What Do My Dreams Mean?
Every human being has on average four dreams a night. You may not remember every dream, but they are a big part of our lives. And God can use dreams to communicate with us. It’s important to know how to interpret your dreams.
For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings.
Job 33:14-16
Every dream has significance. Dreams can give you access to understand yourself better or help you understand what’s going on in your subconscious. But not all of your dreams are from God. There’s a difference between dreams that are common to the human experience, like dreams of flying, being pregnant, falling, or being naked in public; and spiritual dreams.
How Do I Interpret My Dreams?
In the Bible, we see the angel Gabriel appear several times to tell people important things about their future or warn them of things to come. We see Gabriel appear first to the prophet Daniel and interpret his visions. Then we see him appear in the New Testament to Zechariah, telling him he would have a son that would be a forerunner to Jesus (John the Baptist). Finally we see him appear to Mary and announce that she would give birth to the savior. Gabriel said:
And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
Luke 1:19
Just like Gabriel, to understand if a dream is from God, you’ve got to stand in the presence of God. Revelation doesn’t come from knowing “something,” it comes from knowing God. Have you spent more time in the company of your friends than you have in the company of God? Do you go to google to interpret your dreams before you go to God? Spend time in God’s presence. Ask him for the interpretation of your dreams. Write your dreams down in a journal so that you don’t forget them. Often times we will have a dream and the meaning won’t be revealed until much later. A dream journal can help you to remember.
Why Does God Give Dreams?
God gives dreams for three reasons:
To instruct you. Instruct means to warn, strategize, and direct. The Bible is not a story of what happened – it’s a story of what always happens. God’s faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob doesn’t stop with them – it continues with faithfulness to you. History is made right now with one act of obedience at a time. Some people say, “Well God doesn’t speak today.” God would not die for you not to speak to you. Why would God sacrifice his Son and then not speak to you in a personal, real way? The significance of your dream could be so that he can help direct you or warn you.
To confirm something. When God confirms something, you can move forward in confidence. Sometimes He will use a dream to confirm something in your spirit, or to foreshadow a certain direction He would like you to move in.
To provide peace. If you feel distraught or unsure of something your life, sometimes God will give you a dream that comforts your heart for the present circumstance or to give you validation that you’re on the right track.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:21
Obedience increases the voice of the Shepherd in your life. If you want to clearly discern what your dreams are about, obey God. He will instruct you.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:13
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah 33:3
The promise of God is for guidance, instruction, and revelation of unknown things. And dreams are a tool he uses to do that. The next time you have a dream and you wonder the meaning, don’t ask google what it means, don’t ask your friends to interpret, don’t ask 14 pastors… ask God!
At V1 Church we believe that God speaks and His voice can be heard today. Join us for one of our services and learn how to hear Him! Connect with us using one of the links below – we’d love to see you.
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