Are you dreaming this week?
Are you looking back…and looking ahead?
Are you seeking God for HIS plan for your New Year?
Are you setting goals, resolutions, dreams, and vision going into the New Year?
Are you just plain skeptical and cynical?
What? Where did that come from? Well, I was in a group and several were so excited about what God was showing them, however the large majority were so discouraged by the past year and the news and their current circumstances that they were not even thinking about this next year. (By the way, this changed during our meeting—one reason that God gives us community!)
This reminds me of Proverbs 29:18:
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
The word vision in this passage is very interesting. It means:
- Prophetic vision
- Vision of the night
- Mental sight
- Dream
- Oracle or divine communication
- Revelation
This verse in Septuagint is written this way, “where there is no prophetic seer [or interpreter]”. The Passion Translation says it this way:
“When there is no clear prophetic vision, people quickly wander astray.”
This is actually more accurate and descriptive for our language so we can truly understand this passage and its truths.
The word perish above has an interesting meaning too. The Septuagint says it this way, “The people become lawless.” Strong’s would develop this word as go back, loosen, dismiss, avoid, set at nought, let go, let loose, neglect, show a lack of restraint, or let loose of restraints.
The second part of Proverbs 29:18 is a blessing for those who keep the law or direction or instruction, prophetic teaching, or Messianic instruction.
Does this excite you? It sure inspires me! Here is what God is saying to me –
Apart from seeking and setting that “vision” from God in front of us, where we see mentally what He has for us or where we dream for the things that He wants for us, we will miss the blessings that God has for us.
Without vision, we just go back to our defaults. Ever seen that happen?
Without vision, we loosen our resolves. No wonder so few reach for dreams, much less reach them.
Without vision, we dismiss the precious. In fact, how many people truly hear a prophetic word and grasp on to it until it is their possession…their reality…their life? How many people even grasp on to the promises in the Bible until they possess them? That is what happens with a lack of vision!
Without vision, we place little value upon the things that God wants for us. We simply let go of what God is calling us to do NOW. We set very loose and superficial plans. We neglect the dreams, and just go along as if we do not have any direction, instruction, or prophetic instruction.
Without vision, we avoid the new, bigger, and next things. We don’t dream and we don’t receive. Dreams come from lots of hard work. We can’t get there without daring to dream in the first place.
There are many who still challenge us to dream, pause to get a vision, and even reach for resolutions. There is also something in our culture that resists dreaming, getting vision, and even setting resolutions.
Of course this culture has moved away from visions and dreams. Our culture has moved away from God. But, look at the Word.
Look at Numbers 12:6:
And He said, “Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.”
Look at Hosea 12:10:
I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
Look at Psalm 16:7:
I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind (inner man) instructs me in the night.
Remembering the passage above from Proverbs 29:18, look at Job 33: 14-18:
For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That He may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
Fast-forward to Acts 2:17. This is a Word being fulfilled in OUR DAY:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days,” saith God, “I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams”
The Bible is full of dreamers. It is through dreams that God has always done great things. Go back to Genesis 15: Look at 12, 13, 18:
“And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him….And God said to Abram….In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying…”
Yes. It was during Abraham’s dreams that God made a covenant with him. In fact, look at Jacob and how God established his covenant with Jacob and transformed his whole life through his dreams.
Look at Joseph who was perfectly positioned to be used by God because of his dreams and his gifts for interpreting dreams.
Look at Solomon in 1 Kings 3,
“In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, “Ask what I shall give thee…. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people?” …Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee….” And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream.”
Look at Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:1, 4:10, 18), where God not only forewarned him, but also all of the world empirical leaders throughout the rest of time (Daniel).
Look at how Saul knew God had left him and was not leading him—1 Samuel 28:6, 15:
And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets…And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
There are so many other times in Scripture, among the godly and even those who were not even godly:
Laban (Genesis 31: 24), Gideon (Judges 7), Abimelech (Genesis 20:3-7), Pharoah’s chief butler and baker (Genesis 40:5), Pharaoh (Genesis 41:1-8), the Midianites (Judges 7:13), the wise men from the east (Matthew 2:12), and Pilate’s wife (Matthew 27:19), Joseph (Matthew 1:20-21, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 2:19-22), Cornelius’s vision (Acts 10:3-6), Peter’s vision (Acts 10:10-16), and Paul (Acts 16:9, 23:11, 28:23-24.
So, what is your dream? Are you daring to dream? Are you dreaming big? What do you want for your life next year?
What is your vision for 2021? Do you hear a word? Do you see a picture? Do you hear God’s calling in an area of your life?
2021 is a clean slate.
It is like a blank journal awaiting you.
It is a year full of possibility.
It is a year of potential.
It is a year that will stretch you.
It is a year that offers you opportunity…opportunities.
What is God saying to you about this new year?
Will you hear Him?
He has sweet treasures awaiting you. He has sweet counsel for you today:
Psalm 73: 24 says it this way:
”You lead me with your secret wisdom. And following you brings me into your brightness and glory!”
I hear Him calling to us today in Psalm 32: 8-9:
“I hear the Lord saying, “I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!”
He is calling us to catch a vision for this next year. He will be with us all along the pathway. He will teach us. He will guide us. We will go places we have never been before. Just come along!
Next Steps!
Grab your cup of tea and join me for my podcast! Our topic is Get the Vision. You can find it here: CLICK HERE!
