The fantasy spirit...

... and what you can do about it.

Hello Financial Healers,

A few months ago, I put out a question on social media asking my followers what spirits they wanted me to write about. I was inundated with responses.

I had so much fun sifting through everyone’s comments. In the end, I chose the 10 spirits I was most familiar with. Here’s the first one:

The Fantasy Spirit

At its root, the fantasy spirit’s theme is escapism. This spirit thrives on keeping you distracted, weighed down by unhealthy imaginations, and lost in alternate realities.

Now, this is not to say imagination is evil. God gifted our brains with the incredible ability to map out stories and ideas. It’s wonderful how architecture, inventions, and art can manifest from creativity. But our imagination can be infiltrated by the enemy if we don’t protect it.

In my own life, the fantasy spirit manifested itself through my nighttime dreams. From the time I was a little girl, I had an active dream life. Most of these dreams were innocent. I’d be Snow White escaping the evil queen, or one of the Hardy Boys solving a mystery even the police couldn’t crack.

The problem was my obsession with these dreams began to leak into my daily life. Even after salvation, I’d fantasize about escaping my boring world in favor of heroic adventures. This obsession continued into my marriage.

Eventually, I found myself at a crisis. Dissatisfied with my seemingly dull life, I started entertaining options for real means of escape. This led to a defining moment where I had to choose between my non-heroic mom life and an idealized, romantic adventure. 

I remember lying on the couch, begging God, “Please close this door for me. I’m not strong enough to choose well. Just make me a robot, so I can choose righteousness.”

Thankfully, the Lord didn’t make me a robot. But He did close the door that was tempting me. This shows that your willingness to obey God is your first step towards freedom.

Discerning the fantasy spirit

Sometimes it’s hard to discern if you’re hearing messages from a demonic spirit. Its voice is so routine that it feels familiar. In such cases, these demon’s voices are nearly indistinguishable from your own. You might need a trusted friend or minister to point them out.

This happened years ago during a lunch date with a friend, Renee Cooper. After recounting a vivid, constantly changing dream, Renee asked, “Dawna, you can change your dreams all night long… like a movie?” “Yes!” I said, ecstatic. Renee gave me a concerned look and said, “Dawna, that’s not a God dream, that’s a spirit of fantasy.” 

A spirit of what?!

I was shocked. According to her, I was partnering with a demon! But I was a deliverance minister. I was supposed to be a master of discernment, right? Wouldn’t I recognize if a demon was impacting me? In most cases, I’d say yes. But in this area, I was blind. 

How I overcame fantasy 

Once I realized fantasy was impacting my life, I repented and instantly felt its power leave. This demonstrated Scripture’s truth that when we confess our sins, “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Rebuking fantasy was the easy part. The difficult battle was holding on to my healing. I had grown so accustomed to fantasy’s voice that it felt like my normal thoughts. I needed to walk out my healing and demonstrate to the Lord that I could stay free.

In my case, battling fantasy looked like practicing active obedience. Every night before bed, I’d declare, “I’m a child of obedience and I will not partner with you. I send you back in Jesus’s Name.” This was part of my strategy to “stand, when… [I] ha[d]… done all to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).¹

Is the fantasy spirit in the Bible?

Alas, Scripture does not include a comprehensive list of demonic spirits. I rely on discernment when identifying certain entities. I find that most demonic sources are disempowered when you identify them by name (i.e., use the word that describes what has been harassing you [like anger/fear/etc]).

In my case, Renee identified this spirit as fantasy, and it felt accurate. Once I renounced it by name, I felt its power leave. 

Strategies to overcome fantasy

If you discern fantasy is impacting your life, ask Jesus to forgive you for knowingly or unknowingly partnering with it. Renounce the enemy’s hold by declaring, “I see you, fantasy. I do not partner with you. I send you back in Jesus’s Name. Holy Spirit, give me back the weapon of obedience, and be my comfort when I want to escape reality.”

If you feel a tug toward fantasy, realize God is the most exciting Being in the universe. The life He has for you is the most joyful you’ll ever get to experience. Fantasy is a counterfeit form of rest. It seems fun at first, but partnering with it comes at a price.

To break free from fantasy, pray this over yourself: “Thank You, Jesus, that You have godly and healthy ways for me to deal with disappointment. I hand to you [whatever negative belief that’s trying to attach to me, i.e. discouragement, hopelessness, a need for rescue]. I release myself and others from any unmet expectations. Reveal Your truth to me and give me strategies to face reality with boldness. I ask for grace to walk in healthier ways of managing my expectations. Amen.”

Signs of the fantasy spirit

These might be symptoms of partnering with a fantasy spirit:

Fatigue or exhaustion after a long night of dreaming. With God dreams you should wake up refreshed.

A desire to avoid or escape life. 

Preferring false worlds over the real one.

An unwillingness to accept the life God has given you.

An unrealistic, idealized perception of marriage.

You are either the hero in your dreams (not God) or you are being rescued by someone other than God.

If you identify with any of these traits, ask God to break you free from fantasy. If you need help, schedule a Sozo in-person or online with the Bethel Transformation Center.

I bless you on your healing journey, and I pray God will remove all strongholds of the enemy. Lean into the Lord and step out in faith to follow His Spirit. He will heal your wounds and take you on an incredible adventure.

Saved and Healed and Delivered,
Dawna De Silva

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About: Dawna De Silva is the founder and co-leader of the International Bethel Sozo Ministry. She and her husband, Stephen De Silva, have ministered from Bethel for the past twenty years. Dawna’s books on spiritual warfare have become bestselling tools. Whether training in Sozo, Shifting Atmospheres, or ministering prophetically, Dawna releases people, churches, and cities into new vision and freedom. You can find more information about Dawna on her website: dawnadesilva.com

1. I cover this strategy in my book, Warring with Wisdom.