Do You Listen to Your Dreams?

Many people disregard dreams as a viable means for God to communicate with humankind (Riffel, 1990). Sigmund Freud held the belief that our dreams are simply random thoughts. Aristotle maintained that valid knowledge is attainable through tangible means only, that is, by reason and the five senses. Our Western society is steeped in Aristotelian philosophy,  thus, most westerners regard their dreams as meaningless and the spiritual realm as invalid.

However, Einstein attributed his theory of relativity to a childhood dream; General Patton received military direction from dreams; and Robert Lewis Stevenson wrote a book based on one of his dreams (Riffel, 1990). Many others have been given dreams by God that ignited a passion or desire within them to do something significant.

Carl Jung believed dreams are the mind’s subconscious method to bring balance to the psyche; and the characters in our dreams most often represent different parts of our own personalities (Riffel, 1990). To Jung, dreams identify our out-of-balance parts and have value and meaning for us when we learn to interpret their symbols.

At present, there are entire societies who hold their dreams in high regard and believe God communicates to them in their dreams (Riffel, 1990). Carl Jung said, “Eternal truth needs a human language that alters with the spirit of the times.” Throughout the ages, God spoke to many people in dreams. Actually, one-third of the Bible is based on a dream or vision, including much of the New Testament. God said through the prophet Joel: In that last days, “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28, King James Version). Thus, the Eternal God that spoke to the peoples of old in dreams and visions, speaks to us the same, today.

Riffel, H. (1990). Dreams: Wisdom within: Unlocking the mysteries of the dream world. Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image.