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.