Spirit of slumber
Sleepiness that appears during prayer, Scripture, or confrontation with truth
Point of discernment
Derek Prince describes a “spirit of slumber” as a pattern in which sleepiness becomes especially strong during Bible reading, prayer, or the hearing of truth. He also recounts a woman who slept for a dozen or more hours at a time and interprets her sleep as escape and a “false salvation” — a way of avoiding life and matters she did not want to face.
Present pattern
Sleepiness clearly triggered by prayer, Scripture, or spiritual confrontation; sleeping through life as an escape; passivity and postponing matters that require truth and decision.
Possible root
According to Prince: avoidance of reality, unwillingness to face truth, and accepting sleep as a false refuge. He does not identify one root for every case.
Effect
Weakened prayer and engagement with Scripture, passivity, delayed decisions, loss of time, and remaining in a problem the person does not want to see.
Discernment without accusation
Examine whether sleepiness has a clear spiritual trigger and serves escape.
Spiritual response
Name the matters being avoided; entrust them to Jesus; renounce the spirit of slumber, passivity, escape, and false salvation; ask for watchfulness, courage, and love of truth; order one’s rest and return faithfully to short periods of prayer and Scripture.
Sources
Sources: Derek Prince, “How to Be Delivered” and “Laying the Ax to the Root.” Related: escape, passivity, spiritual watchfulness, and disappointment.