Holy and Haunted: Battling Perversion in the Night

Have you ever dealt with sexual dreams that were unwanted? Have they felt intrusive, or made you wonder if you were sinning in your sleep? Have you ever woken up feeling perverted before the Lord? Let’s talk about this — because so many believers feel ashamed about these experiences when they shouldn’t.

How Common Are These Dreams?

“Sex dreams are completely normal, with one study finding that more than 99% of participants had experienced one. Another study found that sexuality is the second most common theme that appears in dreams. Sexual dreams can involve actual intercourse or simply feel sexual in nature. For example, a person may have a sex dream that involves fantasizing about sex, flirting sexually, or kissing someone.

According to the “continuity hypothesis” in psychology, the meaning of dreams, including sex dreams, relates to your waking life. At times, that may mean your sex dreams simply symbolize your sexual fantasies or a desire to have sex. But it’s not always that simple.

A sex dream can also represent a non-sexual desire or a need that isn’t being met. Romantic relationships often satisfy several human needs, like the need for safety, social interaction, and self-esteem. For this reason, romantic and sexual dream content can act as a sign that you have unmet needs in one of these areas.

Sex dreams can depict waking life fantasies, send messages about particular relationships, or act as metaphors for other aspects of life.” (Source)

Disarm the Shame

Sex in dreams can happen to anyone and is based on multiple factors like:

Hormonal shifts
Unresolved desires
Unresolved trauma
Memory triggers

Sometimes, even people with significant others or spouses will have dreams of being intimate with someone else. These dreams can feel shocking, gross, or shameful — but take a moment to evaluate:

Is it spiritual in nature? Does it feel tempting or completely out of character for you? Do you wake up feeling heavy with condemnation? If so, renounce it, rebuke it, and plead the blood of Jesus over your mind.
Do you feel unfulfilled or lacking in your relationship? Invite the Holy Spirit into those desires. He offers peace, purity, and self-control.
Could it be symbolic? For example, dreaming that you’ve cheated on your spouse might not be literal — it could represent a part of you being pulled toward old ways or desires that no longer satisfy you in Christ.

Remember: Dreams are not vows. They’re not reality. You may have heard extreme teachings that say if you eat or have sex in a dream, you've made a covenant — but this is not biblical. It’s harmful, especially for new believers. I do not agree with that teaching. If you are NOT entertaining lust, don't clothe yourself in shame. You are clothed in Christ.

Your biology is NOT your enemy!

Are Wet Dreams Discussed in Scripture?

I wanted to talk about this scripture that discusses bodily discharges from Leviticus 15. Do not be alarmed, think your body is shameful, or that God doesn't want you because these things naturally happen to your body.

“When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening. When a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.” (Leviticus 15:16-18)

In the Old Testament, ceremonial uncleanness didn’t mean sin. It symbolized human frailty, not moral failure. Things like blood, discharge, and skin disease reminded Israel that life and death are separated — but Jesus, our High Priest, crossed that divide.

Jesus touched the leper. He let a bleeding woman reach out to Him. He got close to the broken. That’s what “Immanuel — God with us” looks like.

When Dreams Feel Demonic

There are times when demonic interference shows up in dreams — especially during seasons of spiritual warfare or breakthrough. You’ll know because it will feel seductive, confusing, or manipulative. It’s often not goofy or senseless but dark, disturbing, and shame-laced.

In my post on Spirit Spouses and Sleep Paralysis, I explain how you can usually tell when the dream is more than just biology. I’ve had dreams like these — some from trauma, some demonic, and others just my body doing its thing.

In one dream I felt deeply disturbed, even though I wasn’t actively participating in anything sexual. I could feel Jesus speaking to me during the dream. I mourned what I was seeing, and Jesus appeared, saying, “Bind it up,” with a hand motion like He was wrapping it all up. It was powerful.

How Can I Be Delivered?

Check For Open Doors

If you feel that these dreams are demonic in nature, check to make sure you are don't have any open doors to lust within your life. What helps to be transparent with the Lord. Your relationship with Him will go deeper and you will feel refreshed. He's not out to get you. He sent His Son for your salvation, so that tells a lot of God's character.

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17)

Also let's be transparent here: if you are engaging with someone who is not in the faith and leading you into temptation, cut it off now. It is better for you to be with the Lord than darkness. If you need help in this area, seek the Lord or a trusted spiritual mentor for guidance.

Deliverance Is Layered

Healing and holiness are a process. Sanctification doesn’t happen overnight. The Lord prunes us, refines us, and sets us apart slowly. That’s okay. You are holy. You are set apart. You are loved in full — not in pieces.

"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Reclaim the Night

You are holy, set apart, and loved by the Lord in fullness — not partiality. Here is a prayer you can use for comfort, deliverance, and assured rest.

Father,
I come before You in honesty and humility. These dreams feel confusing, disturbing, or shameful, and I don’t always know where they come from. But You know my heart. You know I desire purity and peace.
Lord, cleanse my mind and body. Cover my sleep with Your presence. If the dreams are biological, help me to accept them without shame. If they are spiritual, give me discernment and power to resist the enemy.
I bind every spirit of lust, perversion, confusion, and fear. I plead the blood of Jesus over my dreams, my bedroom, and my rest. I welcome Your angels and Your presence into my night hours.
I ask You to heal any wounds — from past abuse, trauma, or sin — that still show up in my sleep. Touch the places I can’t reach on my own.
Jesus, be Lord even over my dreams. Speak truth over me while I sleep. Let me wake up refreshed, not ashamed. Thank You that I am Yours in every realm — waking or sleeping.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures for comfort:

Exodus 33:14
Isaiah 26:3
Jeremiah 31:25-26
Proverbs 3:24
Psalm 3:4-5
Psalm 4:8
Psalm 16:9
Psalm 63:6
Psalm 91
Psalm 121:3-4
Psalm 127:2
Matthew 11:28-30
Mark 4:38
John 14:27
Philippians 4:6-7
2 Timothy 1:7

Let this post be a reminder: You’re not crazy. You’re not dirty. And you’re not alone. Keep your heart open, your mind guarded, and your spirit surrendered — and let God do the rest.

With comfort the Lord has given me to you,
Love Ashley 💖

Credits:

Image by Andrea Rojas from Pixabay

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