Understanding Your Dreams

As promised - keys to help you understand what God is saying to you in your dreams

Understanding the Dreams You Dream

by James W. Goll September 2006 www.jamesgoll.com

I. WHERE DO I START?

Does understanding and interpreting dreams seem like a giant maze with no apparent end in sight? Take comfort. Others throughout the ages have felt the same way. But He has a word for us, "I will be your Helper!"

A. Help for the Helpless!

1. John 14:16: I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
2. John 14:26: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
3. John 15:26: When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,
4. John 16:7: But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

B. Our Personal Tutor

1. 1 John 16:13 – 15: But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
2. Quote from The Beginner's Guide to Hearing God, pages 24, 25 by James W. Goll, Regal Books:
   

   "The Holy Spirit is our counselor and our teacher, yet He is more than a teacher - more like a tutor. But He is not just any tutor; He’s the kind who truly loves to spend individual, personal time with each of His students. He is like that rare kind of guidance counselor who actually becomes a friend. He is like the teacher who becomes a personal mentor. As a personal Tutor, He is also a personal coach to help us win out on the playing field of life.
   In addition--great news!--He’s not like an ordinary tutor or teacher who clocks in and out. As we graduate from one level of spiritual development to the next, he remains our lifetime personal Tutor. We start with the best and we end with the best. As we end our days here on earth, He even prepares us for our postgraduate course in life hereafter! All long, He individually instructs us as to what life lessons we need to learn, and in what order to take them."

C Ask and You Will Receive!

1. James 1:5-8: But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
2. James 4:2: You do not have because you do not ask.
3. Matt. 7:8: For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

II. THE MOST COMMON DREAMS PEOPLE HAVE

Various ministries and organizations have logged thousands of dreams and therefore have been able to decipher the most common dreams people have. The following is a partial listing of these most common types of dreams. This list is not comprehensive and the dreams are not listed in any certain order.

A. Dreams of your House The house normally represents the individual’s life and the circumstances taking place in the house reflect specific activity in the person’s life. These dreams may also represent a church as well.

B. Dreams of Going to School Often these dreams center around the taking of tests. This can be a dream of going through a test for the purpose of promotion. It might find yourself searching for your next class - guidance is needed; or classes might need to be retaken - tests were failed in the past and an opportunity is being given to learn from past failures. High School dreams can be a sign that you are enrolled in the School of the Holy Spirit etc.

C. Dreams of Various Vehicles These may indicate the calling a person has, the vehicle of purpose that will carry them from one point to another. Cars, planes, buses, etc. may be symbols of the type and even size of the ministry a person is or will be engaged in.

D. Dreams Concerning Storms These are often hints of things that are on the horizon - both dark negative storms of demonic attack for the purpose of prayer and showers of blessings that are eminent.

E. Dreams of Flying These dreams deal with the spiritual capacity to rise above problems and difficulties and to soar into the heavenlies. These are some of the most inspirational in tone of all dreams.

F. Dreams of Being Naked or Exposed These dreams indicate the dreamer will be or is becoming transparent and vulnerable. This may be exhilarating or fearful.

G. Dreams of the Condition of Your Teeth Often, these dreams reveal the need for wisdom. Are you teeth loose, rotten, falling out, bright and shining, etc.?

H. Dreams of Past Relationships These might indicate that the person is being tempted to fall back into old patterns and ways of thinking. Depending on who the person is in the dream and what they represent to you - these dreams might also be an indication of the need to renew your former desires and godly passions for good things in life.

I. Dreams of Dying These dreams are not normally literal about that person seen in the dream but are symbolic about something that is passing away or departing from your life. The type of death may be important to note. Watch to see though if resurrection is on the other side.
J. Dreams of Births Normally these dreams are not about an actual childbirth, but rather about new seasons of purpose and destiny coming forth into the life of the dreamer. If a name is given to the child - pay close attention.

K. Dreams of Taking a Shower These are cleansing type dreams (toilets, showers, bath tubs etc.) revealing things that are in process of being flushed out of your life, cleansed and flushed away, etc.

L. Dreams of Falling These drams may reveal that there is a fear of losing control of some area of life or that you are getting free of directing your own life. What the person falls into in the dream is a major key to proper understanding. The outstanding primary emotions in these dreams will indicate which way to interpret them.

M. Dreams of Chasing and Being Chased These dreams often reveal enemies that are at work coming against your life and purpose. Or on the opposite side - they may indicate the passionate pursuit of God in your life and you towards Him. Again, the emotion will often determine the direction of interpretation.

N. Dreams of Relatives Alive and Dead These dreams probably indicate generational issues at work in your life - both blessings and curses. Discernment will be needed on whether to accept the blessing or cut off the darkness. This is particularly true if grandparents appear in your dreams as they will indicate generational issues.

O. Dreams called Nightmares These dreams tend to be more frequent with children or new believers in Christ. They may reveal generational enemies at work that need to be cut off.

P. Dreams of Snakes This is possibly the most common of all of the categories of animal dreams. These dreams reveal the serpent - the devil with His demonic hosts - at work through accusation, lying, attacks etc. Other common dreams of this nature include dreams of spiders, bears, alligators etc.

Q. Dreams Dogs and Cats This is one of the other most frequent categories of dreams with animals - dogs. This will indicate friendship, loyalty, protection and good feelings. Dreams with dogs may also reveal the dark side including growling, attacking, biting, etc. These dreams could reveal a friend who is about to betray you. Dreams with cats are also quite common. These dreams also vary in nature with everything from the feeling of being loved, to being smothered, to persnickety attitudes to occultic sexual activity.

R. Dreams of Going through Doors These dreams are revealing change that is coming. New ways, new opportunities, new advancements are on the way. Similar to dreams of doors are also dreams including elevators, escalators etc. You are coming up higher in your purpose and calling.

S. Dreams of Clocks and Watches These dreams reveal what time it is the dreamer’s life or the need for a wake up call in the body of Christ or nation. It is time to be alert and watchful. These dreams might indicate a scripture verse as well giving a deeper message.

T. Dreams with Scripture Verses Bible passages might appear indicating messages from God. This phenomenon may occur in a number of ways: verbal quotes, digital clock read outs, a dramatization of a scene from the Bible etc. These are often watchmen type dreams, dreams of instruction filled with the ways of wisdom.

Receive the spirit of revelation and be a dreamer!
James W. Goll

The important thing to remember is that dreams are usually symbolic. Ask yourself what the dream elements mean to you. The same thing can mean different things to different people.

What is God saying to you through your dreams? Ask Him and wait for His answer.

There are some excellent books that will help you to understand your dreams. James Goll's book is very good and well worth buying. Follow the link in the left hand column for details.

God Still Speaks Through Dreams

God is speaking though our dreams and many of us are missing what He's saying to us because we don't realise that God uses dreams to communicate with us.

What follows is the first part of a 3 part teaching on understanding your dreams.

James Goll sent these teachings out to his subscribers in the summer of 2006.

Please pray for James and his wife Michael Ann. They're both undergoing treatment for cancer.

Take a look at their website and explore the resources they have on offer, I'm sure you'll find many things to help you draw closer to God.

The Master Dreamweaver

by James Goll www.ministrytothenations.com

God is the Master Dream Weaver.

Through dreams God communicates directly with us concerning our destiny as well as the destinies of our families, our nation, and our world. Many people today, particularly in the Western culture, never recognize God speaking to them in this way because they have been conditioned by a skeptical and sophisticated society to discount the language of dreams. Within our own generation, God is reconnecting us to a vital part of our spiritual heritage.

THE LANGUAGE OF HEAVEN

Over 200 times the Scriptures give reference to dreams and visions. Three hundred times the Scriptures refer to angels. God is a supernatural God, and He communicates to His people through supernatural means.

What Is A Dream?

A dream is a series of thoughts, images, or emotions that appear in our minds during sleep. Sometimes they are straightforward, but most of the time they are not. In the case of Holy Spirit-inspired dreams, often there is the need for careful interpretation, as these dreams tend to be parabolic in nature. In other words, like the parables of Jesus, the meaning of a dream is sometimes hidden.

Mark 4:10-13: As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. And He was saying to them,

“To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.” And He said to them, “Do you not understand these parables? How will you understand all the parables?”

Jesus’ pattern of teaching was to speak in parables and mysteries—not to keep people in the dark, but to whet the appetite of those who were truly hungry for the truth. He wanted to draw them in so they would press forward to know more. He loves this journey of hooking us with revelation with the purpose of actually reeling us into His very heart.2. Dreams and visions often use parabolic language. Like parables, dreams are mysteries that need careful deciphering. Dream language is the mystical language of Heaven.

Mark 4:22-25: “For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

Things are hidden for a divine purpose: the purpose of being revealed. God is going to speak secrets to you – things that in the beginning you might not quite comprehend and understand. But as you go on the journey and you receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation, you will learn how to understand mysteries and secrets.2. We need to be attentive. Listening is in many ways is a lost art, but it’s a vital skill we need to learn to become fluent in dream language.

GROUNDED IN THE WORD

Walking in the fullness of the Spirit is like sailing. We must learn to put up the sail to catch the wind, so as to be driven along by the wind. That is like the moving of the Holy Spirit. We also need to have an anchor that gets dropped beside our boat, which is like the Word of God. At times we need to go into the harbor and drop the anchor, rest, meditate on the Word of God, and get refueled. But then there are other times that you pick up your anchor (you carry the Word of God with you), you put up the sail, you catch the wind, and go where the Holy Spirit leads you. The anchor the Word of God is what grounds us, and what serves as a solid foundation.

Numbers 12:6: “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream.”

God says that He will speak to His people in a dream and He will make Himself known in a vision. He uses both of these instruments to draw us into His purposes.

Job 33:14-18: “Indeed God speaks once, or twice, yet no one notices it. In a dream, a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, that He may turn man aside from his conduct, and keep man from pride; He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing over into Sheol.”

Our minds are often so preoccupied that it is hard for us to hear God. If He cannot catch our attention during our waking hours, He will speak to us during our sleep through dreams. Our heavenly Father will use dreams and visions as an avenue of identifying the hindrances that are in our path to His purpose.

Joel 2:28-29: “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

Dreams and visions are a major part of the prophetic outpouring of God’s great love in the Last Days!

Hebrew Old Testament Words

Three very similar Hebrew words are used in the Old Testament to refer to dreams. Whichever word is used, the Old Testament makes clear that God is the Master Dreamer. He downloads His dreams within us and thereby transforms us into dreamers as well.

1. Chalam: "to cause to dream" or "to be a dreamer"
2. Chelem: "to dream"
3. Chalom: "dreamer"

Greek New Testament Words

1. Onar: The common word for “dream.” It is the kind of dreaming we all do when we sleep. God can and does use these common dreams to communicate with ordinary people. Example: Joseph’s dreams to marry Mary, escape to Egypt, and then return home and the dreams of the wise men who are told not to return to Herod (Matthew 1 and 2; also see Matthew 27:19).
2. Enupnion: Refers to a vision or a dream received while asleep. Enupnion stresses a surprise quality that is contained in that dream. It is the kind of dream that has a startling effect, like waking suddenly from a dream and finding yourself strangely alert with your senses particularly acute. Also see Jude, verses 8 and 10.

HISTORIC CLIPS

Cessationism has done a great damage in the church. Cessationism is the basic teaching that the spiritual gifts stopped when the canon of Scriptures closed, or when the last apostle passed away. The good news is that the book of Hebrews says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. The truth is that the false doctrine of cessationism is going to cease because God’s Word says, “I’m going to pour out My Spirit upon all flesh.” What God did then, God does today, and God will continue to always do. Dream language is the language of the ages. It is this mysterious way that God comes into our lives, invades our uncomfortable zones, and simply comes to speak to us.

Early Church Fathers

Great portions of the church father’s writings about dreams and visions have only recently been being translated into English, and have, therefore, been largely ignored in the past.

• Thomas of India received instruction from his dreams.
• Polycarp was given a vision of his martyrdom.
• Irenaeus had wise understanding of dreams.
• Clement believed that dreams come from the depth of a soul.
• Tertullian devoted eight chapters of his writings to dreams.
• Gregory of Nyssa spoke of the meaning and the place of the dream.
• John Chrysostom, the one who was called “golden mouthed” because he had such oratorical grace upon him, called dreams the source of revelation.
• Constantine was directed in a dream regarding the heavenly sign that he was to carry into battle.
• Thérèse de Lisieux life was changed through a dream.
• John Newton, an early slave trader, was stopped in his tracks in his lifestyle and his vocation by a dream from God. This became the man who was so turned around in his life that he eventually became a chaplain to the King of England. He went on to write the hymn that is possibly one of the greatest Protestant hymns of all ages: “Amazing Grace.”

Abraham Lincoln

It was said that Abraham Lincoln had a dream where he saw his own body lying in state when he was President. I wonder what effect that had upon Abraham Lincoln. I wonder if that dream was not used to help prepare him to be able to meet his Maker at any moment.

Rev. A. J. Gordon

The following is an amazing dream that impacted a man who became one of the great pulpiteers in America. A seminary is named after him today in Boston: the Gordon Conwell Seminary. The Rev. A. J. Gordon, a famous Baptist preacher of Boston, told of a dream that drastically changed his ministry, even though he had never paid attention to dreams before this.

"I was in the pulpit before a full congregation, just ready to begin my sermon, when a stranger entered and passed slowly up the aisle as though silently asking with his eyes that someone would give him a seat. Half-way up the aisle a gentleman stepped out and offered him a place in his pew, which was quietly accepted. As I began my sermon my attention became riveted on this hearer. To myself I said constantly, ‘Who can that stranger be?' After the service ended, the visitor had left before I could reach him. The gentleman with whom he had sat remained behind however. I asked him, ‘Can you tell me who that stranger was who sat in your pew this morning?' In the most matter-of-course way he replied: ‘Why, do you not know that man? It was Jesus of Nazareth.'"

The dream was the seminal event out of which came a complete change in Gordon’s approach to ministry and a vivid transformation in his parishioners. This dream is written up in his book How Christ Came To Church: The Pastor’s Dream. A. J. Gordon never preached a sermon again to please men. He preached as though his guest was the Man Christ Jesus, and he preached to please Him.

THE RECEIVER

The secret to becoming a good dreamer is to become a good receiver. God did not only send dreams to those who believed in Him, but also to unbelievers because He wants their hearts to turn to Him.

Dreams to Prophets

• Abraham (Gen. 15:12-17)
• Jacob (Gen. 28:12; 31:10)
• Daniel (Dan. 7)

Dreams to Unbelievers

• Abimelech (Gen. 20:3)
• Laban (Gen. 31:24)
• Midian (Judges 7:13-14)
• Pharoah’s Butler and Baker (Gen. 40:5)
• Pharoah (Gen. 41:7 &15-26)
• Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:1, 4, 36)
• Wisemen (Matt. 2:12)
• Pilate’s Wife (Matt. 27:19)

Dreams to Other Believers

• Solomon (I Kings 3:5)
• Joseph (Matt. 1:20)

THE TRANSMITTER

Every receiver needs a transmitter. In human experience dream transmission originates from any one of three different sources.

• Personal God (II Pet. 2:1, Acts 27:15-17)
• Natural Man (Ezek. 13:1-6, Jer. 23:16)
• Demonic Darkness (Acts 16:16-18)

THE PURPOSE

Proverbs 25:2: "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search it out. It’s the glory of a king for something to be searched out."

You’re a king and God gives you the right to go into the King’s palace. He wants to give you the keys of revelation to be able to search something out. Being able to understand revelation is about being a son, a daughter; it’s about kingship. What are dreams for? To whet our appetite, because if you’re left musing, you’re more likely to find out what it was all about.

THE INVITATION

God has a dream for your life, and He wants you to have the spirit of revelation upon your life. He has a great plan, and He wants to use these ways to speak to you. Perhaps you will be a Joseph and you’ll have a dream, and you’ll blab it prematurely, and you’ll get in all kinds of trouble, and you’ll end up learning about the ways of God not just the knowledge of God. May God raise up such a people in the earth that the world will come and say, “Behold here comes the dreamer.” We live for Christ, but we also live to release the fragrance of His presence wherever we go. I don’t want to live an ordinary life; I want to live a supernatural life that would cause the people to say, Who is that strange man crying in the wilderness? Behold here is a dreamer. Lord, I ask for Your grace, and that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation would be released to us. Dream through us and weave an incredible tapestry for the world to see!

For Jesus’ sake,

Amen.

James W. Goll

I'll post the next part in a few days when you've had time to digest this. James goes on to share keys for understanding your dreams

Why You Won't Understand Everything God Tells You

I hope you enjoy this article written by John Paul Jackson
You can find more from John Paul at his website www.streamsministries.com

Out of all the prophetic men and women in Scripture, only two are described as being gifted to understand dreams and visions: Daniel and Joseph. There are many prophetic people in the Bible, but only two who were gifted like this. In other words, we shouldn’t be shocked or downhearted when we don’t understand all of our dreams, visions or experiences. All of us aren’t going to understand our dark knowings, the deep things the Lord has called us to do — the deep things He has told us about. We have to depend on other people to help us.

You Will Always Need Other People

As simple as it sounds, this creates incredible tension. We have a gift - we're supposed to be the ones with the revelation! If we depend on others, what if they see us as weak? Well, I'm the one with the gift, we think. If I don’t know, who's gonna know? Yet we often don't know, and the not knowing forces us to go one way or the other: We can choose God and His "family plan," or we can choose to become orphans who have to survive on our own. We are part of the body, and we cannot exist solo, no matter how gifted we are.

Walking in Faith

God will make us walk through life in faith so that we can understand how other people walk through life in faith.

Walking in faith involves believing that what God has said about us is true. It means we take Him at His word - which takes a lot of courage, depending on our personality type and our fears. We accept the fact that He did not create us to be loners who know everything. In fact, even though we can prophetically see for others, often we can't see worth a flip for ourselves.

If we didn’t have to walk in faith, we would have absolutely no comprehension or understanding of the divine dynamic tension that everybody else has to walk under. In essence, God tells us, "I’m going to let you see for everybody else but you. Very seldom will I let you see for yourself. I am going to have others come to you and tell you, 'This is what’s going to happen,' so that you have to walk by faith just like they do. You will know, then, how it feels when you go and tell that to them."

All of Us Equal

As we go through this maturing process, we realize that comforting others as we ourselves have been comforted (2 Corinthians 1:4) doesn't just apply to helping others through their pain. It is also a general statement of how God created us to live with one another whether there's pain involved or not. We are not separate from one another. What one goes through, we all experience; and so, we learn to live in deep compassion and humility, realizing that God created all of us as the apple of His eye. All of us are equal in His sight, even if one gifting seems to be spotlighted more than another.

His affection does not pertain to gifting. It does not pertain to accomplishments. It pertains to His heart. He has chosen us to be recipients of His compassion. When we realize this, loving people becomes a little easier. Their destiny is just as important as ours, and we cannot make it to ours if they cannot make it to theirs.

© 2007 John Paul Jackson, Streams Ministries International. All rights reserved.
This article and previous Streams e-letter articles can be accessed at www.streamsministries.com/blogger

Lord, Teach Us How To Pray

"Prayer is fellowship with the unseen and Most Holy One." Andrew
Murray"

Everything that Jesus is and has is yours if you belong to Him.

Because He is your life, if you ask, Jesus will draw you into closer fellowship and teach you how to pray.

""Lord, teach us to pray." Yes, us, Lord. We have read in Your word about the power Your believing people of long ago had when they prayed, and what mighty wonders were done in answer to their prayers. This took place under the Old Covenant, in the time of preparation. Now, in these days of fulfillment, how much more will You give Your people a sure sign of Your presence? We have heard the promises given to Your apostles of the power of prayer in Your name, and have seen how gloriously they experienced their truth. We know for certain they can become true for us, too. We hear continually, even in these days, what glorious tokens of Your power You still give to those who trust you completely. Lord! Teach us to pray with power too! The promises are for us; the powers and gifts of the heavenly world are for us ... to us too you have entrusted Your work." Andrew Murray

Prayer needs to be

• to the glory of God
• in full surrender to His will
• in full assurance of faith
• in the Name of Jesus
• persevering

It's much easier to pray with faith when you've heard from God and know that what you're praying is what God wants.

"It is Jesus, praying Himself who teaches us to pray. He knows what prayer is. He learned it amid the trials and tears of His earthly life. In heaven it is still His beloved work. His life there is prayer. Nothing delights Him more than to find those whom He can take with Him into the Father's presence, clothing them with power to pray down God's blessing to those around them, training them to be His fellow-workers." Andrew Murray

Jesus teaches us

• by the urgency of felt need
• the study of the Word
• the testimony of another believer
• by His Holy Spirit
• showing us sin that hinders prayer
• giving us assurance that we please God
• giving us thoughts of what to ask
• living within us as the intercessor

"Lord. You live eternally to pray, and can teach me, too, to live eternally to pray. You want me to share your glory in heaven by sharing this unceasing prayer with You, standing as a priest in the presence of my God.

Lord Jesus. Enroll my name among those who confess that they don't know how to pray as they should, and who especially ask you for a course of teaching in prayer ... Lead me to forget my thoughts of what I think I know, and make me kneel before you in true teachableness and poverty of spirit.

Fill me, Lord, with the confidence that with You for my teacher, I will learn to pray ... Unfold for me everything I need to know about the mysteries of the prayer-world ... teach me to be strong in faith, giving glory to God."

The above is based on 'With Christ In The School Of Prayer' by Andrew Murray

How To Pray

Jesus taught us how to pray.

He told us that we need a secret place for prayer - a solitary spot where we can be alone with God.

The pupose of 'closet' prayer is simply to meet with the Father.
He wants us to withdraw ourselves from the things of the world and step aside to meet with Him.

Are you setting yourself apart and allowing Jesus to lead you into the Father's presence?
Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to be your teacher?

"The secrecy of the inner chamber and the closed door, the separation from everything around us, is an image of the inner spiritual sanctuary, the secret of God's tabernacle. It is there within the veil that our spirit truly comes into contact with the Invisible One. We are taught at the very beginning of our search for the secret of effective prayer to remember that it is in the inner chamber, where we are alone with the Father, that we learn to pray properly.The Father is in secret. In these words Jesus teaches us where He is waiting for us and where He is always found." Andrew Murray

When you draw aside to the secret place, the Father is already waitng there for you.

"Our Lord teaches us that because God meets with us in secret with infinite Fatherliness and faithfulness, we should meet Him with child like simplicity of faith and be confident that our prayer will receive a blessing." Andrew Murray

When you meet with God, believe that He rewards those who seek Him. The promised blessing doesn't depend on how fervently you pray. It depends on the love and power of the Father. You can leave the secret place in confidence, knowing that God has heard and that He will answer.