Spiritual Warfare?

[red_bug_jen]

While in conversation a few days ago I mentioned that I have been waking without explanation at 3:00 a.m. fairly regularly now for the last couple of weeks and that it’s driving me kinda crazy cause my sleep has been messed up. One of the people in the conversation said that I have been targeted for spiritual warfare because 3:00 a.m. is the hour of Satan and that he is “knocking at my door”.
At first I thought it was pretty ridiculous but I am finding that I can’t quite put it out of my mind.
Can someone please shed some light on this? Is it possible to be “targeted” by Satan? Thanks.

 

[Reepicheep]

I don’t know. But here’s a suggestion:
When you wake in the middle of the night, spend ten minutes in prayer, interceding for someone you know who needs God’s mercy. Then go back to sleep.

 

[mrs_abbott]

Have you seen the Exorcism of Emily Rose? I know it’s just a movie but it deals with the whole concept of 3am being the hour of the demon since it’s the opposite of 3pm, the hour our Lord died for our sins.

 

[mommyof4]

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Our bodies get “programmed” to wake and sleep and certain times of the day and night. Your body just got into a routine where your are waking up at 3:00 am.

If you’re worried about it, go to confession and make sure you are in a state of grace. Satan can’t touch you, then. I once heard a story about St. Theresa of Avila, where the Devil stood by her bed at night and was in a horribly frightening form, trying to scare her. She looked at him and said “Oh, it’s you again,” and rolled over and went back to sleep!

I like the idea of praying while you’re awake. Even if there is no spirtual warfare, it sure can’t hurt to say a few extra prayers for someone, either. Having sacramentals in your room may give you peace of mind, too.

 

[McKevin]

While in conversation a few days ago I mentioned that I have been waking without explanation at 3:00 a.m. fairly regularly now for the last couple of weeks and that it’s driving me kinda crazy cause my sleep has been messed up. One of the people in the conversation said that I have been targeted for spiritual warfare because 3:00 a.m. is the hour of Satan and that he is “knocking at my door”.
At first I thought it was pretty ridiculous but I am finding that I can’t quite put it out of my mind.
Can someone please shed some light on this? Is it possible to be “targeted” by Satan? Thanks.

Spiritual warefare is real, as we know from Ephesians 6, but I find this verse comforting:

1 John 4:4 says “You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

<>
McKevin

 

[puzzleannie]

there is actually a medical disorder when someone wakens at the same hour every night and has to eat something, for one thing it is a tip-off to have blood sugar checked out. I think you are far more likely to get help from a doctor who specializes in sleep disorders if this persists, than from well-meaning friends with no medical knowledge. we do not immediately look to Satan as the source or cause of the ordinary difficulties we face in life.

when I wake at night I take it as a sign I am being called to prayer (usually because I have been negligent in my prayer life), I pray the Office of Readings (Vigils), turn out the light and meditate for a while on the readings and enjoy the silence in the Lord. I then usually fall asleep without a problem. When I don’t it is because there is some underlying physical problem or stress that has to be dealt with.

if you want info on Spiritual Warfare, title of this thread, Fr. Corapi has several tapes in his catalogue that sound excellent.

 

[songofsunday]

I’ve heard that 3:00 (am or pm) is considered the “perfect hour” for prayer. It is recommended that the Divine Mercy Chaplet be said at 3:00 in honor of Christ. I often wake up at 3am. I am often tormented at this hour with thoughts that I know only satan has come to distress me over.

Shove and kick satan behind you and command, in the name of Jesus, that satan leave you alone.

Be strong and persevere in Christ.

Prayerfully,
Song

 

[ready]

If I were you I would just pray every time you woke up at 3:00 until you fell asleep again. If it were Satan tormenting you, he’d have to stop sooner or later when he figures it would be to his advantage to stop, seeing you’d be praying for souls all that time.