Deeper Than Something You Ate

Is God Speaking In Your Dreams?

ICountless mornings, I’ve awoken to the memory of a dream from a busy night’s sleep. On most occasions, I shrug them off, considering the plausibility or randomness to be unreliable and often ridiculous. I typically go on about my day. I often chuckle at some that seem to be recurring or contain similar plots. As a young girl, I awoke prematurely, heart racing, to a dreaded “rerun” where I escaped just in the nick of time. I’d been chased – again – by a cow. Yes, I said it: a moo-cow! Every country girl’s nightmare, right? Considering I no longer encounter farm animals on a daily basis, I rarely have that dream. Whew!

And, what does it mean if I dream in color? I’ve heard it’s worth extra points.

Typically, those scrapbook dreams are quickly dismissed with little effort or effect on my day. There are, however, other mornings where I fumble for pen & paper before my feet touch the floor. With my thoughts racing, I try to capture every detail in the exact order I experienced it. What if this dream means something? Is the Lord speaking through this oddly realistic “playback?” I like to record my thoughts and dreams and set them aside. If there’s some jewel of truth or message of correction to consider, then the Holy Spirit may draw me back to those notes. Is it aligned with Scripture? Or, was it last night’s chocolate cake?

So, what about our ambitions, those dreams of becoming all God intended?

All throughout Scripture, we find that dreams were instrumental in communicating God’s plans or warnings. Joseph dreamed of his future reign over his brothers. (Genesis 37), but I’m guessing he didn’t dream about keeping it on the down-low. God even warned Pharaoh through dreams; Joseph would later interpret them for Pharaoh. (Genesis 41) Jacob, Job, and Daniel all discovered God speaking to them in the form of vivid dreams. Some were for individuals; other dreams were for nations.

In Acts 2:17-18, we read, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, our old men will dream dreams, even on my servants, both men and women…” This includes you and me! There’s no prerequisite or age limit!

And, there’s still time!

That dream, the one that God planted deep within your soul, is deeper than something you ate. What’s on your heart when you wake most mornings? What longings do you frequently revisit? Do you meditate, “What happens if I don’t do this?”

Dear created woman, be encouraged! Even if you don’t know the plan, your Heavenly Father does. He is the author of his plan and dreams for you. He is the finisher. (Hebrews 12:2)

Be open to the role you are destined to play in this season of your life. Though our world may be filled with uncertainty right now, “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Consider those in your span of influence, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6)

Dream. It’s not always what you ate the night before.

Reflection

What do you dream of doing/becoming?
What dreams have you remembered or thought might be worth recording for later reference?
What has kept you from stepping toward a dream or ambition?

Goals

Consider three daily actions that will move your dream closer to reality.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…”

(Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)

“And in the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”

(Acts 2:17-18 NIV)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

(Romans 8:37 ESV)