Dreams and Visions

Today, as we dive into the second week of our new theme for this month, We Won’t Just See But Interpret, lets define what the word interpret means:

To interpret is to explain the meaning of something. 

Scripture shows that seeing can happen through dreams (Job 33:15), visions (Isaiah 6:1), spiritual understanding (Ephesians 1:18), the Word of God (Psalm 119: 105), and discernment of His work in our lives (2 Corinthians 5:7). Today we’ll be focusing on dreams and visions.

Dreams are just visions you get while you’re sleeping. While some dreams are manifested from our own thoughts at times, others derive from the spiritual realm. God-given dreams can be symbolic, but they carry weight, purpose, and direction.

As we know, there is nothing new under the sun, and believe it or not, your dreams are oftentimes connected to Scripture. You should be able to attach your dreams to Scripture.

God uses dreams to warn (Genesis 20:3), call (Isaiah 6), redirect (Acts 16:9), reveal future events (Daniel), and sometimes to confirm what He’s already said.

Let’s look at Jeremiah for a second. Jeremiah was called by God, and though he was hesitant, he later surrendered and allowed God to move through him. It’s hard to understand God’s ways when you’re not connected to Him because, ultimately, He is the one who interprets your dreams and visions, whether through someone else or through you. The same goes for remembering dreams—the Holy Spirit within you has to be alive and present in order for you to understand what God is trying to show you.

“Then the word of the Lord came to me, asking, “What do you see, Jeremiah? ” I replied, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I watch over my word to accomplish it.” Again the word of the Lord came to me asking, “What do you see? ” And I replied, “I see a boiling pot, its lip tilted from the north to the south.” Then the Lord said to me, “Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in the land.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Jeremiah saw; the Lord explained. Yes, interpreting dreams and visions can be that simple, but it can be hard when you’re not tapped into the spiritual realm.

Interpretation requires you to tap into another level of the spiritual realm, and that is why it’s important to have mentors and others around you who also see. Not saying that you’re incapable, but you may not have reached that level yet or may be too scared to get things wrong.

Scripture reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 (CSB) that “…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.”

How will you interpret something from the spiritual realm with a carnal mind?

“The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.”

Romans 8:7 (CSB)

In order to interpret, we must submit and desire a new level in our walk.

Next time you have a dream—whether it’s the night after you’ve read this or you just woke up from one—write it down and spend some time in the secret place with it.

Lastly, be patient. Not all dreams can be interpreted right away. Sometimes you won’t get the interpretation until it starts manifesting, and then the Lord will bring it to your remembrance.