you think that they happen when your walk with God is starting to drift? For the last couple of days, my prayer life has been a bit weak, and it's almost like I feel myself drifting -- then I have this weird dream. Haven't been that terrified of a dream in ages.

What's your take?!

[livingwaters]

Hmmm....not sure, but it's possible that satan is trying to edge in...he knows what buttons to push. Get back to what works...prayer!!!

God Bless

[Equipped_4_Love]

Amen to that!!! I know I need to continue strong in my prayer life, but I have just had so many distractions lately, although I know that's no excuse. I've felt God's conviction very strong..I know He is not pleased with my lack of prayer at this point.

Anyhow, about the dream -- Ya, it was strange. I was looking at houses to buy, and the neighborhood I was in was very dismal. I just remember there being a very depressive atmosphere about it. I remember looking at one house, and someone else was telling me that the house across from me, that something demonic had happened there, but then I remembered that it was the house I had lived in before.

I was told it was empty, and so I went to look at it, just out of curiosity, and I remember peeking in, and at that moment, a very bright light consumed the room. There was blood on the walls, like something violent had gone on there, and there was a table in the room, with 3 kids sitting at it, and what appeared to be a dead child (or a doll, couldn't tell) on the table, and there was a very bright light in the room -- and it was as though the light was evil. It was very strange.

Anyhow, now that you know the gist of it -- Well, I'm not one to attribute all of my bad dreams to Satan, but it was just weird how intensely terrified I was in that moment of the dream. Honestly, it was so frightening, I felt stiff.....and I remember wanting to wake up, but I couldn't.

[SweetSomber]

I've had nightmares off and on for years and years.

It has no correlation to my walk with the Lord, but rather to the horror I've seen in life.

Like, even last night I had a nightmare, and this lady was verbally abusing me, and then starting to physically attack me by spraying harmful chemicals at me, and I started to pray out loud (in my dream) that God would protect me from her, and from the chemicals, and then she left.

Other times, I'll have dealing with people who are, or have been, REALLY hurt, and I'll have nightmares about an adult promising to protect a child, and then later in the dream cutting off the kid's hand. It's because I feel the pain of others.

[stillforgiven]

I've been a vivid dreamer my whole life, including nightmares and disturbing dreams. Some dreams are obviously spiritual (good and bad), but most are just dreams, (good and bad). I've never noticed a difference in them as my spiritual life changed, even when I was at my closest to God.

[BrckBrln]

I think I was tormented by demons when I was young. I always had one particular type of nightmare which I don't even know how to describe. I just remember being in some room and getting a feeling that somebody, or something very evil, was about to come into the room, and I would get this very strange feeling and I would always yell and my mom would come and wake me. Sometimes, though, I would try to yell but no sound would come out. I can't tell you how scary these dreams were.

Also, I would even see things out of the corner of my eye when I was awake. Things like cartoon ghosts like Casper and whatnot. I know this sounds funny but it was crazy terrifying.

[Equipped_4_Love]

I've been a vivid dreamer my whole life, including nightmares and disturbing dreams. Some dreams are obviously spiritual (good and bad), but most are just dreams, (good and bad). I've never noticed a difference in them as my spiritual life changed, even when I was at my closest to God.

Thanks for responding. It is certainly possible that it was just coincidence...that it has nothing to do with my prayer life, or my nearness to God. I just don't know. Perhaps it was just bad timing.

The weird thing about this dream, was the fact that this dream seemed interconnected to other dreams that I've had. The neighborhood, well, it's been in other dreams that I've had, and in all of these dreams, there was a real feeling of lethargy and depression.....as though just being in that neighborhood brought me down -- and there are 2 or 3 particular houses that keep popping up, where there seems to be a real darkness inside, and they are always vacant.

It's just strange, and I always feel like God is completely distant during those dreams.....almost like hell would feel -- sort of like I felt inside before I came to the Lord. Last night was the first time I'd actually felt terrified, though. I don't know -- I just think my mind is fixated on this neighborhood, somehow, which is strange, because I don't even think this neighborhood exists...It's just all part of dreamland, you know?!

[stillforgiven]

Thanks for responding. It is certainly possible that it was just coincidence...that it has nothing to do with my prayer life, or my nearness to God. I just don't know. Perhaps it was just bad timing.

The weird thing about this dream, was the fact that this dream seemed interconnected to other dreams that I've had. The neighborhood, well, it's been in other dreams that I've had, and in all of these dreams, there was a real feeling of lethargy and depression.....as though just being in that neighborhood brought me down -- and there are 2 or 3 particular houses that keep popping up, where there seems to be a real darkness inside, and they are always vacant.

It's just strange, and I always feel like God is completely distant during those dreams.....almost like hell would feel -- sort of like I felt inside before I came to the Lord. Last night was the first time I'd actually felt terrified, though. I don't know -- I just think my mind is fixated on this neighborhood, somehow, which is strange, because I don't even think this neighborhood exists...It's just all part of dreamland, you know?!

I wouldn't totally dismiss your dreams of this nature, but perhaps they are showing you more of what's going on inside of you (mentally, emotionally, spiritually) than anything else. For instance, I grew up with two reoccurring nightmares, both terrifying, one extremely so to the point where I would never post about it. I started to ponder what they could mean, and I finally realized each had it's own source.

The most terrifying dream theme was my inner struggle with wanting to keep the people I love safe. In the dreams, it seemed that all of my attempts were thwarted by their own actions. Over time as I would wake up from these and realize what they really were, they began to subside. Now I can't even remember the last time I had one.

The less terrifying dream seemed to indicate my own personal state of being of feeling vulnerable and never safe, and I use it to keep tabs on my own state of wellbeing. What you wrote about your dreams remind me of these of mine. I'm not saying you're not saved. I'm saying perhaps you're feeling insecure about something in your life, perhaps your own Christian walk. I don't subscribe to dream interpretations that come from books. I do think you can use them as a starting place to learn about yourself, and it's not something to be afraid of.

And I do believe that some dreams are spiritually based, but those are usually so unique that you know something was different.

I hope this helps.

[cheech]

Many times when we go back to an old childhood home, it has to do with going back to our old ways or thoughts of the past. Think about how your childhood or old ways were before coming to Christ. In your dream you were told the house was empty...technically when we leave the old behind and become new in Christ, it is like moving out of an old home and leaving it empty. We never want to go back to our old ways because our old ways and thoughts are of the world and we know who roams in the world.

You said that in your dream you were curious too look in your old home...think about what's been going on in your life. You mentioned your prayer life has been weak and you feel yourself drifting. Any old thoughts or ways starting to come back to mind? We should never be curious about our old ways and thoughts...they should remain in the past.

Sometimes dreams mean nothing...sometimes they are red flags.

[SweetSomber]

You said that in your dream you were curious too look in your old home...think about what's been going on in your life. You mentioned your prayer life has been weak and you feel yourself drifting. Any old thoughts or ways starting to come back to mind? We should never be curious about our old ways and thoughts...they should remain in the past.

Hmm, that is a very interesting standpoint. However, it has several flaws. For instance, if we do not look at the mistakes of our past, we cannot help others out of those same mistakes.

For instance, yesterday I was struggles with being very negative in my speech (sinning) but yesterday evening, at college group, there was a great message on the power of the tongue, and I saw clearly that I was not exercising Faith in God's protection, Hope for betterment of the situation, or Love in my words to encourage others. Faith, Hope, and Love - and so I encouraged others that the answer to negative speech is faith, hope, love, and I told them why.

Secondly, those who ignore past mistakes are bound to repeat them. If we don't see what CAUSED us to stumble, it could cause us to stumble again, perhaps in a different way.

Thirdly, we learn from the past. For example, before I was a christian, I stole a lot. I learn from that that I really value material stuff, and now as a christian, I still value material stuff, and give it all away. I'm very generous (I say this not in pride, but to give glory to the One who changed my heart so completely) and I give my dearest things to the PEOPLE I value. It's a love language of mine.

[SethElijah]

I have had vivid nightmares since I was a small child. Just has to do with my own experiences. I am also very hurt by others pain and hardship, especially against children. Now that I have my own children I fear for them in this day and age, so I have nightmares about them and my nephews a lot.

[miepie]

I have nightmares on a regular basis...... often they go about my first marriage where abuse was going on....... when I dream of my current husband, they are always sweet.........

Love you,
Mieke

[Sam07]

Hi everyone

God can still speak to us in visions and some times we can still have bad dreams I think it’s a good practice when a bad dream happens is to rely upon Jesus and use your spiritual weapons to rebuke or take authority over any negative presences.

I remember many years ago (when i was awake not dreaming lol)I was reading a book about 2pm in the afternoon and I heard a noise like a foot step in the hallway next to the chair where I sitting I popped my head in to have a look but it was empty so I just continued to read and then 3 seconds later I heard another noise.

I stopped reading and listened for a second and it sounded like someone breathing anyway I continued reading and I heard it again this time I stopped and listened and it still sounded like someone breathing so I waited for a second just to make sure and this demonic spirit came right up to my ear and breathed right next to it.

I can tell you that instantly got my attention and I immediately rebuked the demon in the name of Jesus and commanded it to leave, I couldn’t see it I just heard it and I have no idea why it happened.

Peace

Sam

[bagofseed]

Houses are like people.
Empty houses are like unsaved people.
Houses we once lived in may be people with sins like we once lived in.
Neighborhood may be an increasing proximity to that sin personally or people engaged in such.
Evil light, clearly a demonic picture.

I mostly consider dark dreams as warnings calling us to intercession.
Some have been God letting me know what is coming.
Some dreams are just dreams.
Training of the senses is required to judge what's what.
Of course remember to pray to understand our dreams.

Remember our battle is not with flesh and blood.
More and more I find my self doing spiritual battle in my dreams.
Considering the present darkness and the times we live in it would make sense for such things to be increasing.

In my travels I have noticed it stronger in some places like Israel where it seemed like my prayers even where bouncing back of the ceiling, until things finally broke and God's plan became visible.

[doveslanding]

In general we are most vulnerable to evil and satanic attacks and that is why:Eph 6 is needed (awake , before sleep and upon rising) :
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
As a child I had many nightmares and before I lived in Christ daily satanic attacks. The Holy Spirit commanding Jesus Christ in me has wore out the demons, Satan and my sleeps are in the peace that pass all understanding.
Blessings!