Sleep paralysis
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
I’m able to articulate my thoughts in writing much better than I do while speaking. I got a dm from my best friend asking to explain better the video I posted on Instagram concerning Sleep Paralysis, if you haven’t seen the video, I’ll attach a link below that’ll lead you there. However, I hope that it helps anyone that’s struggling.
I went back to an old voice note a teacher sent to me when I was struggling with this and picked up a few nuggets of wisdom, but first I’d share what happened to me the night of this sleep paralysis.
Let’s dive right in.
At the time I decided to take praying to God seriously was the night I had this experience again. I felt a presence in the room that it made me scared of worshipping but I made up my mind to stay up.
I got tired and retired to bed, that was when it all happened. As I laid in bed i heard the door of my room open.
“Who’s there?” I asked but there was no reply and I couldn’t see because I was buried underneath my blanket. I decided to peep out of my blanket to see who it was.
Lo and behold, there was a dark figure standing by my side. I could feel it staring down at me even though I couldn’t see its face.
“Who are you?” I asked but no response and that was when I lost the ability to speak, ability to move, I was terrified to be very honest but, here was my resolve, I started calling upon the name of Jesus in my heart and that saved me. I kept calling until I woke up, as soon as I woke up I began to pray.
First out of fear until the Holy Spirit reminded me of whose shadow I abide under and I began to pray out of the place of knowledge, knowing whose authority I operate in, whose blood has saved me. The Holy Spirit led me to pray for a long time until He put a song of victory in my mouth and that was the end. Not really experienced this for a long time.
In analysing this experience, here’s what the teacher said to me.
He first of all said that I was becoming spiritually aware of a presence that had been entertained by me during that period. He wasn’t necessarily dwelling on lust or other sins we tag as serious but those little foxes; those sins, attitudes and habits that we more often over-look, excuse or defend. Fear, depression, grief, sadness, you see they are just emotions but the moment you see them in their true form, you’d begin to wonder how on earth you began to entertain them in the first place. The devil seeks any loophole he can get to pounce on anyone that makes themselves available.
Secondly, he said that my inability to move was not completely because the demon was oppressing me, but rather, my fears played a part and again, I was trying to move my physical body in the spiritual realms. Yes, these things are far deeper than we thought they were.
When spiritual awakening happens it makes us aware of the things that had been in our space
Not just by temptation but like I mentioned earlier, emotions like anger, depression sadness
So when i decided to pray, i was trying to move towards the light actively and thereby causing these things begin to reveal themselves because now I was disturbing their ‘territory’.
Helpful tips he gave to me;
I should be intentional about praying before I sleep
When in that situation, don’t struggle, don’t panic but rather, call upon the name of the Lord. Remember, they that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, I am a living testimony that there is POWER, GREAT POWER in the name of JESUS. It’s not just a name, it’s a name that speaks life into dead things, it’s a name that shields you from the fiery darts of the enemy, it’s a shelter, it’s everything every believer requires.
What keeps us paralysed is fear, that’s why the advice to not struggle but remain calm and not to panic we’re given.
Whatever I saw was as a result of me dwelling on negative emotiins, the product of an entity I made peace with.
I pray that God delivers you if you’re facing anything as horrendous as this. Don’t panic, remember, you’re on the winning side. Hold dear to you, the name of Jesus.
Understand that there is great power that resides in that name that’s why the Bible says, at the mention of the name every knee just bow.
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
May God help us all.
Until another time, I remain your good friend,
Lessiwrites.
