I'm not talking about kids' nightmares, either. I'm talking about my nightmares.
I know dreams could potentially mean something, and we're supposed to analyze them, etc. But to tell you the truth I forget 99% of them as soon as I wake up, anyway. But vague impressions linger, and I have not been sleeping well lately because I've been having so many nightmares recently.
I don't normally have nightmares, and as far as I know nothing is really bugging me. I had a bit of a meltdown last Friday on the anniversary of my son's death, but other than that I'm fine, and the nightmares have been going back at least a month. I know a lot of them have to do with kids dying (not necessarily my own kids, could be friends' kids), or with accidents, or affairs, or all kinds of horrible things. And I'm truly not worried about anybody when I'm awake.
It's a strange thing.
My husband and I had a period of about six months right after we moved into our new house when we fought worse than we had throughout our marriage. It was really, really bad. Then one night, without telling me, Keith march around the house and prayed in every room. And after that the fights stopped. I really think there was something spiritual left over inside the house from whomever lived here last. If you don't believe in that sort of thing, forgive me, but I do, and I can tell you the difference was black and white (and Keith didn't tell me about this for about a year afterwards).
So I don't think my nightmares are from anything like that, because it's been taken care of. I'd just really like to be able to sleep well again, and it's starting to really get to me.
Have any of you ever had similar experiences? I'd love to know what you did!
No solutions , Sheila. I have been having them too, for about a month on top of poor sleep. I've been watching less TV in the evening and going to bed earlier, to no avail. I would love to know of any suggestions any one has too.
We lived in a rental house for a while and it was CREEPY, nightmares and other things I won't go into. I DO believe there are bad things in the world. Anyway, we prayed over every room and someone sent me a book called "Ridding your home of spiritual darkness". All of that worked, but we still moved out before our lease was up.
I went through a time when I was having terror nightmares - loved ones getting hurt or just images that resembled what I'd seen on TV commercials. Then, my husband and I walked through our house, annointing and praying over every doorway, window and entrance. We also walked the perimeter of our property and did the same thing. We prayed for and declared God's protection over us and our home. Each night we ask God to appoint the Lord's angels around the four posters of our bed and bedroom to engage in any battle on our behalf while we're sleeping. Neil T. Anderson (The Bondage Breaker) was a resource for us in helping us know how to pray.
I should also say that I change any TV channels, cover my eyes and close my hears anytime a commercial or advertisement that deals with tragedy or horror. It sounds childish, but I'm a very visual person. My husband is a great support to me with this too.
Is there anything particularly important going on that Satan might want to stop. I find that when something is going on that is good and it is something that Satan wouldn't want to happen I get nightmares, my two year old doesn't sleep well, my husband snores more anything to cause me sleep deprivation. I don't function very well when I am tired and am more likely to stop what I am doing until I am not so tired. I find that praying about it right before I go to bed helps a lot.
I agree with the above poster...you're doing something big for the Lord and the enemy is seeking to destroy.
I'm an intercessor. I can't tell you how many nights I have bad dreams, eerie feelings or just plain get woke up with a jab. If I don't have a good night's rest I am useless the next day. The enemy knows it so I'm always attacked in my sleep time. Do you know what I do? I decided if the enemy wants to wake me up then I'm going to pray. And I'm not talking little prayers I'm talking BOLD, MIGHTY prayers. I plead the blood of Jesus and pray, pray, pray!! I figure if he wants a fight then I'm going to use my armor to fight back. Oh and I always ask the Lord to give me supernatural sleep. So if I'm up praying for an hour I ask the Lord to supernaturally turn 5 hours of sleep into 6. I always wake refreshed when I ask for this.
I certainly can understand and I will pray for you. Hang in there sister! ((hugs)) The battle is on all sides.
I think TV is a big culprit in nightmares, too, but we don't have a TV, so that can't be it in my case. Although I do read too much news on the internet!
I like the one comment about "if you're going to be up anyway, you may as well pray!" I think I'll try that tonight!
See you THINK that you aren't worried about anything, but you obviously are subconciously. Your mind is telling you something! I have a tricky mind myself...I used to have what the doctors call nervous stomach (very acidy) and they'd say..what are you worried about..and i'd say nothing! and it was true I didn't think I was worried about anything, but obviously my brain was saying different. I also am a sleep walker and have night terrors sometimes. My poor husband has to deal with it regularly. I can correspond those to times where I have a lot going on, am nervous or overtired, or have an argument with my husband. Try some of that sleepytime tea at night to settle yourself, that could help a bunch!
I don't remember my dreams. When I have tried to remember them, they've always been scary. I finally just started thanking God for removing the memory of them and going on with my life. Although I know there are a couple of recurring ones, I don't remember enough details to analyze them at all. Since yours started suddenly, around the time of the anniversary of your son's death, and tend to involve kids dying, could it be a reaction to the anniversary? Even though it started a few weeks before the anniversary, you knew it was coming and probably had it on your mind, at least subconsciously. Now that the anniversary's over, the dreams are keeping it on your mind. Seems like the common denominator is loss.
I used to wake up in the night a lot with irrational fears, usually when my husband was traveling, but not always. I found that reading Psalm 91 was a wonderful balm to my soul, and usually did the trick.
When they'd gone on too long and nothing helped, one night I woke up remembering a song called "Blood of Jesus" by Rock & Roll Worship Circus which says "the blood of Jesus has set us free." I remember praying, "God, your blood set me free. I believe it. You are not a liar, and I know you do not want me to live in this anxious state, so do your thing." (said in a desperate, no-nonsense, DO IT NOW BECAUSE YOU ARE GOD AND YOU SAID YOU WOULD AND I'M AT THE END OF MYSELF kind of way). Amazingly the most wonderful peace came and they haven't been back in several years.
But maybe God is just waking you up to pray or spend some extra alone time with Him. In His presence is fullness of joy, and that will dispel the remnant of the nightmare.
I used to have very disturbing nightmares, in which I was commiting adultery. I would wake up feeling shameful and angry, and had to remember it was a dream before I said anything in anger to my husband! This had been going on for some time when I heard a women teach that Satan often tries to shutdown the prophetic in people by giving them nightmares, which makes them fearful of dreaming-one of the ways God speaks to us. When I heard that I realised at once that Satan was attempting to do two things: make me scared of the prophetic and destroy my marriage. Immediately I surrendured and committed my dreams to the Lord, that only He would have influence over them. That was a year ago and That was about a year ago and I haven't had any nightmares or dreams that made me feel shameful, angry or defiled since. If I ever do have a dream that begins to border on that type of thing I deal with it right away - I will not give Satan any room!
About Me: I'm a Christian author of a bunch of books, and a frequent speaker to women's groups and marriage conferences. Best of all, I love homeschooling my daughters, Rebecca and Katie. And I love to knit. Preferably simultaneously.
Stumble It!
No solutions , Sheila. I have been having them too, for about a month on top of poor sleep. I've been watching less TV in the evening and going to bed earlier, to no avail. I would love to know of any suggestions any one has too.