The Watered Soul

Finding Refreshment in the Word

What Becomes of Your Dream

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chasing_dreams

Photo Credit: Pink Poppy Photography

Like tumbleweed drifting along dirt paths, the idea of dreams saunter around in my mind for days now. With it being the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, it’s common for our thoughts to drift back to his famous I have a dream speech. Although most of our dreams will not be captured and shared with the world as his, we each have a dream or dreams.

Dreams transports us to places our feet have yet to travel but our hearts know exist.–> Tweet this

What dreams are stirring in your heart these days? Have you allowed the responsibilities of adulthood to lock away your child-like belief in the possibility of your dreams?

Food for Thought

Questions I have been pondering and perhaps you can shed some light.

  1. How does a dream differ from a vision?
  2. Does God still speak to His people in dreams? Many people in the Bible received instructions from God through dreams or visions.
  3. If dreams are still a communication method God uses do we give enough attention to the dreams we have?
  4. How do we distinguish God dreams from our desires or imaginations?

I stumbled across this passage of scripture from Job 33:14-18 just last night as I was reading a novel by Lisa Wingate.

For God does speak–now one way, now another— though man may not perceive it.  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds,  he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,  to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. (NIV)

Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on these questions. Please share in the comments.

 

 

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Comments

  1. LaVonne says

    Let us rejoice and be glad in this day, Wanda. This is such a timely word for me. Last week I received a call from someone I had not heard from in a few years, except for a holiday card here and there. They called to ask if I planned to do something….this something is a project I let slide five years ago. Truthfully, until I got his call I had actually forgotten it, considered it a dead dream. But here I am, with my spirit stirred, wondering about this dream that refuses to let go of me, even after I had let go of it. I tried to run from this dream, and it’s caught up with me … again. The one thing I know for sure is that God is able and dreams really do not die. We may try to kill them, but they do not die.

    • Wanda says

      Oh wow, that’s such a great testimony LaVonne. When I think of God dreams I think of those things that refuse to die even though they may get buried for a season something within always comes back around and shake the dust from those areas.

  2. Elizabeth West says

    Happy Martin Luther King Day, Wanda! 🙂

    I wouldn’t think my dreams are from God. They’re too goofy, ha ha. I think if you have a vision, it happens while you are awake, and it’s not necessarily something dramatic, just something you can see clearly. I saw something I want badly as if it were true, which had never happened before, and I pray for its fulfillment every day. If I had any idea what to do about it, I would, but for now praying is all I know to do. I guess I’ll be told when the miracle is ready. WHEN NOT IF. 🙂

    • Wanda says

      Thanks Elizabeth hope you enjoyed a Happy MLK day as well. My sister held a similar to yours as the difference between vision and dreams. But hey who’s to say God doesn’t have a funny side 🙂

      • Elizabeth West says

        I think he does. Look at a platypus, ha ha!

        Also, good news: I got a really good job! So half of what I need/prayed for is coming my way. Let’s see what happens with the other half. 🙂

          • Elizabeth West says

            Thanks Wanda! I start Wednesday. It seems like a really good job, and I’ve always heard good things about the company. Also it comes with a huge bump in pay–I plan to get my savings back up and pay off some old bills. I keep trying to find things wrong with it but so far I can’t LOL.

  3. Arlee Bird says

    Good questions to make us think. I’ve considered a couple of these on my dream blog at times. The passage from Job is a good one. I’ve added it to my queue of topics at the dream blog.

    I’ve had several dreams that I am sure were direct communication from God.

    • Elizabeth West says

      Arlee- I had one once where I am convinced I visited Home. There’s a beautiful ice skating rink there, which I enjoyed even though I wasn’t a skater IRL at the time. Now I am, so I am very happy to know it will be there when I go. Because I can’t do triples here, I’m sure I will be able to do them there! 😀

  4. Cynthia says

    Hi Wanda!
    I love this post! I do believe that Jesus speaks to us in our dreams. And, I believe He speaks to us when we are wide-awake, in various ways. Of course, with us being of the flesh, we may, sometimes, be confused, as to what He is directing us to do and what our flesh wants us to do. But, the answer is one simple act away: Ask Him for discernment! He will place the answer in your heart and you will have no doubt.

    • Wanda says

      I agree Cynthia. I think God communicates with us in a myriad of ways, although I don’t think we often realize it. I love the wisdom you shared about asking for discernment. That’s a key point. Thanks for sharing.

  7. Sharon says

    OK, Wanda – I’ll take a stab at answering these very probing questions:

    How does a dream differ from a vision?
    I think of a dream as something that happens when we sleep. It is a physical phenomenon. Though they often don’t make a lot of sense, I think if we pay attention to them they can be an avenue of insight to our thoughts and feelings. I believe that a vision is something that comes to us outside of ourselves. I think of visions as something spiritual, something that is placed upon us.

    Does God still speak to His people in dreams? Many people in the Bible received instructions from God through dreams or visions.
    Yes, I do think that God can speak to His people in dreams. God is perfectly capable of speaking through our subconscious minds, which is where I believe dreams come from. Many people in the Bible received instructions from God through dreams or visions – maybe more so in the Old Testament. Now, we have the New Testament, and the words and witness of God Himself, Jesus. However, I know of one woman who became a Christian because of the terrifying dreams she had at night about falling into a deep, dark place of nothingness. So, God can speak to us in many ways.

    If dreams are still a communication method God uses do we give enough attention to the dreams we have?
    No, I don’t think we do. As I said, dreams can provide insight to our deepest thoughts and feelings. So, they can provide a window into what’s going on with us in a *human* sense. But, we can listen to them to see if God is also trying to speak to us this way.

    How do we distinguish God dreams from our desires or imaginations?
    This is where prayer and discernment are absolutely necessary. Always we must hold God’s Word as the standard by which we measure Truth. But, I make this other point – God’s Word promises that He will give us the desires of our hearts. I believe that also means that He will shape those desires to match His. And our imaginations are also useful tools to tap into the real *us* – the person that God created us to be.

    Phew – hope you don’t mind the novel!!

    GOD BLESS!

    • Wanda says

      No I don’t mind at all Sharon. I really appreciate the insight you shared. I remember when I discovered a passage of scripture that spoke about God working within us his desire and the ability to do those things. So I totally agree that scripture about giving us the desires of hearts is not just a wide open all access to anything.

  8. Susan Wachtel says

    Lots to think about and ponder Wanda. I do indeed think that in light of adult responsibilities I have locked away some of my dreams, but I do believe that our God is a miracle working God and well able to bring my dreams to fruition.

    Many blessings to you on Martin Luther King Jr Day. What an eloquent man who was able to give a generation a dream to pursue.

    • Wanda says

      I think a lot of us have allowed adult responsibilities to shut away some dreams but as you said God is able to reawaken and brings those dreams to life.

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