Dream Diagnostics
Things may get worse before they get better!
Don't you hate it when people tell you that? In a culture of fast food and plastic surgery, we are practically programmed for expectations of instant gratification. We feel entitled to good things and get easily discouraged when things don't dramatically improve immediately with the slightest movement on our part. Many times we bring these cultural attitudes into our relationship with God-- especially concerning healing and deliverance. We begin our healing process and become immediately discouraged or even disillusioned because things are not turned around as quickly as we anticipated. We complain because a onetime prayer session didn't unravel years of bad decisions. We lament as we struggle to figure out which renouncement or pronouncement will be the "magic prayer" to release us from years of generational toxic waste. Our vision becomes narrow and distorted as we view our circumstances thru the lens of our own pain and struggles, rather than that of a Sovereign God who is invested in far more than our own personal comfort.
Yet, at the same time, there is a valid expectation that God is able to change things in the twinkling of an eye-- He is able to instantaneously turn things around and propel us into our destiny. He is able to bring immediate freedom from bondage and sin.
Then there are those of us who have invested years in our healing process- repentance, proclamations, deliverance, generational renouncements, Christian counseling, Theophostic, Sozo..........you name it, we've tried it-- and you guessed it-- in some arenas things are actually worse-- as Bob Wiley says to his shrink in What about Bob?....."I'm doing the stuff!!!" Aaahhhhhhh!
This is the tension we contend with daily-- our attitudes and expectations versus God's ways which of course, we don't really comprehend. When we embark on a healing journey and things seem to get worse, we often need help in discerning the true nature of our circumstances--Here are some questions to ponder:
Is this a sin issue? Spiritual warfare? -- If so--what is the legal ground? An opportunity for painful growth? A time for sacrifice? A time to sow in tears? A time to face natural consequences? Are we seeking something outside of the timing of God? --Soulishly pushing into issues that can only be properly negotiated thru the leading of the Holy Spirit? Yikes! No wonder we need to press into God-- healing the human soul and spirit is far too complex for our tiny brains!
Today I am going to address bad dreams and inner healing-- as well as some dream diagnostics to consider when one embarks on a healing process that seems to have gone awry. For those who use their dream life as a gauge for the spiritual climate in their life, it can be disconcerting to have a string of bad dreams after beginning the process of healing prayer. Aren't things supposed to get better? Shouldn't you start having healing dreams... or at least, some good understandable self condition dreams? What does it mean when the prayer times meant to bring healing and peace trigger a slew of bad or even demonic dreams?
Well, before you start to fall into fear, discouragement or worse... here are some things to consider and leverage to position yourself to move forward; or in the worse case scenario: fail forward!
Oozing Issues
Most healing prayer times/experiences are incomplete--- if this is an issue that has been "festering" for awhile, the initial prayer time can be like ripping a scar off an infected wound--- all the pus starts pouring out! In this kind of scenario, you might start having soul dreams processing the gunk that remains. These dreams can be distressing but helpful in identifying prayer points so you can specifically address the unresolved/raw areas which still need healing. While it may feel like you can't get away from your issues (you live them all day, then dream them all night); if you pay attention to these dreams -- you can quickly identify the unresolved areas of healing you still need to work on. As you fully process the issues, the dreams will lessen and eventually go away. You can actually chart your progress thru these dreams ("Oh good!-- This time I wasn't paralyzed when they tried to steal my purse-- I fought back!)
With soul or self condition dreams, my motto is: pray them once, then release them to God and move on! Pray the parts of the dream that disturb you "Lord, help me to safeguard the authority you have entrusted to me-- help me to identify any ways in which I am vulnerable to giving others opportunity to usurp that which belongs to me-- show me any legal ground..." etc. Thank God for the positives shown in the dream (thank you Lord that my hair was amazing even though I let them steal my purse! (It's important to have an accurate view of yourself and not overemphasize the bad as this opens you up to the mesmerizing spirit ) Then release the dream and its issues to God, and wait for the next dream to chart your progress!
Deeper Wounding
Sometimes we (and those praying for us) are unaware of the true nature and depth of our wounding. In cases like this, a well intentioned prayer/therapy/healing time can be like opening Pandora’s box. When there is hidden trauma, our spirits need a high capacity to experience and hold on to God's presence to be able to negotiate and face the trauma. It is mandatory that God is the one directing the timing and focus of the healing-- not a gung-ho therapist or even our own desire to face things and get on with life. The dreams that come from unintentionally opening up a deep trauma that you are not prepared to face, can be out of control fear dreams at night and anxiety during the day. Dreams where you face terror, fear or feel powerless -- dreams where you re-live the trauma again and again and feel triggered when you wake up. This is a sign that things are not in order and may need to be shut down or refocused because (1) it is not the appropriate time (2) people helping you lack the necessary resources or experience to address the underlying issues with which you are dealing (2) the healing needs to be refocused by the Holy Spirit (3) there is a capacity issue which prevents you from moving forward in addressing painful issues or causes you to get "stuck" in the trauma (4) the issue is only being addressed in the soul and deeper spiritual trauma issues are being exposed.
Here are some links to some excellent resources giving additional info on capacity and healing:
The Life Model
Brain Science, Emotional Trauma, and the God who is with us
Immanuel, Emotional Healing, and Capacity
Demonic Vulnerability
When someone is severely traumatized, many times they are opened up to the demonic (thru the actual trauma or their own wrong response from the fear or pain) When trauma gets opened up and is not handled properly, the unresolved issues may give the enemy legal ground to attack thru demonic dreams and harassment. This can come from (1) unaddressed inner vows (2) word curses spoken over you (3) generational curses on your gift, destiny, name, design (4) ungodly spiritual ties, soul ties or community ties (4) sin/wrong responses to pain which have not been repented (5) deception (6) unaddressed/unidentified connections between dissociated parts and higher level demonic beings (7) intentional programming from government or cult groups one was been exposed to knowingly or unknowingly
Opening up a Curse
Sometimes when we get to a certain point in our healing "all hell" seems to break out. This can be a sign that one has opened up a generational curse. These curses can be associated with a number of things. (1) It can be a curse associated with healing process (i.e. if anyone in the family addresses these issues they will be cursed, if you speak these issues out loud--you will be cursed, if you betray the evil--you will be cursed etc.) (2) it can be a curse which is activated when you reach a certain level of health, revelation or step into your destiny/design/gifting. (3) It can be a curse which is activated when you commit a little sin in an arena in which one of your ancestors committed iniquity (violating God's law/principles- especially if they used their gifting to transgress)
Usually these curses are a result of an ancestor making an intentional or implicit transaction with the enemy to get power by selling off future generations. (Think masons, witchcraft, cults, druids, secret societies etc.)You can check the Archives for more on how to address such curses.
Warfare gone awry
One thing we must always be aware of during a prayer or worship time is what we are lining ourselves up with. Unfortunately, in our zeal, the body of Christ often ends up taking on the enemy unintentionally thru well intentioned but ill advised prayers and words. We end up engaging the enemy instead of letting the light we carry drive out the darkness and this gives the enemy legal ground to engage us.....which can mean a slew of demonic dreams.
Here is a short primer:
(1) It is all about legal ground.
(2) We have been given dominion over the earth. If we see a demon, we have the legal right as Sons of God to tell it to leave. (Now if you have not taken away the legal ground it has in someone's life, or on the land, etc. it can come back again. This is why many deliverance times are an exercise in futility and completely unnecessary. Take care of the legal ground (sin, lie, deception etc) and the demonic will leave on its own as John 1:5 reminds us: the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it....
(3) We have NOT been given dominion over the heavens. So we do not naturally have authority over higher level celestial or cosmic beings (Note Michael the archangel told Satan "the LORD rebuke you") Jude 8 warns: in the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. When we "shout" down the spirit of abortion, Jezebel, Satan, etc, we are taking on these principalities and powers outside of the parameters that God has established for us. This gives the enemy legal ground to attack us. So if you attend a prayer meeting where you tell Satan where to go, then start having dreams about a him coming after you--- repent for going outside the authority structure that God has established, appropriate the blood of Jesus, and the torment will stop.
Sometimes it is a little more subtle. If you are partnering with or a member of an organization or church group that has taken on principalities and powers in a wrong manner, the enemy can follow those "ties" right to you! So be aware of what you are partnering with! In these cases you can renounce that particular practice and ask God to sever those particular ties with the group, while affirming all that is good. You can even leverage that situation to repent for/pray for and bless the group with wisdom and discernment as they are inevitably feeling the consequences of such actions!
Additional resources on this issue:
Needless Casualties of War
Understanding the Powers
Covenant with Death
The last issue I want to address which can come up in the midst of one's healing journey and reveal itself in your dream life is opening up a covenant with death as referenced in Isaiah 28:
You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the grave we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place."
In this scenario, an ancestor makes a covenant with death (think-- selling off the generations for avoiding the consequences of evil and avoidance of death.) Then when a person many generations later wishes they were dead, has suicidal thoughts etc, it opens up the covenant and is magnified. One may start having uncontrollable suicidal thoughts and dreams in which they are trying to die or kill themselves. In prayer times, the demonic hides behind this covenant (there is legal ground for them to stay--- the person's which that they were dead)
Another scenario is when a mother wants to abort her child, but doesn't. The child's spirit can perceive this and want to die- aligning themselves with the spirit of death and affirming a generational covenant. Thoughts of suicide may become overwhelming during the time that the mother, years earlier was contemplating abortion.
If the mother did have an abortion, she may have unintentionally opened up a covenant with death and experience suicidal thoughts- becoming stronger on the anniversary of her abortion.
In dealing with these and other scenarios, the answer is simple-- repentance, and taking refuge in God as outlined in Isaiah 28:
So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
"See I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.
Your covenant with death will be annulled;
your agreement with the grave will not stand.
My favorite part of this scripture is when it goes on the describe how the demonic will experience "sheer terror" from this message as the scourge comes and washes them away-- mornimg after morning; day by night...
So as you embark on your healing journey, I bless you.
May you relentlessly pursue a deeper relationship with your God and Lord.
I bless your ability to position yourself so that God is the author of your healing.
I bless you with peace in the knowledge that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it!
I bless you with discernment of God's seasons and provisions. May God protect you from any influences: internal or expternal, that would soulishly try to push you prematurely into a place outside of the timing or resources of God.
I bless your ability to discern those who are safe to share and partner with in your healing journey.
May God lead you to those who posess the wisdom, experience and resources to accompany you on this journey.
I bless you to appropriate the blood of Jesus over any areas in your life which remain uncovered through your own sin or wrong responses to pain. Likewise, I bless your ability to appropriate the blood of Jesus over any generational issues which remain uncovered, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
As you battle things "not of this world", I bless you with wisdom to discern when zeal is circumventing the ways of God. I bless you to position yourself under the authority structure that God has designed for our protection- and to allow Him to fight the battles for us that are beyond our design or earned authority.
I bless you to take dominion and authority over your dream life-- even when it feels negative and out of control. May your spirit rule over your soul and may you access the resources of heaven as you sleep.
I bless you to position yourself to receive healing and spiritual dreams.
I bless your ability to lucid dream-- that you may take care of some issues as you sleep!
I bless your ability to "dream forward"-- trusting that God can help you to leverage even the most negative or demonic dreams to your advantage.
For those of you who are afraid to go to sleep at night because of tormenting dreams, I bless you with a revelation of the Love of God-- as perfect love casts out all fear.
May your capacity to receive from Jesus--the lover of your soul grow and grow!
Drink deeply from the river of life--- dip into the healing waters and wash away the residue of pain and sin! Appropriate all that God has for you--his beloved child.
Pursue the truth and trust that the truth --no matter how painful or difficult to bear-- will indeed set you free.
I bless you,
in Jesus' name.