That was NOT from God....or was it?

After sharing some of my dreams and their messages, I was greeted with encouragement, and also with a story. Not once, but three times I heard the same story from some friends of mine. Their friend had decided to dedicate his dreams to God. I thought this was such a great idea. I mean, why not give EVERY moment of you time to God. He should get your waking hours, but why not your sleeping ones too. And since I found that God spoke well to me through my dreams, what better way could there be for me to intentionally listen! ....but I didn't do it, at least, not right away. My heart said "yes" but my head said, "that was some one else's idea" After a few days of pondering it I realized how ridiculous I was being. Having faith, desiring more closeness with God, trying to hear His voice...it's not about originality. It's about loving Him. So, I took the plunge and on August 24th, 2008. I dedicated my dreams to God - but only after I considered what that would look like. It meant work. I promised that every message I received through my dreams I would take seriously. I would look at them as if they were from God. I would pray through them and ask Him for guidance while interpreting the meanings.

So, the next morning (August 25th) I woke up with a dream still in my head. I didn't have that "wow, I just heard from God" feeling this time, but I remembered what I had prayed about the day before and began to look at the dream.

I was driving in my car with a man as my passenger. The man was VERY small, the size of a three year old and I was taking him somewhere. The car broke down on the exit ramp of the highway. We got out of the car and were about to start walking when I noticed that the man was naked. I found a towel with which to cover him. I then began to help him walk, and even carry him some of the way. It was a long walk to our destination. We stopped for some food only to realize I had forgotten my wallet in the car. We left the restaurant and headed back for it. People were staring at him and he was having a hard time passing through the watching eyes to follow me. I went back to help him, almost trying to shelter him, only to find him angry with me for doing too much-for babying him. We left together and continued back toward the car.

As I re-capped this dream, all I could think was, "I just had a dream about a naked midget! That can't be from God!" I realize that "midget" is not politically correct, and I don't mean to offend, but it conveys how ridiculous I felt this dream was-something that I would usually write off as bizarre. I knew that I had given my dreams to God, but was I crazy to think that He would actually take them and use them? Then I also recalled the verse in Matthew 7:9-11.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him"

I asked God to use my dreams. Why wouldn't he? Especially if it was something that would glorify Him and draw me closer. So, I sat down, wrote down, and walked with God through the dream. I was amazed, stunned really. The message I discovered was as follows: Even when faced with my own problems (a broken down vehicle), I still need to help others in need-clothing them, feeding them, walking with them, carrying them. The road may be long but I still need to travel it with them. A wallet is something that one doesn't go anywhere without. In this case, I think it symbolized God. He's the American Express card of life-don't leave home without Him! I had left Him behind, and went all the way back to get Him. Even though it would have been faster to just continue on to our destination, it was worth it, and necessary, to make the journey with God along side. The dream ends with a warning not to be overbearing when helping others in need. They need to be respected as adults, not viewed as children that need their hand held each step of the way. Though the man resembled a child in many ways, he was not.

While the dream itself held a valuable message, the experience teaches another lesson. When you ask God for something, have faith that he will deliver. If I had continued to doubt, I would not have seen God show up. I would not have known he answered my prayers. If I had not been obedient to follow through on my own request, I would have missed out on so much. Because I trusted that he would answer me, I have since had more words of encouragement and gentle reminders from Him. The best part is that I grow closer to God with each one.