DREAMS……………….

I know God’s given you dreams — He’s put them on your heart in a way you can’t deny. You may not have told anyone. You may have thought it was too big to happen. But I want you to realize that God hasn’t given up on those dreams and you don’t have to either.

Job 33:13-18 “But you [Job] are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being. So why are you bringing a charge against Him?
Why say He does not respond to people’s complaints?
For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings. He makes them turn from doing wrong; He keeps them from pride. He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.”

People in Job’s time faced some of the same issues in the world. They did not recognize that God was speaking to them in their dreams. It is still true today. Our society has taught us that dreams have very little value in our daily lives; and most of our society has not been enlightened to the fact that God is still speaking through dreams. But, this scripture makes it clear that God speaks to all men, He keeps trying, again and again, but they do not recognize it.

Common Purposes for Dreams

In the Bible, God used dreams for various reasons. A few of them to consider are:

• There were times when God used a dream to give a warning. Matthew 2:12-The Lord appeared to the wise men here for the purpose of warning them not to return to Herod, but to go back home another way. In the very next verse Joseph is also warned of the Lord in a dream to flee into Egypt with the Baby Jesus.

• There were times when God used a dream to reveal prophecy. Joseph was a man subject to dreams and the interpretation of dreams. Genesis 37-Joseph dreamed a dream about his brethren bowing down to him. Joseph was promoted to the second in command under Pharaoh. For approximately 13 years he had nothing else but these dreams that told of the future. In the Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams that have a tremendous amount of prophecy in them. There are other dreams in the Bible that would fall into this category as well.

• There were times when God used a dream to encourage, obedience to the Lord. In Judges 7-we find the Lord thinning out the army of Gideon before he goes to battle with the vast army of Midian. Gideon begins with 32,000 soldiers. In 7:3, we find that 22,000 went home because of fear and in 7:6, we find that 9,700 went home because of the way they drank water(as under the guidance of God). This left Gideon with an army of only 300 soldiers. In this same chapter the Lord instructed Gideon that if he was afraid he should go down unto the camp and then he would be strengthened. When Gideon arrived in the host, he heard a man telling a dream to another man. The interpretation of the dream just so happened to be that the army of Gideon was going to defeat the Midianites. Immediately upon hearing of this dream, Gideon was strengthened and he worshipped God. Surely the whole purpose for this man's dream was the encouragement of Gideon.

Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:12

God’s the one who placed those dreams and desires on the inside of you. It’s never too late for God, which means it’s never too late for you!

I have never heard of a single story, in the Bible or in our time, where God gave someone a dream and fulfilled it on the same day. Trust that He has you in the right place at the right time. Trust that He is working all things together for your good. Trust that new doors are opening. Choose faith and patience, and you will inherit His promises.

Here comes that dreamer! they said to each other.   Genesis 37:19

Not everyone was excited about hearing of Joseph’s dreams. When Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison, he kept on dreaming. His life didn’t take the route he had expected, but God was working behind the scenes realigning his steps until those dreams in his heart became reality.

No matter what anyone has said about you, those God-given dreams in your heart are still in the making. Your part is to keep believing, keep forgiving, keep following your heart, and stay obedient to His Word. Stay in faith, just like Joseph. God will take you places you've never imagined.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.    Philippians 1:6

Learning to walk in the destiny God has for you is a process. The first step is to get a vision, a clear picture from God that you can see. The next step is to trust Him — to believe in faith that it will happen. And then finally, you take a step of faith and live out what God has promised no matter what your circumstances or people around you have to say.

In the scripture even the great men and women of the Bible had to overcome doubts, they struggled on their journey, but they held fast to what God said knowing that He is faithful to complete what He started in us!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Thank God, life doesn’t turn out the way we plan.  Trust God because He loves you with an everlasting love, and He doesn’t want to see you settling for anything less than His very best.

Be strong and be courageous. Lift up your eyes to Jesus. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Live boldly and dream boldly so you can embrace the good things He has in store for you!

REMEMBER: Friends, today, if you are having a hard time believing what God has promised will come to pass, understand that you are in a process. Keep declaring that He who promised is faithful! Keep the vision in front of you knowing that it is for an appointed time. Dream it and believe it because it won’t be long until you are living the blessed life God has prepared for you!

Prayer: Father, thank You for the dreams You’ve placed within me. Even when I can’t see it, I trust that You are working behind the scenes. Fill me with Your strength today; fill me with Your hope, and keep me close to You always as I put You first in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.