How to Stop Sleep Paralysis (Short Version)
There are two types of stopping sleep paralysis that I will discuss in this chapter. The first type is stopping sleep paralysis in the middle of an event. This is especially helpful for those that are used to sleep paralysis experiences lasting a long time, or if there is sexual violation occurring, but really any SP event can be cut short using the methods I will discuss. The second type is stopping sleep paralysis from happening altogether, to be free from sleep paralysis for good.
For Non-Christians
If you are not a Christian, you can stop SP events in the middle of an attack and you can prevent SP from getting any worse using the methods I will discuss, but you won’t be able to stop sleep paralysis from coming back again. This is because the most important part of stopping sleep paralysis for good is using the authority that Jesus has given to His followers to order demons to stop. People who are not Christians should not attempt to use that authority in the way Christians do because it can be dangerous for them.
There is an example in the Bible of some people who had seen the power that Christians had over demons and tried to use the same methods themselves. It did not work out very good for them.
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. – Act 19:13-16
Calling for Help – Non-Christians
So you can’t use the methods that Christians can use to stop sleep paralysis, but what you can do as a non-Christian is pray, and ask Jesus for help during a sleep paralysis event. Even if you can’t actually speak during an event, and all you can do is think the words “Jesus help me,” or even just the name “Jesus,” He will help you and stop the attack. He loves you and wants to help you with this. He wants to show you that He has all the authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). He wants to show you that just like in the Bible the demons that are bothering you must submit to Him. To be clear on this point, non-Christians are able to pray and ask Jesus to help them, whereas Christians, as we will see, in a minute can use the authority that Jesus has given them to end these attacks for good.
For many people that are skeptical of the claims of this book, this will be the first step in what I hope will be your complete freedom from sleep paralysis. I have received many letters from people who had been having terrible demonic attacks, but when they called out to Jesus for help, He stopped the attack, usually in a very dramatic way. They then knew there was something to what I had been telling them. They began to question who this Man really was that lived 2000 years ago, who claimed to have total authority over demons. They began to ask questions like: “Why did the demons that I have been dealing with all these years call out in terror when I asked for Jesus to help me?”, “Why did they stop attacking me? They never stopped before?”, “Is there something to this Jesus thing after all?” They often begin reading the Bible and trying to figure it out. Very many of them have become Christians after seeing the power that asking Jesus for help had, and then eventually found complete freedom from SP using the authority that Jesus gives all Christians.
Stop it From Getting Worse – Non-Christians
As a non-Christian you also have the ability to stop SP from getting worse, especially if you are regularly doing any of the things that I mentioned in the chapter on causes of SP. If you keep on doing those things the demons will continue to slowly gain more access to you, and they will be able to do more and more physical things to you during SP. By quitting the things that are causing SP to get worse, you won’t be preventing it from happening altogether. In all likelihood it will continue because the doors are still open, but you can keep them from getting opened further.
This is about the limit of help I can offer to non-Christians because, as we will see, the main way that sleep paralysis is stopped for good is by using a particular type of authority that is not available to non-Christians. If you are interested in becoming a Christian, you can see the chapter called How to Become a Christian. The minute you become a Christian you will be able to use the methods I am about to describe; you don’t have to wait. In fact, I would suggest that you don’t.
For Christians
Before I get started I have to mention that not everyone who says they are a Christian is a Christian.
I will discuss this more in the chapter titled How to Become a Christian, but I would only say here that it is possible for a person to think they are a Christian and not be. If you are not sure if you are a Christian, consider reading that chapter first. Even if you are a Christian, I’m sure you will get something out of it too.
Using the Authority
The most important part of overcoming regular sleep paralysis (after becoming a Christian), is knowing how to use the authority that Jesus has given them. I have quoted this verse before in this book but it bears repeating at this point.
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. – Luke 10:19-20
This authority is for every Christian from the brand-new Christian to the seasoned veteran. It is not just for pastors or “exorcists” or any other professional. For example the seventy men that Jesus sent out to cast out demons in the chapter we just quoted were not all apostles or professionals; they were just followers of Jesus. In fact in Mark 9:38-40 Jesus actually rebukes His disciples for getting mad at a Christian who wasn’t in their group that was using the authority of Jesus to cast out demons. Jesus tells His disciples it was just fine for him to do this even though he wasn’t a part of their particular group of followers. Clearly Jesus’ intention was for this authority of His to be used by anyone who is a Christian.
Why Does it Work?
This is a really important section because you will need a very good understanding of what I am about to say here in order to use the authority that Jesus has given us effectively. We have already seen that demons are afraid of Jesus and the authority that He has over them. The question that remains is why they are so afraid? The answer is that as Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18) He is the final authority on everything; what He says goes. Since He has given Christians the same authority, the demons are now “subject unto us” too. That means they must do what we tell them to do in Jesus’ name. So what should we tell them to do if we encounter them? There are many answers to this question. In the Bible there are different things that were said to demons for different occasions. However there is one thing in particular that we have found to be very effective.
The Abyss
The thing that the demons are afraid of most of all, it seems, is that they will be tormented before their time.
And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” – Mat 8:29
This is interesting because it seems they know that there will be a judgment of them coming one day. A reference to this final judgment can be read in Matthew 25:41. However, according to a number of passages there is a place called the “abyss” that demons can be sent before that final judgment, which seems to be a kind of prison.
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but threw them into the lowest hell and committed them to chains of deepest darkness to be kept for judgment.(2 Peter 2:4 ISV)
The Greek word for “lowest hell” here is tartarus which is defined as a “deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment for spirits.” This is where the angels that sinned in Genesis 6 were sent (also see Jude 1:6). But it is also the place that demons today fear going. We see in Luke 8 that the very same demons that said, “Have you come here to torment us before the time” clarified what they meant by that by saying the following:
And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. – Luke 8:31
Obviously one reason that they wouldn’t want to go there is because of them “being tormented,” but there is another reason that is more strategic. Satan, the general of the evil side of this war, has a limited amount of demons at his disposal. He cannot risk losing too many. If you are the type of person that uses your God-given authority to send these demons to the Abyss, you become a very dangerous person to them. Satan is at risk of losing soldiers every time you get sleep paralysis if you know how to send them to the Abyss. Pretty soon he won’t bother sending any more to you; it’s simply not worth it.
Here is a good phrase to remember if you plan on sending demons to the Abyss:
“In the name of Jesus I command you to go to the Abyss right now and never return.”
There is no right way or wrong way to say this, and this is just one variation.
Sending demons to the abyss is by no means the only way to rebuke them or send them away, but we have found it to be the most effective way. Many people say things like “in the name of Jesus I rebuke you,” or “In the name of Jesus leave now and never return,” Some people “send them to the feet of Jesus” so that he can deal with them as he sees fit. All those are effective too. The main idea is that you are using the authority to rebuke them or send them away for good.
Just saying the name Jesus, singling praise songs or saying the “lord’s prayer” are okay but those things are not nearly as effective as telling them what to do with boldness. If Jesus says that the spirits are “subject unto us” then we should make the most of that massive gift to tell them exactly what to do or where to go. That is when you will start to see major results.
Fearless Consistency
Probably even more important than what you say when attacked by demons is your unwavering commitment to say it every time it happens. This is because once they know for sure that you are the kind of person that will boldly use the authority Jesus has given you every single time, they will stop bothering you altogether. This is a crucial key to stopping sleep paralysis for good.
Obviously sometimes you won’t be able to speak during sleep paralysis which is fine. Simply think this phrase or a similar phrase, whatever you can think of at the time, even if it’s just the name “Jesus.” But after you are able to speak, rebuke them in Jesus’ name or send them to the abyss in Jesus’ name. Do this even if the attack is totally over and everything is back to normal. Take a few minutes and let them have it. If they are going to attack you through SP, then don’t let them get away with it without causing them some trouble too. We call this making a reputation in hell. Be the kind of person that makes demons cringe when they hear that they have to go to your house on an assignment. Trust me eventually your reputation gets out and the attacks will stop.
A Word of Warning and an Encouragement for the First Time
Though this is not always the case, the first time you try to use the authority that Jesus has given you on a demon, it may try to act like it doesn’t bother them. Trust me, it’s an act, and it’s taking everything they have to hold it together. This usually is only possible because the first time a Christian tries to rebuke a demon, they are usually not very confident, or they might not be saying anything that is particularly harmful to them. The demons have to use this opportunity of your weak attempt to try to scare you back into your shell. Don’t fall for this age-old trick. You have to realize that they NEVER wanted you to figure this out; it’s game over for them if you do. So the last card they can play is trying to make you think it doesn’t work in hopes that you will never try it again. I promise you the name and authority of Jesus is the absolute worst thing in the world for them. The bolder and more confident you become in using the authority of Christ, the more success you will have. I will discuss this in more detail in the section of this book called “Can Christians Get Sleep Paralysis.”
Closing the Doors – Defense
So far we have only dealt with one side of the equation — the offensive side. Becoming a bold spiritual warrior in the name of Jesus Christ is very important, but doing this will not actually heal any of the wounds in your natural protective barrier that we have talked about; the doors can still be open. In this section we will discuss how to close them for good.
Depending on what was done to open the doors in the first place, this process can range from easy to very difficult. In some cases, particularly people that may have been severe occultist in the past, the wounds in their spiritual protective barrier may require quite a bit more healing. For these people they will need to follow these instructions very carefully and not be discouraged if this process takes some time. In some ways I have found the people who have the most damage to this protective barrier end up being the best Christians, partly because they need more help from Jesus in order to be healed, which causes them to pray more and generally be a better Christians. Some of the greatest Christians I know are former witches and Satanists. Jesus tells us in Luke 7:39-50 that it’s often the people who have been forgiven the most that love Him the most.
Stop
Obviously the first step is to stop doing the things that open up doors. This might require help from the Lord to do, especially if there is addiction involved. The Bible says:
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. – James 4:7
Sometimes people pray that God will give them the power to resist certain sins but find themselves doing them again and again. I submit that this verse is true. If you do your part and resist the devil, he will flee from you. Most people pray for God to take away certain desires but don’t attempt to stop doing what they are doing. They are waiting on the desire to sin to stop before they stop sinning. That is backwards. You need to take a step first. Resist the desire to look at or do the things you shouldn’t be doing. It is only then that the desires will have a chance to stop. You may have to fight hard against temptation for a few months, but the desires will go away like a light switch being turned off.
I was addicted to many things before I was a Christian, but shortly after I became a Christian I decided that I would stop doing them. I assumed that I would always be burdened with the extreme desires to do the things I was addicted to. Nevertheless I was determined to stop even if it meant I would be in a constant battle against these desires. Imagine my surprise when after three months of struggle, I woke up one day and the desire for that particular sin was gone!
This same process has been experienced with every kind of sin. For example I know a particular woman who after becoming a Christian decided she wasn’t going to live the homosexual lifestyle anymore. She decided that she was going to stop looking at other women or magazines that might tempt her; she said when she was tempted she quoted Scripture. She still had homosexual desires at this point and she didn’t know what to expect. She thought that perhaps her entire life would be a struggle against those desires. But six months later it just stopped. She is now married to a wonderful man and very active in ministry. I say this to give you encouragement to stop sinning. There is light at the end of the tunnel of sinful desires. God will take them away from you, but you need to resolve to stopping it; you need to declare war on your sin. There is hope.
I am not saying that Christian can live a sin free life, I don’t think that it is possible, but there is victory over sin in Christ, and the more you submit to him, the more you will change. This process will last your entire life, the theological name for it is “sanctification.”
Renouncing
Some people put a lot of emphasis on “renouncing” previous ties to sin, especially in cases where generational doors may be open. Saying things in prayer like: “Lord, I renounce anything that was done on my behalf by any family member (or whoever), and I forgive them for doing it, for they were deceived.” Also for a more general renouncing you may simply ask for forgiveness for all that you have done in the past. The Bible says you will be forgiven for it all.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1John 1:9
Consistent Prayer
One of the most important things to do if you want to close the doors and experience healing is talk about it with the Lord. He is the one from whom our healing will come. And though sometimes He does this instantaneously, other times He wants to do this through a slower process. I think this is because the time that you spend with Him in prayer seeking healing is time that you cultivate your relationship with Him, and prayer is the main way in which this happens.
I suggest that you pray specifically for help closing the doors that have been opened, and not just once or twice. Even if you only pray about one thing every single day, let it be about this issue. Ask Him to close the doors and heal you. As I said, healing, when it comes, will come from His hand, and this is often accomplished through consistent prayer. I would suggest that you also take the time during prayer to tell Him about what is on your mind. Whatever you’re struggling with, ask him for help about it, whatever it is. He loves you and He wants to hear from you about your life. Ask Him for the things that you need. He enjoys answering prayer because it builds up your trust and love for Him.
Prayer is also helpful to prevent sleep paralysis. I recommend praying about this before you go to bed. Pray for protection, or pray that if you do get sleep paralysis that God would give you the ability to speak so you can begin the process of rebuking the demons, which as we have seen will lead to your freedom from SP.
Give your “Shares” to Him
Opening doors is a lot like selling shares to a company. Imagine that your life consists of a certain amount of shares. If you sell too many of them, someone else will have the majority control of the company. Satan tricks people into selling him shares of their life a little at a time. For example say you played with the Ouija board at a party once. That’s like selling him 2 or 3 shares; not that many as compared to the whole, but it’s some.
Over the course of your life you get tricked into selling him more shares, and he gains more and more authority in your life. If you were, for example, a severe occultist, you have sold him so many shares that he has a great deal of authority in your life. The problem is that you can’t get those shares back from him; he is not willing to sell them. But you need them back, so what are you going to do? You can’t take them back from him and keep them, but you can sell the whole company, even the shares Satan has accumulated, to another owner. You can give your entire life to Jesus; give Him total control. You can take those shares from Satan and give them all to a good and loving master, a person who loves you more than anybody else could possibly love you, cares for you, knows everything about you and wants what’s best for you. This is a thing that is done with the heart. You are essentially saying: “I want Jesus to be the boss, Jesus is going to be the Lord of my life now, I am going to try to figure out what He likes and what He doesn’t like in the Bible. I am going to follow Him.” The speed at which you heal is often related to the degree that you make Him Lord of your life.