Hearing from God, in Dreams

Have you ever heard from God in a dream? I’m not talking about the kind of dream that is full of fields of flowers or ducks swimming in synchronized routines on your local pond. Nor am I talking about keeping a dream journal on your nightstand and jotting down your dreams for later interpretation. Here is how it has happened for me.
The first God-dream I had was while I was leading the relocation of the church.
To say that there were differing points of view among that congregation about where, how and why we should move is an understatement. One night I had a very vivid dream. In it various factions within the church were discussing the pending move. I was actively engaged in the discussion. The conflicts were real and to the point. When I awoke I immediately had an interpretation of the dream. It went something like this: When a vision conflict becomes non-negotiable, unless one party alters their vision, there will be a parting of ways.
This seems like common sense. If I am planning a trip to the Grand Canyon and my wife wants to go to Hawaii, unless one or the other (or both of us!) change our destination, we aren’t going to the same place! This simple idea has been very helpful over the years. When conflict arises I always ask the question: Is this a non-negotiable vision conflict?
I wish I had these “God-dreams” more frequently. I have even fallen into the temptation of trying to interpret the “less-inspired” dreams I have. For me this has always led to a pretty high level of frustration.
For a few years I was part of a group that was really into the interpretation of dreams. As a leader I had people bringing me typed up transcripts of their dreams and asking me to help them with the interpretation. The bible, particularly the old testament, is full of this kind of situation, but it always made me a little uncomfortable. There was a saying that was common in this group that went something like, “Maybe I just had one slice too many of pizza last night.”
Frequently those seeking my dream interpretation assistance already had their own ideas about what the dream meant! They just wanted to wait to hear what I had to say before they shared their interpretation with me. After a while I became so skeptical of this process that I almost forgot those times when God had clearly spoken to me in a dream. I was throwing the baby out with the bath water!
These days I am having some trouble with insomnia so my dreaming is sporadic. I’m hoping that I this condition will improve. Hearing from God in a dream has given me direction and encouragement from time to time over the years.
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days. [Joel 2:28-29, NIV via BibleGateway.com]