How do you know whether a dream is from God or is compltely meaningless?

[Yukatan]

Like the title says, how do you know whether a dream has meaning or not?

Also, are there good books you'd recommend on interpreting dreams, or the practice of interpreting dreams?

I ask cus' I've had some pretty crazy dreams.

 

[ChildOfGod97]

Like the title says, how do you know whether a dream has meaning or not?

Also, are there good books you'd recommend on interpreting dreams, or the practice of interpreting dreams?

I ask cus' I've had some pretty crazy dreams.

Experience, the testimony of the Spirit in your heart.

Books on interpreting dreams are really no good... stick to scripture.


Spiritual experience with the "higher gifts" is a long road...

 

[Firewater]

All dreams have some kind of meaning, even if the dream is not a word from God, we can still learn things from it.

I've read some books on dreams but never found one I would recommend. If you do read a book on dreams, I'd highly recommend only reading books by Christian authors. What you may get from non-Christian authors may cause more confusion than anything else.

What a lot of books will try to do is give meanings for the symbols in dreams. But a symbol in a dream can have a very different meaning for different people & in different contexts. As CoG97 said, the bible, listening to the Holy Spirit & experience doing this are the major factors.

If you would like to learn more, this form is agreat place to post & read as there are many people from different backgrounds who can provide different perspectives.

What I would suggest is posting examples of your dreams here & you can learn by listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying though people's replies. Here people who reply to your posts can see some of the context of your dream symbols, whereas a book won't give you that.

Generally people on the forum are sincerely helpful. There's just the occasional unedifying post you may need to disregard.

 

[ChildOfGod97]

Experience, the testimony of the Spirit in your heart.

Books on interpreting dreams are really no good... stick to scripture.


Spiritual experience with the "higher gifts" is a long road...

Other notes:

Faith. If you believe, so it is.

Sureness is something to look at with the gifts. There are matters we are "very sure on", "dead certain on", "not very sure about", and so on. Confidence is a variable thing and it is important to watch confidence, weigh matters as accurately as possible.

There is a fuzzy concept:

Many dreams, visions, other manner of messages from God can be fuzzy. Metaphors can be loose or tight.


There is a poetic concept:

Dreams from God are more cohesive and have poetic power to them, as opposed to ordinary nonsensical dreams.


Open mind:

Keep an open mind and heart about what God can do.


Prophetic Warnings:

Understand the Jonah principle, also as stated in Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 18:7-9 (New International Version)

7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted,

Seek God. The higher gifts are tools for love to serve the Church and people.

Everything, ultimately is about love, charity, service.


Understanding God and the higher gifts go hand in hand.


Purity of heart is very important, spiritual life... seeking purity of vision, of life.


Metaphors, symbols:

I said dream interpretation books can lead you astray. True. However, being poetically minded is very important. Being able to understand metaphors, symbols is very important.


Nothing is written on stone is a problem with dream interpretation books. They are shallow and often can present things in such a way that would force God into going by these things. [Which of course would not happen.] Many have very wrong paths that can deaden a search.


The symbols you need are all in the Bible. That has the types of metaphors, the symbols, the types of speech, of message... studying the Bible is the best route, and above all always put first the Kingdom.


Strive for the highest, strive to know more, be closer to God. It is not like the way of the world. We strive to become more servants, to take on more responsibility.


It is not unlike embracing a fire.


This, is a very good forum.


One could write very much on these subjects, but people are also individuals in their own place in life, bringing to the table their own place with God, their own terminology, their own mindsets and language.

 

[Yukatan]

Don't want to pigeon-hole anybody, but out of curiosity are most ppl in thus sub-forum part of a Charismatic or Pentacostal denomination? Reason I ask, is I'm from a pretty non-Charismatic background and church, and they go the opposite end--completely disregarding dreams. So unfortunately I don't have many people to bounce thoughts off of in this realm.

I mentioned one of my major reoccuring dreams in the Advice sub-forum, but I keep having a dream about a girl I knew (who I pursued but shot me down). The setting is different in every dream, but the general theme is always the same. In the dream, we stumble into each others' presence. She's always to the side or in the periphery of my vision, so I can pretend to not see her by avoiding eye contact. In the dream I avoid her because of the real-life situation of how she doesn't want to talk to me--so I figure I shouldn't make eye contact or hi. Yet in the dream she always says "hi" and initiates. When she does, I'm at a loss of what to do, because I'm confused that she's saying hi to me (again, because in real life she seems to want nothing to do with me). So I feebly say "hi" back and awkwardness ensues. Whether we have conversion or not, there's always tension. She always looks uneasy, nervous, maybe even annoyed.

I rarely if ever have a dream that occurs twice, and I've had this one... I dunno, a dozen or more times?

Some dreams I can easily interpret or have a direct message, this one I'm puzzled.

 

[ripple the car]

depends on the nature of the dream, and the circumstances you are facing.

usually it's our subconscious, acting out our feelings, impulses, memories, or desires.

i would say, pray. and keep praying. don't rely on a dream alone, but wakefully submit yourself to God's will in the given situation, and keep asking for the guidance.

in the case you cited, it sounds more like your own feelings being acted out or projected, rather than a sign from God.

 

[Firewater]

In dreams "you" can represent different things, for example- you, your church, your company where you work, your country etc.

If you find yourself thinking still about this girl often during waking hours, there could be a personal application. If this is the case, the impression I get from your dream is that whilst "you" don't have direct, significant contact with this girl during waking hours, she is still on the periphery of your emotions, being a distraction. The more you think on her (returning her hi), the more you lose sight of the main vision infront of you - your path ahead in God.

I know it's not easy moving on (It took me about 12 years after my first marriage failed. Hopefully it won't take that long for you with this girl ), but it's the only real way to move forward.

As I've mentioned in other posts, in these circumstances, I recommend throwing yourself into the Lord's work, occupying your discretionary time serving at church or volunteer work, thus giving yourself other things to think about. And in these contexts you meet godly Christian women- possibly your spouse.

If you haven't been thinking about this girl much, then you might symbolise D&V & the charismatic (an area you are interested in) & the dream could speak of your "girlfriend" as your church & its attitude towards D&V & the charismatic. If this is the case, maybe you need another girl on the (other) side of your vision (an outlet for your gifts & desires) to bring balance. The question is, will you feel like you are two-timing?

There can be multiple, valid interpretations of the same dream. Others may also have different perspectives. The Holy Spirit can use each to give you insights & help your understanding & growth.

How do either of these interpretations fit?

 

[Yukatan]

I divulged more in the other subforum, but no I don't think about her like that in the waking hours. As a matter of fact I pray to God that He wouldn't bring us together. I don't want to be with her, at all. I don't want to think about her, at all. I don't have residual feelings for her, because I was never that into her to begin with.

To give more context, there was a girl before her that I was head-over-heels with. I really wanted to be with her, marry her. She did too. But I realized that I wasn't follow the Spirit's lead. So after that ordeal, I vowed to follow the Spirit's lead with respect to dating/courting.

Unfortunately, it feels like the same Spirit is telling me that I can't move on with this girl, which is really frustrating. This girl is the exact opposite of the previous girl. The previous girl I was absolutely enamored with her, yet the Spirit told me not to do it. This girl I'm not really into her at all, yet the Spirit seems to tell me to not drop it.

If one day God were to tell me "you need to drop this," I can't tell you how happy and relieved I'd be. I WANT God to tell me that, I really do.

Lol, I never thought of the girl representing charismatic gifting, that's a fascinating interpretation. But again, maybe the interpretation is problematic in that I don't care to think about this girl, instead I feel as though the Spirit abruptly bringing it up when I don't want to think about it at all. But I'll chew on that. I'll say I have a lot of disagreements with the charismatic movement as a whole, which may be beyond the scope of this post so I won't divulge further.

As far as throwing myself in the Lord's work, I have been for years. I'm a deacon, I'm in the praise band, I do the web site, among many other duties. Definitely not coming up short in the serving dept.

 

[Firewater]

ok. That does put a different slant on the dream. Sometimes pain from the past can make us reluctant to open the door to a similar rooms & the Lord has to prompt us.

There's an interesting mix of attitudes between you & the girl in the dream & waking hours & what you are sensing from the Holy Spirit. Are there other indicators besides the dream which suggest the Lord is keeping this girl on the periphery as a hint for you to take a step in her direction? My wife said "no" to me the first time I asked her out & I did do it more out of obediance to God rather than string emotions

I'd also suggest being open to other possible interpretations of what you & the girl represent- other than the iteral interpretation. Are there any other significant new things which have been on your mind or news events which you have been following since you started having the dreams?

While not in the bulls-eye, there may be something on the board in relation to the 2nds perspective. What I meant was you possibly representing your desire for understanding dreams more (excluding the charismatic given your feedback) & she representing your church, which in waking hours isn't so open to D&V, just as the girl in waking hours. There does seem to be some mixed & possibly conflicting attiides around this & what you are sensing the Spirit saying.

 

[Yukatan]

ok. That does put a different slant on the dream. Sometimes pain from the past can make us reluctant to open the door to a similar rooms & the Lord has to prompt us.

There's an interesting mix of attitudes between you & the girl in the dream & waking hours & what you are sensing from the Holy Spirit. Are there other indicators besides the dream which suggest the Lord is keeping this girl on the periphery as a hint for you to take a step in her direction? My wife said "no" to me the first time I asked her out & I did do it more out of obediance to God rather than string emotions

I'd also suggest being open to other possible interpretations of what you & the girl represent- other than the iteral interpretation. Are there any other significant new things which have been on your mind or news events which you have been following since you started having the dreams?

While not in the bulls-eye, there may be something on the board in relation to the 2nds perspective. What I meant was you possibly representing your desire for understanding dreams more (excluding the charismatic given your feedback) & she representing your church, which in waking hours isn't so open to D&V, just as the girl in waking hours. There does seem to be some mixed & possibly conflicting attiides around this & what you are sensing the Spirit saying.

I don't mind getting told "no" per say, but after the 3rd... 4th (I lost track) of getting told "no" it gets tiring. Gets even more tiring when it feels like God telling me to do this, because at this point, I really don't want to do it. Now if God wants me to still do it, I'll do it just the same, but at this point I'm so skeptical that it's God's will that I now ask God for very clear signs if he wants me to do it--vague dreams or spiritual hunches aren't enough. As far as peripheral things hinting to step into her direction, I really can't say anymore. I'm so confused, and so predisposed to assuming that my convictions are wrong now that I dunno what's from God and what isn't. Random things will make me think about it.

Overall yes, I'm extremely confused what the Spirit is saying. Take getting shot down over and over, for example. On one hand I get the conviction to pursue regardless. On the other hand I look at Matt 7:16 "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" and the fact that this endeavor seems fruitless and pointless, and I question whether the conviction is valid at all. I'm open to D&V, and I've been mindful of them. I got all kinds of dreams over the years, let me tell ya =P.

In one dream, I was on stage watching a reality dating TV show. I was atop a stage but still a spectator. The announcer hosting the show brings out the female that guys would have to win over (guess it was the Bachelorette), and a prospective suitor/contestant guy comes on screen on the giant TV screen that's behind the stage. He's aloof, dorky and shy, laughing to hide his nervousness. I'm looking at the guy thinking "man what a loser, she'll never give him the time of day." I look over to the Bachelorette, fulling expecting her to utterly shoot him down. Instead she's delighted to see him, which comes as a shock to me. Then I hear a voice (God's voice?), authoritative, saying "God is the one who brings people together." Woke up from that surprised and confused at why I dreamt it, lol.

 

[heron]

Any dream symbolism would belong to the person themselves, and how God knows He can communicate with them. It is a language, which can have dialects.

Dream symbols can be extremely common, or specific to what that person has seen in their life. Emotions that are brought up.

For this reason, I believe that many sources are worth investigating, because they help confirm hunches. I would never immediately conclude that a symbol meant something bc a book told them -- even the Bible. The Bible does not come out and say that it is meant to be used for dream symbolism. It says that God is to be consulted. I have seen some Christian authors make statements that are not scriptural, about scriptures.

If we trust anything with blind dependence, it becomes similar to planning our days around zodiac charts. We shift our communication with God, over to a more controlled method that involves less risk.

This = This.

Whew, done.

The secular dream books consist of symbolisms collected through the ages from psychology patients, research studies, world cultures, and also from opinion.

I view dreams as hints, springboards, clues that lead to more. More communication with God, more research, more prayer for others, more planning. News articles. Insight from discussions. Information about a subject that we had previously ignored.

I see God speaking through dreams very often here at the forum. But I also run into it in the multi-faith workplace, and try to encourage people to reflect on what they saw.

Two people this week have brought up important dreams they'd had, out of the blue.

When I hear a dream I pray and listen, and consider what a brain would normally associate with that object or setting. Because what happens is the brain is about neuron connections and sorting. God knows the hairs on our heads, the neurons in our brain, and how we will respond to information given.

 

[HisW0rd]

When it was from God after prayer I usually get a revelation in the Holy Spirit. When I get a negative dream, I pray against it. I will ask the Lord for confirmation but not on every dream. There were visions I thought were so negative but realized it was a warning from God. I always pray first.

 

[Firewater]

It's tough to hear God in matters of the heart. I know after the divorce from my first wife I had such a strong desire for the companionship of marriage, I found it very difficult to discern what God was saying. But He found a way

I don't have any advice apart from perhaps just setting it down for a time & having a break from thinking about it. I am reminded of a jar of muddy water- if it keeps being shaken it's hard to see any clarity. But if left to sit for a while, the mud settles to the bottom & above it is the clear water.

If you haven't already done so, talking to one of your pastors about it might be a good idea.

 

[ChildOfGod97]

Don't want to pigeon-hole anybody, but out of curiosity are most ppl in thus sub-forum part of a Charismatic or Pentacostal denomination? Reason I ask, is I'm from a pretty non-Charismatic background and church, and they go the opposite end--completely disregarding dreams. So unfortunately I don't have many people to bounce thoughts off of in this realm.

I had dreams, visions, & miracles but was raised very light Presbyterian. I did not read the full Bible until I was about 22.

I just consider myself what my icon says "Christian", I don't like to be pigeon holed for the simple reason that this would be incorrect assessment.

Studying Christian history I have seen a lot of dreams, visions, & miracles in a wide diversity of Christian belief sets.

To close out something one knows is from God, or to be narrow minded, I do not believe is the right way to live. I generally do prefer strongly grounded Charismatic churches, therefore as a lot of my work requires experience with the "higher gifts" and therefore I need edification/support from people also experienced in these matters.

I definitely do not believe only "one denomination" is the "only way to God".

That is close to cultic thinking.

Rather, not everyone needs to know and use the higher gifts. Those who do, God is capable of instructing through a myriad of ways. However, we do have The Church, invisible and indivisible spread out through the various branches of Christianity with whom we work.

I mentioned one of my major reoccuring dreams in the Advice sub-forum, but I keep having a dream about a girl I knew (who I pursued but shot me down). The setting is different in every dream, but the general theme is always the same. In the dream, we stumble into each others' presence. She's always to the side or in the periphery of my vision, so I can pretend to not see her by avoiding eye contact. In the dream I avoid her because of the real-life situation of how she doesn't want to talk to me--so I figure I shouldn't make eye contact or hi. Yet in the dream she always says "hi" and initiates. When she does, I'm at a loss of what to do, because I'm confused that she's saying hi to me (again, because in real life she seems to want nothing to do with me). So I feebly say "hi" back and awkwardness ensues. Whether we have conversion or not, there's always tension. She always looks uneasy, nervous, maybe even annoyed.

I rarely if ever have a dream that occurs twice, and I've had this one... I dunno, a dozen or more times?

Some dreams I can easily interpret or have a direct message, this one I'm puzzled.

I won't go into meaning, but think for yourself, what might a girlfriend represent?

Often this may represent an organization or the Church itself.

(Yes, you are not Christ, that is not the point. You may represent Christ in the dream. There is unity in the coming "marriage", all of which is very symbolic and the flesh can drag people down in these regards. Singular body, ultimately.)

Such hard symbolism the flesh can strive against for the spiritual to be seen.

It is an important concept, however, to understand... and a frequent one seen in dreams. (For women the role may be reversed.)

 

[truthinmyheart]

Like the title says, how do you know whether a dream has meaning or not?

Also, are there good books you'd recommend on interpreting dreams, or the practice of interpreting dreams?

I ask cus' I've had some pretty crazy dreams.

I will start off by saying I am pentecostal. We believe the dreams that do have meaning, will be dreams where the lord is trying to take tell you something. To be frank, unless you're spending time with prayer on a regular basis(and by UPC standards that means praying in tongues) revelations from god won't come very often. And when its something god has revealed to you, you will know its from god.
If I were you, I wouldnt delve too much into dream interpretation, this can veer off into stuff like divination, IMO. You can take this advise or leave it, but I'd just thought I'd put that out there.
Members of my congregation have advised me that evil spirits can send you dreams as well ,( in fact evil spirit have sent me dreams ) so its best to be careful which dreams we take into consideration. I don't say this to offend anyone belonging to a denomination whose doctrine says differently. But we do believe that being filled with the holy spirit and speaking tongues can give you discernment. I pray the lord protects my dreams to filter any garbage out.

In your situation, its sounds like a personal greivance. I would pray that the lord give you peace of mind.

 

[Yukatan]

Whatever the dreams mean, it's not personal grievance. I know that for sure. As for speaking in tongues, To me it's rather obvious from 1 Cor 12 27-31 that speaking of tongues is a lesser gift (than love), and verse 30 is offering a rhetorical question whether all speak in tongues (which is no).

I've done it before, I don't particularly find it that important to my faith, to my understanding of God or to my relationship with Him. Again I don't want to steer the thread in that direction (gifts of tongues, charismatic gifting etc etc).

I also don't think dream interpretation is "divination." Joseph did it. Daniel did it. To conclude as such would be putting God in a box, and completely negating the significance of them. I get evil spirit dreams too, but that started even prior to being saved. I'm not naive enough to think every single dream is from God.

As for a metaphor for Christ and church and me and the girl, I doubt it. Because outside of dreams, whether in quiet time, sermons, fasting, I get convictions about her, not about abstractions of God's love for the church.

 

[ChildOfGod97]

As for a metaphor for Christ and church and me and the girl, I doubt it. Because outside of dreams, whether in quiet time, sermons, fasting, I get convictions about her, not about abstractions of God's love for the church.

Guess that last bit was directed to me, though you seemed angry at the previous poster... I am totally different and agree on some of your points.

Just to be clear, re-reading my post: I am not saying that failing to see this common "abstraction" in human behavior & psychology is lacking spirituality. Far from it. Humans are very complex creatures and do a lot of things they don't understand nor have any real reason to.

It is a common thing, even in non-spiritual people. Many are married, effectively, to their job, or some pursuit. And in their love life, this is mirrored out quite often... but people don't notice that unless they start to look.

I don't think Samson, for instance, was thinking of the deeper metaphoric significance of his relationship with Delilah. Or anything he did. Or David, even as poetic and pure hearted as he was. Or most of the Patriarchs in what they did. They saw some meaning to it, some higher meaning, and saw these things pointed to a truth that saves far in the future... but they didn't understand what that was or why.

Same thing happens everyday now.

Sacrificing Isaac. David's flight from Saul. David and Goliath. David and Samson's battles. Jonah and the whale. Abraham meeting the High Priest-King. Jacob struggling with the angel. Circumcision. The parting of the waters. The struggle and relationship between Isaac and Ishmael. On and on and on.

Maybe there's no deeper meaning here, then. Okay. You would know better.

I didn't look deeply at the matter and just took it at face value.

If you generally believe it is just about a girl, it is just about a girl. Relationships come and go.

These prophets felt, sensed, these actions had a higher meaning... someone did... enough to include it in Scripture.

You came to a dreams and visions Christian forum and posted it.


Far different threshold, but there is a threshold.

So, only special thing here is the dream repeats again and again. Right. If you genuinely believe it is just about a girl, it very well probably is. Faith is always a component in these things. If you are "convicted about her" daily - not sure what you mean by that - could just be a reflection of your conscious routine then.

Studies have shown we tend to dream on problems we think on or are working on. It helps us analyze the angles our conscious mind may be missing. Our mind takes in everything, but we don't consciously process everything. We can't. We wouldn't operate if we did.

One would be a "idiot savant".

Doesn't mean the dream is not important. It sure is if it is repeating.

Sounds like your mind may be trying to tell you something.


Sometimes helps for someone else to tell us the obvious, because we can be so subjective in issues. But in this case, just posting your first guess - ala, basic psychoanalysis - actually could help.

 

[ChildOfGod97]

Honestly, having just now read your post on advice:

http://www.christianforums.com/t7466602/


You seem obsessed and should move on. But, you also make some very lucid comments that show you have a lot of wisdom and experience.

This really makes me lean towards thinking maybe there is a deeper meaning behind all of this.

[removed private details, don't keep that up long, webarchive whatever]


Deeper meaning: Move on.

There is no perfect spouse. No perfect anything for a person but God.

If you get rejected one time, take off, if the person knows you already. They had time to judge.


Prince and the Princess. Old fairy tale. Not the kind Peter was dismissing, he was dismissing fairy tale legends without morals like the crazy stuff that was going on at the time posing as true religious material.

This stuff was made by Christians with solid moral lessons.


There was once this prince who was dissatisfied with all of the princesses he saw for marriage. So, one day he decides to pose as a homeless young man, a common laborer. For seven long years he worked with common laborers. He learned how they talked, how they walked, what they eat, how they spend their leisure time, how they live. All the while he looked for his next princess.

Many were alluring and promising. But one after another, they dismissed him for not being good enough for them. He was not big enough. He was not rich enough. He was not ambitious enough. All his dreams were for a better world, nothing that would provide for a wife and kids.

Finally, one day, he found his princess. Not by what he chose, but by who chose him. Then, he knew, that was the one for him.

He took off his disguise, and they lived happily ever after.

I think that was by hans christian anderson or someone. I forget.


One similar story -->> Our Mutual Friend - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ChildOfGod97]

Person -> God.

Not alone.


Maybe some try and substitute that intended relationship because they feel alone in their hearts... and so get confused... but they never find what they are looking for because people are made to be drawn from God as true children still connected with God 'as angels in Heaven'... not disconnected.

No marriage, no children can ever solve that.


Nothing can, but God.

 

[truthinmyheart]

Whatever the dreams mean, it's not personal grievance. I know that for sure. As for speaking in tongues, To me it's rather obvious from 1 Cor 12 27-31 that speaking of tongues is a lesser gift (than love), and verse 30 is offering a rhetorical question whether all speak in tongues (which is no).

I've done it before, I don't particularly find it that important to my faith, to my understanding of God or to my relationship with Him. Again I don't want to steer the thread in that direction (gifts of tongues, charismatic gifting etc etc).

I also don't think dream interpretation is "divination." Joseph did it. Daniel did it. To conclude as such would be putting God in a box, and completely negating the significance of them. I get evil spirit dreams too, but that started even prior to being saved. I'm not naive enough to think every single dream is from God.

Well, if you're sure what your dreams don't mean, then there shouldn't be a need to start a thread in the first place. And I believe I started off by saying I am pentecostal. We do believe in the holy spirit being evidenced by speaking in tongues as Acts 2:4 indicates quite clearly. From your previous post, my impression was that you were sought perspective from churches other than your own denomination, since your own church disregards dreams. But if any advise here offends you, or if you have issues with other denominational beliefs, then you're most welcome to consult members of your own congregation(if they care to listen). Either way, it really doesn't make any difference to me.

And you reference Joseph which completely misses the mark. First off, Joseph was a godly man whose dream interpretations came directly from God. Same with Daniel. Reading a psychology book on dream interpretation is hardly a word from God. IMO, seeking dream interpretation should be through prayer or consulting members of your congregation rather than using worldly means, as you won't get the answer you're looking for. But its up to you. Good luck.