Lately, I’ve been thinking about dreams. It’s not that I’ve had that many more memorable dreams. In fact, many times I know I dream, but often do not remember the content for long after I wake up.

Rather, my want to learn more about dreams came after watching a video of a sermon. The preacher just happened to be one of my sons-in-law and who is the pastor at Faith Church in Tyler, Texas. But even if I did not personally know the speaker, the message spurred me on to do some research about dreams. (If you want to listen to this sermon and others, go to faithinjesustx.org and read some of the messages.)

I always believed that dreaming was an attempt by my brain to resolve some ongoing issues in my life. Indeed, that is one of theories although there is some disagreement as to the ability to collect enough reliable information to prove this view.

Another theory is dreams do not mean anything. Instead they are merely electrical brain impulses that pull random thoughts and imagery from our memories. That theory goes on to speculate that most memories of these dreams are formed within a few seconds during the waking up process.  And there are a number of other theories. Again, reliable research is lacking to any theory to be accepted as THE answer. (Psychology January 2018)

I learned about lucid dreaming. This is a hybrid state between sleeping and being awake during which the dreamer can influence the dream. There is an awareness that what is occurring is a dream and thus the dreamer can react to the “story.”

Now, that is familiar. I have been able to do this for a number of years. An example would be those falling dreams about which I have always heard that if you would ever hit the ground, you could actually die.

In my dreams, I am aware that I am dreaming and I either just force myself to wake up or in some way land on my feet. I smile now as I think back to my post of May 4th titled Nose Dive. I usually cannot land on my feet even while awake.

As interesting as all the scientific speculation about dreaming may sound to me, I see it as just that, speculation. What struck me more was a point from that sermon I mentioned earlier when my son-in-law talked about those people who say that God is talking to them in their dreams.

There are numerous examples in the Bible of God speaking through dreams. Some of people to whom he spoke were Jacob, Joseph both the son of Jacob and the earthly father of Jesus and Daniel. But does God speak to me through dreams?

While I know that with God nothing is impossible, I also am told in various places in the Bible where God says to not add anything to his word. (Galatians 1:6-9, Deuteronomy 12:32, Proverbs 30:5-6.)  If I believe God is directly speaking to me in a dream, would that be adding  to his Word?

But, I might tell myself that God has spoken to others in dreams, why couldn’t he speak to me too? Here is where I can leave the human theories and speculations behind and go to the only source of truth.  In the past, God spoke to our forefathers by the prophets at many times and in many ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son,  Hebrews 1:1-2.  I further read the words of Jesus–You search the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them. They testify about me! John 5:39.

As I read those passages I have to admit they do not say that God could not speak to me in a dream. What they do say is in the past, before Jesus came to perform his redeeming work, the prophets spoke for God as he communicated to them through dreams and visions.

Then Jesus came and he spoke as God. I have those same words, the Bible. If I need help, the answers are there. If I need comfort, there is an endless supply in what Jesus spoke. And if I need to know what the future holds, the Bible shows me who holds the future–the same God who sent his Son to save me.

So, can God speak through dreams? There is nothing he cannot so. Does he speak to me in dreams? I think he speaks to me through his Word. It is there I learned of my Savior and of his saving work. It is there my faith is strengthened as the Holy Spirit works in my heart.

Dreams are part of my life. Some of them are wonderful, some are terrifying and some are confusing. It seems to me that putting credence in something which most of the time we do not remember is a waste of time. Instead, I need to keep close to God through his Word.

Thanks for coming here and hope you come back–I will wait you.

This song is all about a place I can go where I know God is speaking.

Speak O Lord Lyrics by Stuart Townsend from Christian Lyrics.net