What about dreams?

My dream was about a grandchild and a decision she was making about her future. It woke me, sort of, and my mind seemed to make up the rest of the dream. The story line was perfect and her decision was wise. It was almost like praying rather than dreaming. When fully awake, I prayed for her spiritual life and growth.

The night before, my dream was about a family in trouble who shared with us their severe issues and asked for prayer. I woke and prayed about that too, but felt distress about both dreams. Is this me being anxious or is it God reminding me to pray? I’d not thought about either situation until after the dreams and after becoming fully awake.
Today’s reading began with:

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34)

Then Piper writes this reminder: “Part of saving faith is the assurance that you will have faith tomorrow. Trusting Christ today includes trusting him to give you tomorrow’s trust when tomorrow comes. Often we feel today like our reservoir of strength is not going to last for another day. The fact is, it won’t. Today’s resources are for today, and part of those resources is the confidence that new resources will be given tomorrow.”

He goes on to say that each day God does not pile anything on His children that we cannot bear. This gives me assurance that He is in charge of even my dreams. The day before, I’d had enough to be concerned about and to pray for, so He put these two things in my mind during the night so I could pray about them before the next day started? Could be, yet Piper also quotes this:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

I would only call the dreams a temptation if they put me in a mind to take matters into my own hands and not pray about them but try to ‘fix’ the problems myself. Writing that dream ending might fall into that category. When I prayed later, I confessed my desire to have my way and prayed instead that God's will be done. I’d like that grandchild to move closer — a selfish desire in that dream, and selfishness was reflected even in the other dream. At the same time, prayers for the people in the dreams, according to the will of God, was not neglected after I was awake.

A blessing came in the reminder that God gives provision of endurance each day. His Word says: “Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.” (Deuteronomy 33:25) Those dreams assured me of one thing — I do not need to be anxious about today or tomorrow either. God will provide all needs.

Apart from the content, dreaming things that produce prayer helps me realize that anxieties can be hiding and I need to pray — rather than having them invade my sleep:

… The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5–7)

PRAY: Lord, Your promises to finish what You start apply to all Christians. Your perfect will is being done in their lives. If You want me to do anything toward their well-being, You will make that clear. Praying for them is already on that list. Giving them time, attention or whatever else comes to mind, is important. Guide me with Your clear Word and the Holy Spirit, and give me wisdom concerning dreams. In one verse You say that in the last days, Your people will dream dreams, but in another verse You warn about those who rely on their dreams. Don’t allow me to be side-tracked from hearing and doing Your will by anything, including dreams. Amen.

Jesus said it — that settles it!

The author of today’s reading seems to consider consecration as being something we do. However, both the OT and the NT say things like:

Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine. (Exodus 13:2)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

While this author tells us we must consecrate or to set ourselves apart for God, the Bible tells me that I belong to Him by faith in Christ, therefore saying yes to that teaching is saying yes to something that is already true. God set me apart for Himself. I do not make it true by what I do. Rather, my changed life demonstrates He has done it.

Some think we are called to consecration and it does not happen without taking several steps, like the Israelites who were delivered from bondage in Egypt, given commands about how to live, failing to do it or enter the Promised Land, wandering in the wilderness, then finally entering and beginning the battle there to take that land. The devotional writer calls that final step full consecration and says this means we need to be fully consecrated before we can enter heaven.

I cannot ignore that the NT says I am God’s the moment I was saved. I will battle sin but His promise is our security to the point that He declares the following:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:4–9)

The verbs in this passage are incredible. Verses 5-6 say that “even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This means I am alive in Christ and already seated with Him in heavenly places. What could be more consecrated (set apart for God) could I be!
This will seem odd to those who preach the importance of works, but telling me what God has already done does more to motivate my devotion and obedience than telling me what I must do. Do I hear an ‘amen’?

In eternal terms, I’m already there. In time, my life is imperfect and I battle those giants like fear, disappointment, making errors in judgment, thinking I know better than God (that is a big one), but the Bible tells me that I am His, nothing can separate me from His love, and He is living in me, my life, my eternal life. And eternal is eternal. It is not about making progress.

PRAY: Jesus, the most subtle temptations to doubt You or to worry about being ‘good enough’ often come from well-meaning people who are caught in the lie that salvation depends on me and my choices, and that I can will myself out of Your loving care and eternal salvation. Your Word is my defense. I am not an OT Israelite but a participant in the New Covenant. While their story depicts some of my experience, You say I am Yours, totally and forever. You said it. I believe it. That settles it.