I will praise you forever for what you have done;
in your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

What is an orphan spirit? It’s a lifestyle, attitude, and belief that one is unloved, unworthy of love, unlikely to receive love, and all alone. People with this attitude are typically a drain on others. They have a victim mentality most of the time and simply expect less than what God has promised.

Is that you? For that matter, is that me?

It’s a question worth asking. I’ve just recently had a time with God where I talked out this issue.

Side Note: Here’s what I do. I usually get ideas and questions while I drive, so I record my voice with the Evernote app on my Android phone (the less-than-fabulous Motorola CLIQ). I pray, strategize, or talk through whatever is on my heart and then save it to Evernote with a title and some topical tags so I can easily find it later. This way I don’t lose whatever revelation or burning question I have at the moment. Now back to the topic.

The issue in every man and woman’s heart with an orphan spirit is Does God REALLY love me? This is the most important question we can ever get answered other than “do I believe Jesus died for me and do I accept His payment for my sin?”

Why it’s so important

Without love, we behave out of a sense of duty (or a sense of failed duty, for that matter). Evangelism becomes an heavy obligation, both uncomfortable and undesirable. Obedience is difficult. Even hearing God in one-on-one conversation is difficult. After all, if God doesn’t love me, what might He say to me? What might He tell me to do? What might He ask me to give up? We feel poor, as though at any moment God will ask for that one thing that brings us comfort and leave us to feel cold and alone.

It’s a lack of trust. And we don’t trust Him because we don’t know Him. We don’t yet know His character and personality well enough to know how easy it is to fall into His lap without a concern in the world. We’ve heard about it, but haven’t experienced it.

I believe in honesty, so I’m going to be real here: this is where I am. I have encountered God several times in my life, but I’ve yet to receive a revelation of His love for me. I can hear Him speak much more easily for other people than for myself.

So I cried out to God yesterday. On the drive home, I mulled this over and cried out to my Father whom I have never felt in a loving embrace. Because as grateful as I am that He’s saved me, set me free from addictions, and given me His Word which makes me feel good and clean, I can’t say with confidence that I can walk up to a stranger and tell them that they need Jesus. It’s not that my life isn’t a thousand times better than it was before I accepted Christ. It’s that my life isn’t overflowing with power or love. The two things that demonstrate the Kingdom of God on earth are POWER and LOVE. Jesus had compassion on the sick and he healed them.

I prayed a prayer yesterday. It’s a very difficult prayer. I confessed my unbelief in His love. I confessed that I have chosen to believe my interpretation of events over the truth of His Word. I chose by an act of my will to accept His Word as absolute truth. But I also prayed and asked that He would reveal His love to me. That He would overwhelm me with His love.

A revelation came to me while I prayed: I don’t receive His love because I chose not to. What? How can that be? Why on earth would I choose to not receive limitless love from the Creator of the universe?

I was born with a sense of justice. I have seen my sin. I know how deeply I have hurt people. And my personal sense of justice tells me that it is not okay to wipe the slate clean and let me get away with what I’ve done. I should pay for my sin.

Do you hear this? I decided in my heart that God’s forgiveness and love were too good for me. I refused to allow His love in because it wouldn’t be fair. He shouldn’t love me, and if He’s not going to be just, I WILL be.

Wow. While the emotion here is understandable, it is also grievous. I attempted to override God with my own judgments. I decided that my judgments were better than His. That my evaluation of the situation was more complete than His. This is dangerous territory.

It is time for repentance. If you, like me, have believed that God was unjust in forgiving and loving you, you have deprived yourself of the love the Father earnestly wants to give. You are robbing yourself. The ONLY way to right this wrong is to confess the sin of prideful judgments opposing God’s Word, to repent and turn away from agreeing with those thoughts, and to choose by an act of your will to agree with what Scripture says about God’s love for you.

May we all walk in a limitless measure of God’s love. The world needs us to be aficionados of His loving kindness. Only when we live the reality will our testimony be what it was meant to be.

That’s amazing. I don’t know many hardcore sinners who would consider hanging out with most Christians. What was it about Jesus that drew so many people to Him? How was Jesus so different from us?

Yes, He was the Son of God, but He limited Himself to humanity and walked only in the power of the Holy Spirit. He said only what He heard the Father say and did only what He saw the Father do.

Father, I have not been a man sinners would love to spend time with. I’ve lacked the love and compassion that moved Your Son Jesus. I choose to repent of criticizing people and selfishly caring more about my own comfort than loving others who desperately need You. Fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit. Renew my mind so that I will think like Jesus, love like Jesus, and talk like Jesus.

Thank You for Your goodness.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

I don’t know about you, but I can ask for and imagine A LOT. I imagine the end-time harvest and miracles abounding and walking throughout life with an uninterrupted awareness of the presence and anointing of God. I picture hearing his voice clearly as I walk through malls and coffee shops and movie theaters. I imagine sharing words from the heart of God to people desperately in need. I imagine droves of sons returning to forgive their fathers and fathers repenting with humble hearts before their sons. I see handicapped people healed and mental illness eradicated and perfect function being restored!

In other words, I can imagine a lot. And God is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE. Through His mighty power at work within in us, He is able to do more than we can ask or think.

*     *     *     *     *     *

You are immeasurably greater than I’ve given You credit, Father. All things ARE possible. Forgive me for not believing Your Word. Forgive me for believing my interpretation of my historical experience over your Word. All your words are true. All Your righteous laws are eternal (Psalm 119:60). I love that. Not only are Your words true, but Your laws never expire. I can trust in You forever. There will never be a day at any time in the future when I will worry about trusting You.

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom (Psalm 45:6).

I did not bring this up to ask You for anything, Father. I brought this up to worship You for who You are. You are the God who exceeds my expectations. Your goodness is sweeter than I hoped and dreamed. You are good. My lips are sweet like honey with words of praise. Oh, Your goodness. Let the oil of gladness rain on me, drenching my cloak and my beard with Your love.

May I meditate on You more each day. May the night season become a sweet meditation on Your goodness. Oh, that I would walk in a greater understanding of Your goodness! Let me know the kisses of your mouth. For your love is more delightful than wine.

I want to be lovesick for You. You who has covered me in the shadow of Your cloak like Boaz.

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers. – Proverbs 19:8

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. – Proverbs 4:6

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. – Proverbs 29:3

Let’s look at Scripture:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

That is the basis of my prayers of alignment. I sought out one of God’s promises in Scripture. It was one I didn’t really believe. So I applied this verse and put my prayer in my own language. Now, it’s true that I don’t talk like that prayer most of the time. I made the extra effort to cover all the bases I could think of. It’s a quirk of mine. I see loopholes and double meanings and possible misunderstandings. So I’ve developed my prayer life to be as specific as possible, not so God won’t be confused, but so I know exactly what I’m asking for.

The Holy Spirit has been teaching me that a major part of prayer is agreement with God’s Word. I didn’t want to believe this a couple years ago because the Word seemed lifeless and dead to me, and praying passages to God seemed so impersonal. I don’t feel that same way anymore.

When I was all prideful and superior, I didn’t need Scripture to pray. I also heard almost no responses to my prayers. Great success. These days, I pray much more Scripture, and I’m seeing God answer more often in ways I can recognize.

Rather than praying just any old thing that I feel like praying, I am beginning to pay closer attention to God’s promises in Scripture. Since God is not a man that He should lie, His Word is the only absolute truth I have in this world. So when God says He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, I know I want to humble myself so I can receive His grace. And when God tells husbands to honor and love their wives or their prayers will be hindered, I take that seriously too. And when Jesus shows us how to pray (“Our Father, who art in heaven…”), that prayer is worth praying a hundred times.

The reason I’m beginning a series on God’s promises is that there’s no better truth to line up with. Everywhere God says He’ll bless, protect, give, honor, save, redeem, restore, pour out, etc, those are truths I want to lay hold of and pray. I want to agree with His goodness and not be my own worst enemy by disbelieving and therefore not receiving.

Think on it. Pray on it. Ask the Lord if He would have you approach prayer this way, or a modification of this way. Let me know what He says.

]]> http://www.renewmymind.com/what-makes-you-think-your-prayers-work/feed/ 4 http://www.renewmymind.com/gods-promises-i-will-never-leave-you-nor-forsake-you/ http://www.renewmymind.com/gods-promises-i-will-never-leave-you-nor-forsake-you/#comments Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:50:28 +0000 Daniel http://www.renewmymind.com/?p=382 As we enter the new year, a desire stirs in my heart to search out, read, study, memorize, and understand the promises of God in Scripture. For if I’m to renew my mind, I must know who He is, who I am, and what He has given me in order that I might live the abundant life. And to know what He’s given me that I’m not experiencing already, I need to know what He’s promised me.

This is how renewing your mind works. The Holy Spirit leads you to Scriptural truth; if you read it and don’t believe it, you confess your disbelief and choose with your will to repent and turn away from believing ideas that disagree with Scripture. Then you tell Father God that your heart is open to receive His truth and to walk in it. Ask for His power to walk in it.

So here we go. January 2nd, 2010…

God’s Promise #1: I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

- Hebrews 13:5-6

He will supply all our needs.

I’m not going to talk about the love of money today. But it provides the context for God’s promise. We can keep free from that greed and be content with what we have BECAUSE God has promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. If God is our helper, and He NEVER abandons (“forsake” and “abandon” are synonyms, FYI) us, what can anyone do to us? What have we to fear?

If you like, pray with me. I’m going to align myself with God’s word right now. I have not believed these statements to be true. I’m going to choose to agree with Scripture.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Father, you say in Hebrews 13:5-6 that You will never leave me and never abandon me. But I’ve felt abandoned many times. I’ve felt that I was all on my own, suffering defeat after defeat and shame after shame. I’ve wanted, and not received. I’ve prayed, and not heard You answer. I’ve believed that something was wrong with me, and that You didn’t love me or choose before Time began to give me as much of Your goodness as You give some other people.

I’ve never believed that you were always here with me, but Your Word says You were, are, and always will be. I confess my disbelief. I confess the sin of believing a lie. I heard and read Your truth, but I chose to believe my interpretation of my experience over Your Word. Forgive me for not trusting You; for not believing You.

I choose by an act of my will now to repent. I turn away from the beliefs of the past that said You are not near; that You are not my Helper. I turn and line up my mind with Your Word. I agree that Your Word is true, regardless of my experience. I choose to trust Your unfailing love and absolute honesty over my feeble attempts to understand and interpret events around me. I trust in You. I choose to believe You.

Now please come and give power to my choice, Father. I have chosen to align with You and Your Word. Now give me the power to walk that godly choice out. Thank you for honoring me as I obey You. It is good and light to my eyes to come closer and closer and walk in the light of Your truth.

Thank you, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now I’m going to activate my faith by declaring truth.

Father, You will never leave me. You will never forsake me. You will always be with me. I have nothing to fear. What can man do to me? You are my helper. I worship You. I praise You. I thank You for being so ridiculously good to me. I could never have deserved it! I could never have earned a moment of Your time. Yet you are here. Giving Yourself to me. Helping me. Being the ONLY person who has never left me when it was hard or I was annoying or insensitive. You are my most faithful friend. You are, Lord. You are my faithful friend, God! I declare it. Thank You, Father. Thank You. Thank You so much for never leaving me. I don’t want to be alone. And I never have to be. Thank You so much!

Let me just tell you, if the Word of God isn’t speaking life into your being, you’re blocking it from doing so. Whether intentional or not, the condition of our hearts can keep us from receiving the light of God’s Word.

It wasn’t until I REALLY chose to be pure again that the Word came alive to me at all. It was like reading with scales on my eyes. But once I had repented of my sin and my wandering according to my flesh, my heart was aligned with the Father’s again and I was humble and soft enough to receive revelation from His Word.

But the purpose of this post is to talk about our treasure. Our treasure is our money. It’s our time. It’s our energy. It’s our passion. Where we put those primary resources is where our treasure is. And that’s where our heart dwells.

Before repentance, my treasure was all placed in professional respect and self-made wealth. I invested my time, my energy, and my money into growing what I hoped would become my own business. I spent a pittance on the Church and time with God.

These days, my life is being refocused. I pour my energy into reading books about God’s truth. I read His word. I listen to preachers and teachers who have witnessed the power and glory of God. I come before the Lord with my journal and ask Him questions. My treasure is with my energy and effort. I put them into seeking God and fostering a pure heart and a renewed mind.

I spend money and gift cards on books about the Welsh revival. I listen to stories of miracles and supernatural healing. I am all about the Kingdom. That is my life now. And I have found that my mind is much more in tune with God’s than it once was. My heart is open and humble. My mind is focused upon the things of God.

Where is YOUR treasure? Should you expect anything better than what you have? Or should you reinvest your treasure elsewhere?

If you’d like insight on dreams, read through and study these passages of Scripture where God speaks about dreams. Remember, God says “Study to show yourself approved.

1. Genesis 20:3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”

2. Genesis 20:6
Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

3. Genesis 28:10
[ Jacob's Dream at Bethel ] Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.

4. Genesis 28:12
He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

5. Genesis 31:10
“In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.

6. Genesis 31:11
The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’

7. Genesis 31:24
Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

8. Genesis 37:1
[ Joseph's Dreams ] Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.

9. Genesis 37:5
Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

10. Genesis 37:6
He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had:

11. Genesis 37:8
His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

12. Genesis 37:9
Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

13. Genesis 37:10
When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”

14. Genesis 37:19
“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other.

15. Genesis 37:20
“Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

16. Genesis 40:5
each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had adream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

17. Genesis 40:8
“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

18. Genesis 40:9
So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me,

19. Genesis 40:16
When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had adream: On my head were three baskets of bread.

20. Genesis 41:1
[ Pharaoh's Dreams ] When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile,

21. Genesis 41:5
He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.

22. Genesis 41:7
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been adream.

23. Genesis 41:8
In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

24. Genesis 41:11
Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

25. Genesis 41:12
Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.

26. Genesis 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

27. Genesis 41:17
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

28. Genesis 41:22
“In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk.

29. Genesis 41:25
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.


30. Genesis 41:26
The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream.

31. Genesis 41:32
The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

32. Genesis 42:9
Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

33. Numbers 12:6
he said, “Listen to my words: “When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.

34. Deuteronomy 13:1
[ Worshiping Other Gods ] If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder,

35. Deuteronomy 13:3
you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

36. Deuteronomy 13:5
That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.

37. Judges 7:13
Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”

38. Judges 7:15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”

39. 1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

40. 1 Samuel 28:15
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

41. 1 Kings 3:5
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

42. 1 Kings 3:15
Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

43. Job 4:13
Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

44. Job 7:14
even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,

45. Job 20:8
Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night.

46. Job 33:15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds,

47. Psalm 73:20
As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

48. Psalm 126:1
[ A song of ascents. ] When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.

49. Ecclesiastes 5:3
As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

50. Ecclesiastes 5:7
Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

51. Isaiah 29:7
Then the hordes of all the nations that fight against Ariel, that attack her and her fortress and besiege her, will be as it is with a dream, with a vision in the night-

52. Isaiah 29:8
as when a hungry man dreams that he is eating, but he awakens, and his hunger remains; as when a thirsty man dreams that he is drinking, but he awakens faint, with his thirst unquenched. So will it be with the hordes of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion.

53. Isaiah 56:10
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.

54. Jeremiah 23:25
”I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’

55. Jeremiah 23:27
They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship.

56. Jeremiah 23:28
Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD.

57. Jeremiah 23:32
Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD.

58. Jeremiah 27:9
So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’

59. Jeremiah 29:8
Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.

60. Daniel 1:17
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

61. Daniel 2:1
[ Nebuchadnezzar's Dream ] In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.

62. Daniel 2:2
So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king,

63. Daniel 2:3
he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means. ”

64. Daniel 2:4
Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

65. Daniel 2:5
The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dreamwas and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble.
Daniel 2:4-6 (in Context) Daniel 2

66. Daniel 2:6
But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
Daniel 2:5-7 (in Context) Daniel 2

67. Daniel 2:7
Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
Daniel 2:6-8 (in Context) Daniel 2

68. Daniel 2:9
If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”
Daniel 2:8-10 (in Context) Daniel 2

69. Daniel 2:16
At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
Daniel 2:15-17 (in Context) Daniel 2

70. Daniel 2:23
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
Daniel 2:22-24 (in Context) Daniel 2

71. Daniel 2:24
[ Daniel Interprets the Dream ] Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”
Daniel 2:23-25 (in Context) Daniel 2

72. Daniel 2:25
Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”
Daniel 2:24-26 (in Context) Daniel 2

73. Daniel 2:26
The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”
Daniel 2:25-27 (in Context) Daniel 2

74. Daniel 2:28
but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:
Daniel 2:27-29 (in Context) Daniel 2

75. Daniel 2:36
”This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.
Daniel 2:35-37 (in Context) Daniel 2

76. Daniel 2:45
This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.”
Daniel 2:44-46 (in Context) Daniel 2

77. Daniel 4:1
[ Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of a Tree ] King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly!
Daniel 4:1-3 (in Context) Daniel 4

78. Daniel 4:5
I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me.
Daniel 4:4-6 (in Context) Daniel 4

79. Daniel 4:6
So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
Daniel 4:5-7 (in Context) Daniel 4

80. Daniel 4:7
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.
Daniel 4:6-8 (in Context) Daniel 4

81. Daniel 4:8
Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
Daniel 4:7-9 (in Context) Daniel 4

82. Daniel 4:9
I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me.
Daniel 4:8-10 (in Context) Daniel 4

83. Daniel 4:18
”This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel 4:17-19 (in Context) Daniel 4

84. Daniel 4:19
[ Daniel Interprets the Dream ] Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!
Daniel 4:18-20 (in Context) Daniel 4

85. Daniel 4:28
[ The Dream Is Fulfilled ] All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:27-29 (in Context) Daniel 4

86. Daniel 5:12
This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”
Daniel 5:11-13 (in Context) Daniel 5

87. Daniel 7:1
[ Daniel's Dream of Four Beasts ] In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
Daniel 7:1-3 (in Context) Daniel 7

88. Daniel 7:15
[ The Interpretation of the Dream ] “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.
Daniel 7:14-16 (in Context) Daniel 7

89. Joel 2:28
[ The Day of the LORD ] “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.
Joel 2:27-29 (in Context) Joel 2

90. Zechariah 10:2
The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
Zechariah 10:1-3 (in Context) Zechariah 10

91. Matthew 1:20
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:19-21 (in Context) Matthew 1

92. Matthew 2:12
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:11-13 (in Context) Matthew 2

93. Matthew 2:13
[ The Escape to Egypt ] When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
Matthew 2:12-14 (in Context) Matthew 2

94. Matthew 2:19
[ The Return to Nazareth ] After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt
Matthew 2:18-20 (in Context) Matthew 2

95. Matthew 2:22
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
Matthew 2:21-23 (in Context) Matthew 2

96. Matthew 27:19
While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
Matthew 27:18-20 (in Context) Matthew 27

97. Acts 2:17
” ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2:16-18 (in Context) Acts 2

98. Jude 1:8
In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings.
Jude 1:7-9 (in Context) Jude 1

Faith comes by hearing

Hear this, Beloved. Faith comes by HEARING. There is something dynamic and mysterious about sound. I grew up hearing the austere Methodist preacher talk in a monotone and lifeless voice about the marvelous “love of God”. It all sounded so dreadfully boring. I associated his tone and expression with those words. For years, whenever I heard someone read a passage of Scripture, I heard it through the lens and filter of their understanding.

This means it’s all too important who we choose to listen to.

We can increase our faith and our understanding by listening to people speak who have a deeper and less cluttered understanding than we have. Each person, when sharing their story or even reading a passage from a book, emphasizes and interprets the words through the filter of their understanding. That’s how people choose what tone and inflection to add when reading. They see “love”, and they read the word as they understand it.

When I heard Mike Bickle speak about the glorious Bridegroom, he rocked my world. Suddenly, Jesus was this God-Man so glorious and wonderful that I had to learn more. When I heard Gary Wiens speak with certainty about his loving Father, I knew I wanted to know a God like that. I knew that Christianity suddenly made sense if God was an extravagant lover and giver. If life was REALLY meant to be a passionate romance and pursuit of the Bridegroom, I could sign on to that.

It was hearing the reality in their voices that tipped the scales.

To this day, I seek out people with deeper revelation than I have. Whether it’s a streaming video, tapes, DVDs, sermon podcasts, or a testimonial of God’s power, I want to hear the people share who have experienced God and been transformed. Their stories expand my expectation and hope. I am excited to seek God and encouraged to trust more.

Take the challenge: In whatever area you wish you had deeper understanding and greater revelation, find testimonials, talks, and sermons on the subject from people who are more alive in that area than you. Don’t let anything stop you from listening to the voice of revelation.

If you want to grow deeper in a particular area but aren’t sure who to trust or who to listen to, leave me a comment or fill out the contact form and I will share my personal recommendations with you.

This has been an amazing revelation in my life. Don’t just read. You need to hear the voice of the one who has experienced greater depths of revelation. That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. That the breadth of your expectation may be increased.