I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. (Psalm 16:7)
Have you ever been woken up by a crazy dream? Maybe you dreamt that you had been flying or had superpowers. Or maybe you had a nightmare where you showed up at work wearing nothing but your underwear... or less. Some dreams can be frightening. Some can be sad. But in the hours when we sleep — and yes, even through our dreams — we can gain wisdom and understanding.
The mind is an elusive thing. There are things going on we aren’t even aware of. Unconscious thoughts are always running in the background, affecting our decisions and emotions, and sometimes even our sleep.
It is fascinating to think that when our conscious mind is asleep, God can still work in us. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Great Counselor (John 16). When life doesn’t make sense, God is there to comfort and instruct. The Spirit in us is not limited to the hours when we are awake. Even when we sleep He can counsel our spirit. The counseling can come in a dream, like Joseph who dreamed of events to come (Genesis 37), or a word from the Spirit of Truth (John 16).
I often act according to my own understanding of life. But if I pause, and consider the wisdom that is spoken from the Spirit, I get a different perspective that brings peace and calm to my restless mind.
Lord, as I strive to understand, help me be still and listen for Your wise voice within me. Amen.
Take Action
God speaks to us. Make time in your day to be still, and write down what you think He is saying to you. Have a dialogue with Him. Write down your questions in a journal. Take time to listen to what He might be saying.