Matthew 1:24-25 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

We are rightly impressed with Mary’s faith, but as a man, I’ve always been impressed with Joseph’s faith as well. I can imagine and empathize with what was going on in his mind and heart as he learned of Mary’s pregnancy. That he didn’t want to disgrace her publicly speaks volumes of how he felt about her. His sense of betrayal had to be intense. However, his faith was such that all it took was an angelic dream to change his mind. The Lord speaks to different people in different ways, and the record is that He used dreams frequently with Joseph. I wonder what previous dreams had led Joseph to the place of trusting them so firmly? I think that in all probability he was very relieved to have a reason not to accuse Mary, because he still cared for her very much. Still, his example of obedience to all the Lord spoke to him, through dreams, no less, is powerful indeed.

Off hand I can’t remember being directed by the Lord through a dream, but I have certainly had many times of being sure the Lord was speaking to me. Twice He has spoken distinctly to the ears of my heart, briefly and simply each time, but powerfully. He has spoken to me through prophecy spoken by a brother or sister in Christ, and even through my own mouth. Far more often, He has given me clear impressions of what He would have me do, and most often He has made the words of Scripture come alive to me. I am not to grade those as more or less valuable, and neither am I to try to dictate how God is to speak to me. Rather, I am to seek always to be sensitive to Him to hear whatever He wants to say, however He wants to say it. To do that, my heart must be committed to obedience, no less than Joseph’s was, even before I hear His instructions.

Father, this is a truth I explain and teach to others, yet I don’t always walk in it myself. There are times when my mind is made up, and You would have to shout to get through to me. Forgive me. Help me be increasingly sensitive and tuned to You, neither quenching nor grieving Your Holy Spirit, so that I may have full communication with You and act in every detail as You desire, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!