Job 33:14-16 NKJV
Ezekiel 3:12-15 NKJV
Isaiah 53:6-7 NKJV
2 Samuel 23:3b-4 NKJV
Listening Series
Many, if not most dreams and visions from God are symbolic in nature and therefore need to be interpreted. One of the gifts of the Spirit is Dreams/Visions and another is Interpretation of Dreams/Visions. If you have the gift of interpretation, you would be a great asset to the person who has dreams and visions.
During my early years I didn’t have anyone to help who had the gift of interpretation of dreams/visions. At first I didn’t even know some of the dreams I had were a message from God. I was pretty young, so at first I didn’t put the pieces together. I’ve mentioned before that the first dream I remember was about a black dog who was as big as two houses walking through my neighborhood. The dream really scared me. Some while after that (probably 3-4 months later) a strange large black dog cornered me at the side of my house. He was growling and when I tried to move he would move toward me. A neighbor from across the street noticed the dog and he came and chased him away.
In 1975 I had a dream that I had a little girl and she had sandy colored hair. In the dream I called her Sandy. I had a girl in October of 1976 and I named her Sandra (Sandi for short). I had a dream each time I was expecting and I knew what to name the child.
Here’s the problem. My fourth child was to be named Angela. I miscarried that child, so I believe I have a child in heaven. Two years later, I had my son, Matthew.
There have been other dreams and visions through the years, moving visions, warning dreams, and dreams and visions that let me know changes were coming.
A year before I divorced I had three dreams and I didn’t understand what they meant. In time, when they became a reality I understood. I don’t have a lot of dreams and visions...not usually more than two a year, but they do guide me.
I need to point out that I do dream frequently, but when I wake up I know when it’s a dream from God or it’s just my brain talking. I don’t know how I know...I just know.
I am a visual learner and I believe God gave me a visual gift so He can effectively communicate with me.
From scripture we know God has and does communicate with us. We read in Job 33:14-16:
“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,
Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.”
God is good to communicate with us even when we don’t ask for it and don’t expect it. God WANTS to communicate with us.
There are accounts in scripture where God guided the prophets and showed them His power and might. In Ezekiel 3:12-15, the Prophet had a vision of the mighty power of God.
“Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing. It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—deeply distressed.”
This vision of Ezekiel’s began in Chapter 1 and continued through most of Chapter 3. Throughout Ezekiel, God continued to speak to the prophet and he wrote about six dreams and visions (Joyce, Paul M. (2009). Ezekiel: A Commentary. Continuum) that were a guiding light related to the Babylonian exile of the Hebrew people. God was telling Ezekiel by His power and might He would continue to care for His children even in exile.
Isaiah was a prophet in Israel around 700 years before Jesus was born. He is best remembered for his vision foretelling the birth of the Messiah (https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/isaiah-9-6).
In Isaiah 53:6-7:
“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
King David’s vision of Christ found in 2 Samuel 23:3b-4 says,
“ ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.
And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.’ “
David saw Jesus as just, having the light of morning, springing up like ‘tender grass’, clearing the clouds after the rain. When David had that vision, he knew God was going to do something wonderful and marvelous for us. He saw Jesus as the light of the world. He knew the clouds would open and clear and there would be no darkness (https://www.proquest.com/openview/b450391c9b5fd404/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=7341).
During the early part of my adult life, I wasn’t part of a church that embraced the gifts of dreams and visions. When others found out I had dreams that came true they shied away from me. I felt like I was a freak.
Because of my gifts I’ve been the brunt of gossip. At one church where I attended a pastor clearly told me what I called “my gift” was evil and I was not to talk about to them with other members. As a result, for years I didn’t tell anyone about my dreams and visions except my dad.
After my dad died, for a short time I had no one I could confide in. Then one day we moved to a new town, and a new church. The first day in church I met a woman I immediately knew I could trust. It started by talking about books we read. I had started reading some of Richard Fosters books that opened new doors for me. She was reading the same books. Talking about the content of the books opened doors to more dialogue. She understood. She got it. She got me. God had opened doors that I thought were forever closed.
Today, I write about my gift and my experiences so that if God has given you gifts, you will know they are real and they are from God. Do not let anyone try to convince you otherwise.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Embrace Your Gifts
Whatever Spiritual Gifts God has given you, embrace them. Ask God to be your guiding light in showing you how to use your gifts for His glory.
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney.com
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