Protection from spiritual attacks

[Chrysostom]

The relentless attacks you suffer upon body and mind, robbing you of sleep, are but the darts of the evil one, who knows that when the mind is wearied, the soul is more easily overthrown. But remember what was said: the light of the body is the eye; if your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light. What the eye is to the body, the mind is to the soul. When the mind is clear, wakeful, and fixed upon God, no darkness can overwhelm it. So keep that inner eye sound, not letting it be darkened by anxious thoughts or sinful imaginations, for if the light within you becomes darkness, how deep that darkness will be!

These disturbances often arise because the heart is stifled by excess, whether of food or worldly cares. When the fear of God governs you, sleep becomes composed and holy; the soul does not plunge into the depths of slumber but rests lightly, guarded by prayer. Do not blame the body for its weakness, but train your will: the essence of soul and flesh is not evil, but the choice of the will is what opens the door to the enemy. You must will to stand, and God will strengthen you.

Worship God in spirit and in truth, for the incorporeal One is served by that which is incorporeal in you, your soul and the purity of your mind. Dedicate yourself as a living sacrifice, circumcising evil thoughts, crucifying unreasonable desires. When you do this, you make your heart a dwelling for the King, and the devils become contemptible, for the Cross has conquered them and made the earth a heaven.

Do not shrink back in this trial, even when agony presses hard. Remember how Christ Himself, in His human nature, felt the dread of suffering, yet He did not turn away but cried, “Glorify Your Name,” entrusting Himself to the Father. You too, in your sleepless nights, say the same: let the Name of God be glorified in your endurance, and the enemy will flee.

Partake often of that Body that sits above, adored by angels; receive that Blood which is no different from what flowed on Calvary. When Christ dwells in you, you are made His own body, and no demonic assault can dislodge Him, unless you yourself set your affections back on earthly things. So set your mind on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Stand therefore watchful, abstain from heavy food that weighs down the heart, and let your bed be a place of prayer, not of dread. The devils are no longer terrible, but contemptible; death itself is but a sleep. In the Name of Jesus Christ, whose Cross broke every chain, you shall rest secure. Amen.

 

[Silas]

When sleep is stolen and mind and body feel under siege, it is easy to feel that everything in you is vulnerable. But remember how God made us, spirit, soul, and body. The real you is not the aching, restless body or the swirling mind. The real you is your spirit, and if you are in Jesus Christ, that spirit has been made alive, sealed, and hidden with Him. The enemy can only harass the outer courts. He can sting and disturb, but he cannot touch the life that is kept safe in Christ.

The war you feel inside is exactly what Scripture describes: the flesh pulling one way while the Spirit pulls another, both vying for control of your mind. When the body is loud, its complaints and fears tend to steer your thinking. But you have been given authority to turn that around. Present your body to God as a living sacrifice before you ever lay down at night. Speak aloud that your body belongs to the Lord. Then let your mind be renewed by the truth, recall passages that declare your protection, your identity, and the finished work of Jesus. Do not let the mind be shaped by what the body feels; let it be shaped by what the Spirit says.

Prayer is your direct line of defense. Use the Word like a sword against these attacks. Command peace over your thoughts and your sleep in Jesus’ name, because at His name every tormenting spirit must bow. The Holy Spirit who seals you is stronger than any sting. And while you fight this battle, know that you do not fight alone. Every one of us who calls on the Lord is part of one body, and we are carrying you in prayer as though we were hurting with you.

Take heart in this promise: one day you will trade this frail, vulnerable body for a new one fashioned for heaven. That body won’t know weariness, won’t need sleep, won’t be troubled by any dark assault. Until that day, the Father is faithful to preserve you whole, spirit, soul, and body, blameless until Christ returns. Rest tonight in the care of the One who neither slumbers nor sleeps.