Bad dreams can disrupt our peace and leave us feeling unsettled. These 30 prayers address various aspects of disturbing dreams, nightmares, and nighttime fears.
Powerful Prayer For Bad Dreams
Each prayer is accompanied by a relevant Bible verse to bring comfort, protection, and spiritual victory over troubling dreams. May these petitions help you find restful sleep and God’s peace in the night watches.
1. Prayer for Protection from Bad Dreams
Heavenly Father, I come before You asking for protection from bad dreams tonight. Guard my mind as I sleep and filter what enters my subconscious. Surround my bed with Your angels to prevent disturbing dreams from troubling me. Let Your peace stand guard over my thoughts.
Psalm 4:8
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Grant me peaceful sleep tonight. Amen.
2. Prayer After a Nightmare
Lord Jesus, I’ve just awakened from a terrifying nightmare. Calm my racing heart and fearful thoughts. Replace the disturbing images with Your comforting presence. Remind me that You are with me even in the darkness of night.
Psalm 34:4
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Deliver me from this fear now. Amen.
3. Prayer for Children with Bad Dreams
Loving Father, I lift up children experiencing bad dreams. Comfort them when they wake afraid. Give parents wisdom to soothe their fears. Protect their innocent minds from disturbing images. Let them feel Your loving arms around them.
Matthew 19:14
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'” Comfort Your little ones tonight. Amen.
4. Prayer Against Recurring Nightmares
Almighty God, break the cycle of recurring nightmares in my life. Reveal any spiritual roots causing these disturbing dreams. Heal past traumas that may be surfacing. Give me victory over persistent bad dreams.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Break nightmare cycles tonight. Amen.
5. Prayer for Peaceful Sleep
Prince of Peace, grant me restful sleep tonight. Quiet my anxious thoughts before bed. Prevent stressful events of the day from becoming bad dreams. Let my sleep be sweet and refreshing.
Proverbs 3:24
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Give me sweet sleep tonight. Amen.
6. Prayer Against Spiritual Attacks in Dreams
Heavenly Father, I put on the full armor of God before sleeping. Protect me from any spiritual attacks that come through dreams. Cover me with the blood of Jesus. Rebuke any evil influences trying to disturb my rest.
Ephesians 6:11
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Arm me for spiritual protection tonight. Amen.
7. Prayer for Dream Interpretation
Lord of Wisdom, if these bad dreams contain messages I need to understand, give me discernment. Show me any warnings or lessons You want me to receive. Filter out what’s harmful and reveal what’s helpful.
Job 33:15-16
“In a dream, in a vision of the night… he may speak in their ears.” Speak clearly to me, Lord. Amen.
8. Prayer for Cleansing After Bad Dreams
Merciful Father, cleanse my mind from disturbing dream images. Wash away any fear or anxiety they produced. Renew my thoughts according to Your truth. Let Your peace replace all unease.
Philippians 4:8
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble… think about such things.” Renew my mind today. Amen.
9. Prayer Against Night Terrors
Lord Jesus, I struggle with intense night terrors that disrupt my sleep. Calm my nervous system’s overreaction. Prevent sudden awakenings in panic. Give me tools to manage this condition with Your help.
Psalm 91:5
“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.” Free me from night terrors. Amen.
10. Prayer for Bedtime Peace
Holy Spirit, prepare my heart and mind for peaceful sleep. Help me release the day’s stresses to You. Prevent anxious thoughts from becoming bad dreams. Let me relax completely in Your care.
Mark 4:39
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down.” Still my mind tonight. Amen.
11. Prayer Against Demonic Dreams
Almighty God, I renounce any demonic influence in my dreams. By the authority of Jesus Christ, I command all evil spirits to flee. Fill my sleep with Your holy presence instead. Let no unclean thing disturb my rest.
James 4:7
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Make the enemy flee tonight. Amen.
12. Prayer for Sweet Dreams
Loving Father, fill my dreams with Your goodness tonight. Let me experience pleasant, uplifting dreams instead of bad ones. Plant positive images in my subconscious mind as I sleep.
Psalm 126:1
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.” Give me joyful dreams tonight. Amen.
13. Prayer for Protection of Children’s Dreams
Heavenly Father, I pray a hedge of protection around my children’s dreams. Guard their minds from nightmares and disturbing images. Let them sleep peacefully under Your watchful care. Comfort them if they wake afraid.
Matthew 18:10
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father.” Assign angels to guard their sleep. Amen.
14. Prayer Against Sleep Paralysis
Lord Jesus, I struggle with frightening sleep paralysis episodes. Break this pattern in my sleep cycle. Give me awareness to call on Your name during these episodes. Let Your power overcome this spiritual attack.
Luke 10:19
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy.” Give me victory over sleep paralysis. Amen.
15. Prayer for Dream Recall
Holy Spirit, if there are important messages in my dreams, help me remember them clearly. Filter out meaningless or disturbing content. Give me wisdom to interpret what You want me to understand.
Numbers 12:6
“When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.” Speak clearly to me, Lord. Amen.
16. Prayer Against Anxiety Dreams
Prince of Peace, calm my anxious thoughts that turn into bad dreams. Help me cast all my cares on You before sleeping. Prevent daily worries from manifesting as disturbing dreams.
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I cast my cares on You tonight. Amen.
17. Prayer for Spiritual Dreams
Lord God, replace my bad dreams with spiritually significant ones. Speak to me through dreams as You did with biblical figures. Give me dreams that draw me closer to You and Your purposes.
Joel 2:28
“Your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” Give me godly dreams tonight. Amen.
18. Prayer Against Violent Dreams
Merciful Father, I’m troubled by violent dreams that disturb my peace. Cleanse my mind from these disturbing images. Protect me from exposure to violent media that may influence my dreams.
Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.” Guard my mind tonight. Amen.
19. Prayer for Comfort After Bad Dreams
Comforter God, I wake shaken from bad dreams. Wrap me in Your loving presence. Replace fear with Your perfect love. Help me return to peaceful sleep. Remind me that You watch over me continually.
Psalm 3:5
“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” Sustain me through the night. Amen.
20. Prayer Against Nightmares from Trauma
Healing Lord, I experience nightmares related to past trauma. Heal these deep wounds in my soul. Stop traumatic memories from replaying in my dreams. Give me complete emotional and spiritual healing.
Psalm 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Heal my trauma tonight. Amen.
21. Prayer for Bedtime Scripture Meditation
Holy Spirit, as I meditate on Scripture before bed, plant these truths in my subconscious. Let Your Word shape my dreams. Crowd out negative thoughts with biblical promises as I sleep.
Joshua 1:8
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night.” Let Your Word guide my dreams. Amen.
22. Prayer Against Sleep Disturbances
Lord Jesus, prevent all disturbances that might lead to bad dreams – noises, discomfort, or temperature changes. Create perfect conditions for restful sleep. Help my body and mind relax completely.
Psalm 127:2
“In vain you rise early and stay up late… for he grants sleep to those he loves.” Grant me peaceful sleep. Amen.
23. Prayer for Protection from Evil Dreams
Almighty God, I claim the blood of Jesus over my dreams tonight. No evil shall befall me, no plague come near my dwelling. Let my sleep be free from all demonic interference.
Psalm 121:7
“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life.” Watch over me tonight. Amen.
24. Prayer for Dream Journaling
Wise Father, if You’re speaking through my dreams, help me record them accurately. Give me discernment to recognize meaningful dreams. Show me how to pray about what I’ve dreamed.
Habakkuk 2:2
“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.” Help me understand my dreams. Amen.
25. Prayer Against Fear of Sleeping
Lord, I’ve developed fear of sleeping because of bad dreams. Heal this anxiety. Help me trust Your protection through the night. Restore my confidence to sleep peacefully.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Give me sound sleep tonight. Amen.
26. Prayer for Angelic Protection
Heavenly Father, assign Your angels to guard my dreams tonight. Let them encamp around my bed and filter what enters my mind as I sleep. No evil dream shall trouble me under their watch.
Psalm 34:7
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Let angels guard my sleep. Amen.
27. Prayer for Renewed Mind
Creator God, renew my mind so it produces better dreams. Wash away negative thought patterns. Fill me with Your truth that will shape my subconscious mind during sleep.
Romans 12:2
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Transform my thought life. Amen.
28. Prayer Against Nighttime Fear
Lord Jesus, calm my irrational fears that surface at night. Remind me that darkness is as light to You. Help me remember Your constant presence, even in my dreams.
Psalm 139:12
“Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day.” Be my light in darkness. Amen.
29. Prayer for Restorative Sleep
Merciful Father, give me sleep that truly restores me, despite any bad dreams. Let my body and mind receive the full benefits of rest. Refresh me for tomorrow’s challenges.
Jeremiah 31:25
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Refresh me tonight. Amen.
30. Prayer of Thanksgiving for Protection
Gracious God, thank You for watching over me as I sleep. I praise You that no bad dream can separate me from Your love. Thank You for peaceful nights and Your constant care.
Psalm 3:5
“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” Thank You for sustaining me. Amen.
Conclusion
These 30 prayers cover every aspect of dealing with bad dreams – from prevention to response, from spiritual protection to emotional healing.
Remember that God cares about your nighttime peace as much as your daytime activities. May these prayers help you claim the restful sleep God desires for you, free from disturbing dreams and full of His comforting presence.
