Nightmares

Like I said, the enemy doesn't give up without a fight.   But God used the opportunity to teach me how to fight back.

When I was turning back to God and started praying again, I started having terrible nightmares.  They would all start as normal dreams and then they would take an evil twist.   Nothing was what it seemed.  There are two that I remember more than others and I think that is because of what happened after each of these.  

The first one started out in a house with a mother, father, sister, myself and a baby.  I believed in the dream that they were my family and this adorable child was my own.  I came down stairs with the baby.  It started to cry.  As it was crying it was like my eyes were opened and I could see what this happy-looking life really was.  The child in my arms turned out to be a demon.  I ran, crying, to the kitchen where my parents were.   When I entered the room they all seemed like they were possessed.  I went to run out of the house but the doors wouldn't open.  I cried harder wanting to escape.  Then I started to say the Lord's Prayer.  At first the words wouldn't come out.  It was like talking with a mouth full of cotton.    Every time I said it, it became clearer and easier.  I even tried to get the others to say it with me but they wouldn't.  

Eventually I woke up still saying the Lord's Prayer over and over.   I was crying and tired of having these nightmares.  They terrified me.  Finally I said out loud, " What does it matter?  No one's listening anyway".   And I swear to you, it was as if someone was standing right next to me.  I heard Him say, "I am".

That was all I needed to hear.  He heard me and He was listening.  I knew then that it was real… I was home and I was accepted.

 

The other nightmare that I remember appeared to be almost a post-apocalyptic time.  I was tired and looking for a place to stay.  I came upon a church with people outside yelling but I couldn't tell what they were mad about.

I went in hoping to find some rest.  The people inside were very hospitable.  They offered me the only bed left.  It was in the basement by the furnace.  If I didn't mind the noise it was mine.  I went down and found the room and made myself at home.  About the time I was about to fall asleep I heard a loud noise and felt a huge rush of hot air.  I sat up and looked over at the furnace.  At first I thought that it had exploded into flames until I noticed the flames were coming out of the ground.  There were people around it but they were not trying to put it out… they were dancing and singing to it.  That is when the shift happened.  I could see things as they really were.  These people inside this church did not belong in Gods house.  

I grabbed my belongings and while starting to say the Lord's Prayer as usual I ran up the stairs.  This time, it was not hard to say and as I ran everyone/everything moved out of my way.  I ran outside and heard the people that were out there again.  They were singing and praying.  I yelled to them that they were welcome to come in and we stormed the church, singing and praying to God at the top of our voices.  We were like an army of at least 100 people and they just kept coming.  We drove the enemy out of our Fathers house.

I never had another nightmare after that.

The enemy was fighting me, but I had someone much stronger in my corner.   Thank God!

 

Lesson learned!