How do you know if a dream is from God or if it's just that - a dream?

[Pmel]

I've had some very strange dreams that have had a lasting affect on me. But they were so strange that I thought they couldn't possibly be of God. How does one tell?

 

[ChildOfGod97]

I've had some very strange dreams that have had a lasting affect on me. But they were so strange that I thought they couldn't possibly be of God. How does one tell?

Faith is like what? You wake up in the morning and believe you will see your room. Before stepping out of your bedroom door you believe you will see outside that door everything you normally see.

Maybe like crossing a rickety bridge over a chasm, if you do not believe it can hold you, you do not cross. If you do believe you can cross it, you do cross. If it starts to wobble, you get concerned and start to doubt it will hold you.

If you see that though it is wobbly the foundation is secure, you keep walking and hold to the confidence you will make it, though it is wobbly.


Like Peter trying to walk on the water with Jesus.


Experience can be a big factor in faith. Experience is like how one might judge the foundation of such a bridge and feel confident one is judging it correctly.


As for meaning of dreams, however, that is another matter. Simply because something may happen does not mean the meaning is set in stone. Peter spoke of how an interpretation of a prophecy is not dependent on the prophet (above all). This means one can interpret a dream to mean one thing, and later find out it actually means something else.

What is not of God? God told Moses 'who makes man deaf or dumb or able to speak and hear?' Much is not according to God's will temporarily, but on the long run, it all works together for the good.


Like how it may hurt to do some hard work, or allow our children to fall off their bikes while learning to ride... but we stay strong because we know it must be done (or allowed) to accomplish the objectives.


Knowledge of God does effect ones possible interpretation. Having more knowledge gives more flexibility then having less knowledge. Knowledge is constrained because having too much knowledge can give too much flexibility and slow down movement.

A dream can mean one thing one day and another thing another day. We may believe it at one time meaning one thing, and believe it at another time meaning another. The different meanings influence our choices in our life. The faith is what matters, and those choices were set up for us for a good reason.

Of course, if someone can not believe that, then the meaning may be static. One can also have dreams from God and not believe they are dreams from God. Or, one can write some fiction and not believe it is of God. Or, one can say something and not believe it is of God. Because God often hides His hand.

That is, God can move through us - anyone, even corrupt kings - at any time. As it says in Scripture about corrupt kings, for instance, 'though you do not know me, I will use you for my ends'. And 'God controls the hearts of kings easily'.

 

[Firewater]

CoG97 has covered the very well the importance of what we believe about God & dreams affecting whether/how we can receive them as being from God.

You mention "strange". Could you elaborate on this a little with a few examples. Would you define a dream of standing in a field of bones strange?

God bless

 

[David69]

I've had some very strange dreams that have had a lasting affect on me. But they were so strange that I thought they couldn't possibly be of God. How does one tell?

Usually to see the truth is a matter of turning it upside down! Meaning, perhaps in your case, It is not a normal dream, and the sourse of it could be from other than yourself. When your dream alters in ways that are strange to you and have a lasting effect on you, it could be knowledge for you to realise for yourself. You could subconsciously be crying out for love, protection and guidence and not be aware but your subconscious thoughts and dreams are being answered... But you have to see the true meaning for yourself! But if it is God or not I am not sure but he flows through each and every one of us! so who knows! That is up to you to find out.
Why dont you share your dreams? I may recognise things and beable to 'shine a bit of light'to help you but you must see for yourself the truth

David69

 

[ChildOfGod97]

Usually to see the truth is a matter of turning it upside down!

David69

Awesome line.

 

[David69]

Awesome line.

I should of said the OPs initial thoughts or conclusion, turn that upside down to reveil the truth lol But I know what I meant

 

[ChildOfGod97]

I should of said the OPs initial thoughts or conclusion, turn that upside down to reveil the truth lol But I know what I meant

Okay, lol...

I do think that is a very good general, truism. I have found to be true, anyway. I hate to do that, as it can mean doubt, but is it really doubt if one is just considering possibilities, reasoning with evidence, and making sure the evidence is firm? I do think we have a responsibility to the truth using right weights and reasoning (weighing two matters against one another, often known and unknown or previously not known).

I deal a great deal with "intuitive" leaps... of deduction? Spiritual insight? Hard for me to really know or tell, but regardless, I do look for - and God generally provides - accompanying evidence outside of our own selves...


I do not think God is such a person to not give evidence if we seek it with genuine interest and pure hearts...

 

[David69]

Child of God97:

but is it really doubt if one is just considering possibilities, reasoning with evidence, and making sure the evidence is firm?

doubt is all part of the process and that doubt gets eliminated after reasoning all possibilitys from all perspectives and only the solid truth is left. If its Gods will then you will see the truth! But by then no stone will be left unturned!
I hope that makes sense

Thank you!!!

David69.

 

[toolite]

I've had some very strange dreams that have had a lasting affect on me. But they were so strange that I thought they couldn't possibly be of God. How does one tell?

If you want to pm me your dreams maybe I can help.

All The Glory Belongs To God Forever!

 

[ChildOfGod97]

Child of God97:


doubt is all part of the process and that doubt gets eliminated after reasoning all possibilitys from all perspectives and only the solid truth is left. If its Gods will then you will see the truth! But by then no stone will be left unturned!
I hope that makes sense

Thank you!!!

David69.

I would agree.

It is like in sales. Have you ever done sales? Or any sort of thing you are trying to persuade someone of. If the customer has some doubts, you can see that in their face. A salesperson has to find out what those doubts are and answer them adequately, or they will never be persuaded.

But if the customer will not reveal their doubts, there is no hope.


There is a converse problem, however, such as when the Pharisees went to test Jesus. Jesus answered their doubting questions, but that just left them at a wall. Because to believe in Jesus meant throwing away everything they believed in and worked so hard to "achieve" -- which meant their praise before men, their social status.

 

[David69]

I would agree.

It is like in sales. Have you ever done sales? Or any sort of thing you are trying to persuade someone of. If the customer has some doubts, you can see that in their face. A salesperson has to find out what those doubts are and answer them adequately, or they will never be persuaded.

But if the customer will not reveal their doubts, there is no hope.
.

I havent done sales but I have been done by sales
IMHO it is very important not to be persuaded or told what the truth is! But to see it for yourself! And God will allow this to happen by lighting the way! It will keep coming again and again untill you get it!
David69

 

[ChildOfGod97]

I havent done sales but I have been done by sales
IMHO it is very important not to be persuaded or told what the truth is! But to see it for yourself! And God will allow this to happen by lighting the way! It will keep coming again and again untill you get it!
David69

A good salesperson has a good product to sell and superior information. They are information people. Their job is to inform people, honestly, with the full facts. A lot of people think of a "good salesperson" as being someone who "can sell ice to eskimos". I disagree, though they may share some common traits.

Traits... they use the same method I just described. They are both in the confidence/trust business. Difference between a bad one and good one is ultimately: the good one is telling the truth. The bad one is an accomplished fake, a liar.

A true confidence man. Or, rather, a con man, a bad person.

On the truth keep coming to someone: I suppose so. But when there are a lot of confidence people out there, hard to tell. Because the lies keep coming to.

I struggle with that all the time, sorting between fact and fiction, building evidence on all matters, in various directions.

It is human nature to seek that which has value.

I find we only settle on lies when we don't really 'need to know'. We end up being fine with a fantasy.

If, however, we are in such a situation that we really, really need to know the full and complete truth, we are not satisfied until every contradiction is destroyed, and every objection answered.


We look at answers to objections, we look at contradictions... we go well beyond what most people do. Seeking to rule out false answers.


We don't throw out something because an answer seems dubious, or a contradiction unsettled. We keep right on going.

 

[Child of JC]

I'm reading a book by Ivan and Isabel Allum; just read a chapter last night titled "Understanding Dreams."
They say there are 3 sources where I dreams come from 1. God 2. the Devil and 3. Ourselves.
During REM sleep our bodies kinda clean out the "files" that are stored in our brains (so we don't become overloaded, so to speak). This is the reason for our crazy dreams, you know the ones that are a bunch of things all smooshed together and don't really make sense. These dreams are not from God.

Then there are dreams of the soul or heart. This is when we dream about things that are concerning us. Regularly people go to bed and dream about the things they were talking about that night. Our morality and principles do not shut off when we sleep and, many times, in dreams they talk to us about things we need to deal with. These dreams are very important because they show us what is in our hearts, which sometimes we don't see or are not willing to acknowledge. These dreams can be understood through symbolism, and the meaning of hte symbols is found in the dreamer. These dreams are not from God but can be stirred by the Lord.

Dream interpretation , as we know from the Bible is different and cannot be done through symbolism. It is done through revelation. How do we recognize these dreams? We do it the same way we learn to discern His voice. "It carries the pulse of His Word and His presence."
"A rule of thumb is that if you can interpret the dream through symbolism, then it is not a dream from God. Yes, there is symbolism in God's dreams but they are understood through revelation. There is no symbolism formula for this. The only thing that works is inquiring of the Lord and asking Him for the interpretation."
"When inquiring of the Lord, He may give you the interpretation of the dream or the interpretation of the symbolism."

Analyzing dreams through symbolism is a common practice through psychotherapy.
Interpretation is from God.

Dreams from the devil are not so difficult to identify because they carry the character of the devil and leave his fruit behind.

Interesting chapter I thought.

 

[heron]

When I have a dream that I sense is from God, it seems to either come with an imperative, or a feeling that someone is asking me to look at it. Similar to the still small voice in the waking hours.

I don't see that as a rule, but many people say they "just know."

When I get imagery that is totally outside my realm of normal dreaming, then I stop and pray that God would let me know if there was something I should pay attention to. Then it starts to unfold.

In scriptures, believers usually knew what their dreams meant, at least by the time they let others know. The dreams that were interpreted by others, in scriptures were given to secular kings and others who needed a person connected to Jehovah, in order to make sense of it.

And that is a beautiful thing -- you, as a believer, are connected to the Source of All Understanding.

The interpreters did not seem to carry a skill with them, but relied on God for the answers in a time of need. We can do that too.

I believe that God will use whatever symbolism it takes for you to understand your own dream. Visuals can be like local languages -- one object can mean something different to other people. If you were stung by bees a lot as a child, this imagery would appear different for a person who raised bees for honey.

If God is speaking to you, then He knows how you understand things, and will convey it in a way that eventually makes sense. The search beyond the dream is often important: scriptural parallels, prayer for others, conversations, looking up word meanings, finding events.

After praying, think through what you felt at each step in the dream. Your whole body/spirit reaction can be part of the message. Many people here have found connections with news stories the following day, or people groups who needed immediate prayer, so don't be afraid to do a little research. Ask God why you're receiving this information, and what He wants you to do with it.

 

[robinh500]

I rarely do this but have sometimes when I really wanted to know what a dream meant.

Go somewhere quiet and peaceful and ask God what each part of the dream means, what does it mean, what ought I to do. Listen for His voice as He talks to you about it.

A Vision of a Plumb Line

7 Then he showed me another vision. I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight. 8 And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”

I answered, “A plumb line.” And the Lord replied, “I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins. 9 The pagan shrines of your ancestors will be ruined, and the temples of Israel will be destroyed; I will bring the dynasty of King Jeroboam to a sudden end.”

Amos had a dream/vision (above). He took it to God and they conversed to find out the purpose of the revelation.

We ought to do the same.

Just some thoughts.