The Bible has a lot to say about dreams! It encourages us to dream big. When we talk about dreams here, we aren’t talking about self-made visions of our life apart from God’s will. Instead, we are talking about envisioning the next step or stage of your life. A dream is simply a picture of what you feel God wants you to do next.
So, what does the Bible say about dreams? A lot, actually, as you’ll discover below. We can cultivate a God-centered dream for our lives that outlasts the world, transforms time, changes eternity, and advances His Kingdom for His glory!
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We Are Encouraged to Dream
We read this about dreams in the wisdom literature of Proverbs:
Proverbs 29:18
Without a blueprint, you can’t build a house, and without an idea of what kind of house you want, a blueprint can’t be drawn. Without a dream we float through life without ever catching the current.
This is one reason the Bible encourages us to pursue our dreams!
Philippians 4:13
Did you catch that? All things. When it comes to dreams, the Lord not only encourages us to dream, but He also says He will strengthen us to accomplish mighty works by His power.
Dreams Start With God
The key is to make sure our goals and dreams align with the purposes of our Heavenly Father. We are not to start by considering what we want or just following whatever we can dream up, but instead by first focusing on what God has for us.
Luke 12:31
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
The best dreams don’t start with us but instead are planted in us by God. Remember this: if it isn’t rooted in God, it’s rotten.
God wants us to see the dream He has for our life and live it out. There is no greater dream and no greater sense of accomplishment than to achieve goals that have eternal value.
Psalm 37:4
Having a deep conviction of what we feel God wants us to do will make us men and women of devotion, dedication, and determination. When we are determined to follow the dream God has for us, to do our part, the pieces of the puzzle magnificently come together.
God-Planted Dreams Are Limitless
When our heart is in sync with the Lord’s plan, there is no limit to what we can dream and accomplish!
Psalm 20:4
Dreams From History
God plants His dream in our hearts to fulfill His purpose on earth. In fact, if we look back into biblical history, we see many examples of dreamers who furthered God’s plans for the world. God has used dreams throughout history in powerful ways.
Consider these great dreamers:
Abraham - dreamed of having children.
After years of marriage, Sarah could not conceive. The Lord’s plan was not deterred. He promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations.
Genesis 17:4
Perhaps Abraham dreamed of a few children…God enlarged his dream big time when He promised Abraham more descendants than stars in the sky.
Genesis 15:5
Joseph - the prophetic dreamer.
At pivotal points in his life, Joseph's dreams either got him into trouble or they took him back out. Joseph’s earliest recorded dream involved leadership. It was a dream that would sustain him until God brought it to fulfillment at the proper time. Eventually, God raised up Joseph to provide for his own people and to lead the nation of Egypt into God’s provision through a series of dreams and unlikely events.
David - dreamed beyond his own life.
David had dreamed of building a permanent place where God could be worshipped, and he was determined to leave something behind that would honor the Lord. It was his dream and the resources he put in place that allowed Solomon to move quickly toward the construction of the temple. David’s story illustrates how it’s possible to achieve a dream after your death that could not have been achieved during your life.
David’s instructions on pursuing a God-given dream have been a charge to pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers ever since:
1 Chronicles 28:29
Esther - dreamed of saving her people.
At first, Esther feared the dream she had. She doubted whether she would have the courage to risk her life by appearing before the king. So she fasted and instructed the people to join her. In the end, with the help of the Lord, Esther played a critical part in saving her people. Fear does not exclude us from serving the Lord powerfully. He will equip us for the task at hand if we place our dream, and our trust in Him.
Building Our Dreams On the Lord
God has designed each and every one of us to dream of more. We are created for eternity. No matter the dream, we will never feel fully satisfied in this life because God’s dream for us stretches out into eternity. God has a big plan and purpose for us since the dawn of creation:
Jeremiah 29:11
When our dreams are in the Lord's will, we can accomplish great things in His name. Today, let’s reset our hearts and minds to build our dreams firmly on the Lord—continually trusting Him to guide our steps through uncertain times. Let’s commit to dreaming big for God!