Dreams and Visions…..

Fasting humbles you before God. It should be a reflection of your soul, NOT your body. When you choose to do this with a humble heart, it can compel God to speak to you (Daniel 10:12). The Bible says in Job 33:14-15, ”For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,“

Today, let us look at some of the ways God speaks to us through dreams and visions. This could be a whole book in itself, but instead let us focus on some of the ways this happened in scripture. From personal experience and revelation revealed, you can pave the way to best hear God in dreams and visions.

Setting the tone…..Before you sleep, clear the sins of the day from your mind and heart (Daniel 9:20). Focus on the Lord and be still. A fasted stomach before bed will help position you best to hear from God (Daniel 10:12). As of now, you will be in a fasted state, but this is also for the future. Many people can end up with what we call ‘pizza dreams’ which are random and scattered dreams jumping from one subject to another. This is just your brain processing the day and events and is not necessarily an encounter with God. The evidence that it is a true encounter will be that your mind will rest upon one event. When our stomachs are packed full, and we l go to bed we are not in the best position to hear from God. This is because we are more in our flesh, and more inclined to receive dreams from the soul.

The book of 1 Samuel chapter 3 we see how for a time God was silent. Dreams and visions were rare or non-existent. Yet as Samuel grew in his relationship with the Lord, one night the Lord spoke. However, Samuel had not yet been taught God's word or his ways. So he believed the voice to be Eli the priest. Eli encouraged him to go back to bed, continually, but on the third occasion he then recognised it to be God trying to communicate. Upon this revelation he instructed him to respond by saying “Speak Lord for your servant is listening” (1Samuel 3:10). Have you noticed how Samuel went back to the same place multiple times and in the same sleeping position? From these examples I have personally learnt how to use these words before I go to sleep. I say them out loud and, if I wake up, I reposition myself back to the same place and space to re-enter back into the same dream or vision. By experience I have been blessed to continue where I left off.

Kings and rulers in the Bible such as the Pharaoh’s in Egypt (Genesis 41:17), and King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon (Daniel 2:28), understood that dreams were not like the idol gods they worshiped ,but were from the one and only Almighty God (Yahweh). Their dreams could not even be manipulated or decoded by witchcraft, no matter how they tried (Genesis 41:8). In these examples the burdens were so heavy on both rulers (Daniel 4:5-6), that on waking from these dreams or visions the Bible says it would trouble them greatly. This allows us to understand how important the message is and needs to be actioned by prayer and also physical interventions. When you have understood the message from the dream, the burden should be lifted. Until then you can get the dream repeated in various ways just as Pharaoh did, but the weight of the burden will cause you to seek intervention. Our God is amazing!!! By giving us that heavy burden it compels us to intercede for unseen or pending issues which may be in need of diversion, elimination, or preparation. Sometimes God will be direct with instructions which will not need any interpretation, other times it may be a prophetic dream with signs and symbols, which will need interpretation. Feelings and symbols in your dreams matter, this will help you to decode the message.

Even though he faced battles just being in Babylon. From the first day of the fast the answer was meant to be given in a vision. But the principalities in the air controlled the airways, and disrupted and delayed his message from God. But finally, on day twenty-one intervention came (Daniel 10:13). From this we can understand the importance of praying over and clearing the airways before sleeping. This will help your mail (dreams or visions) be delivered and prevent the ravens stealing it. Just think God may be trying to speak but other factors may be at play.

Good stewardship in documenting them, is key just as they did in the Biblical times. Write or type your dreams or visions down, as soon as possible.(Hab 2:2) By doing this you will be showing the Lord your gratitude and honour, and in turn more can be added (Matthew 13:12). Before you even leave the bed, have a journal handy or on your phone write every detail, feelings and symbols down. If you leave it till a later time details could be lost. If God has spoken and delivered the message, it’s vital that you do your due diligence and take the time to write it down. You may need someone to help assist you in the interpretation or give you guidance or counsel on how best to pray or strategize. Also, be wise in doing so not all dreams are meant to be told to just anyone, pray about it and seek the Holy Spirit.

Daily manna to meditate on………

”Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.“ Numbers 12:6 NKJV

”Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.“Genesis 28:12 NKJV

”But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” Genesis 20:3 NKJV

”At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” I Kings 3:5 NKJV

”I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.“ Daniel 4:5-6 NKJV

Food for thought……..

Have you confessed your sins before the Lord today? Cleared the airways? Positioned yourself in body, mind and spirit for God today and every day?