subject: Why Do I Have Sexual Dreams? [print this page] The other day I received a question from student. She had been having some dreams which were sexual in nature. As a single, Christian woman, she was concerned. She strived to avoid sexual sin in her life, even lust, but she was having these dreams. Were these dreams a sign of some inner sin? Were the dreams themselves sinful? Why was she having these sexual dreams?
Why do we have sexual dreams?
There is no one reason why a person might have a sexual dream. There are several possible causes. Below Ill examine some of the causes. If you are having sexual dreams, you may be able to identify with one of these reasons for your having these dreams.
1. Sinful Lifestyle:
Are you actively engaged in sexual sin? This may be in the form of sex outside of marriage, viewing pornography, or otherwise fantasizing about illicit sex. Dreams can reflect what is in your heart and mind. So, its normal that you would dream about the lifestyle you are living. The solution for this is relatively simple. Repent of your sin, stop sinning, and ask Jesus to purify your mind.
2. Normal Sexual Rhythms of Our Bodies:
Have you ever dreamed about needing to go to bathroom and then wake up and realize you really do need to go? Well, your bodily needs do show up in your dreams. God has built sexual rhythms into our bodies (both male and female) and there are certain times of a week or a month where theres stronger sexual tension in our bodies. A sexual dream could simply be the natural call of your body.
3. Symbolism:
I have a strong workaholic nature within me. I enjoy my job as a professor at a Christian college and I just love working. And when I used to take vacations, I found I couldnt take more than one or two days without feeling guilty (I ought to be working). Now if I ever come to a point in my life where I can take a week-long vacation with no guilt that would mean two battling parts of me worked out their disagreement. These battling parts were: the part that wants to relax and have enjoy myself, and the workaholic part within me. Now a dream that shows this spiritual maturation which has just taken place within me could very likely be a dream made up of images of me having sexual intercourse. And since Im the workaholic, Id probably be having intercourse with a woman who is not a workaholic, a woman who can easily have fun in life. This would symbolically show me that two parts of my personality had come together and united.
People have asked me, Why would God use an evil picture (i.e. adultery) to communicate a spiritual truth? My answer is, It is only an evil picture, if you assume it is literal, rather than symbolic. And God has clearly shown us in the Bible that dreams are to be viewed symbolically. So it is not an evil picture!
4. Demonic Attack:
Demons are real and they do interact with people. Church history is replete with accounts of demons sexually molesting both men and women in their dreams. Two of the terms used for these demons are incubus (male form) and succubus (female form) and these demons have been reported not only throughout history, but still today. Ive polled hundreds of Christians over the years, asking them if they felt they had ever been sexually attacked in their dreams. Amazingly, about 15-20% said, yes. So in my estimation, incubus and succubus encounters do happen, and they happen much more frequently than most of us have imagined.
How can you protect yourself?
First, you pray for a covering of Christs blood over you, and the room. You bind all attack of the enemy and command him to leave. I suggest we focus on Jesus as we fall asleep. I simply say the name Jesus over and over, and breathe slowly as I am falling asleep. Since abiding in Christ is to be my focus during the day, why would it not also be my focus as I drift off to sleep? Of course, if you are aware of unconfessed sin in your life, repent and ask for the cleansing blood of Jesus to wash over you and put on His robe of righteousness. This gives me a positive, protected dream life. And if you awaken and are under demonic attack, call upon the name of Jesus to protect and defend you. Bind and cast away any demonic attack in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
