Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

These days we don’t seem to expect God to speak through dreams, but the Biblical examples of that happening are very numerous. The patriarch Joseph the son of Jacob was often given such dreams, and his namesake, Joseph the husband of Mary, also had it happen several times, and there are many more examples. With such examples, we should certainly not discount the possibility for ourselves. The prob­lem today stems in large part from Freud and the psychoanalysis he fostered. It’s not that our subconscious minds don’t influence our dreams, it’s that psychoanalysis excludes the possibility that God might have a hand in it. (The same thing applies to changes in plants and animals that are labeled “evolution.”) A person of faith should be looking for God’s hand in everything, rather than looking to exclude Him. I’ve seen a refrigerator magnet that says, “Happiness is seeing a beautiful sunset and knowing whom to thank.” There’s real truth in that. Knowing about diffraction caused by dust, water vapor and such in the air shouldn’t keep us from recognizing the God who caused such things to exist, and perhaps orchestrated the particular example we are seeing. Of course, dreams by themselves aren’t an especially reliable guide, so that’s why it’s important to be “on speaking terms,” so to speak, with God. That means regularly reading the Bible with the expectation of God speaking through it to you personally. It is amazing to me how many people can’t imagine that God would do such a thing. However, when God caused the Bible to be written in the first place, it is no stretch to expect Him to bring it to life in our minds and hearts for us to apply it. When we do that on a regular basis, we get to know what God “sounds like,” and so it is easier to recognize Him when He speaks in other ways, such as through dreams.

I haven’t had many dreams that I felt were from the Lord, but I know people for whom such are not unusual. However, I have had dreams that I specifically knew were not from God, but were from the devil trying to scare or distract me. Familiarity with the Bible has been very helpful for me there, for sure! The point is, I am to expect God to speak to me in various ways, and I am to lead those in this church to do likewise. I have never thought that prayer was just a one-way conversation, but the problem for so many is recognizing God’s replies. I need to teach them to trust God enough to be able to hear Him, however He speaks to them.

Father, thank You for speaking so faithfully and graciously. Help me not miss anything You say to me. I’ve done far too much of that! Help me also impart faith, an expectation of Your speaking, to those in this church, so that together we may be and do all that You desire and intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!