Signs / Supernatural Guidance Part 8

Dreams, Visions, Trances & Open Visions These are all terms that describe a few of the ways the Lord communicates to our consciousness through our developing senses. Because we are not used to functioning through these senses, our perception of these experiences mark them as unusual. But as the Lord quickens our senses, and we more readily experience and respond appropriately to the activities in the supernatural realm, there are few limits to the ways the Lord may choose to provide guidance. Because we are becoming confident in our relationship with God, we can ask Him for these experiences, making ourselves available on His terms, being patient but persistent toward those things that He uses to draw us. As with all of our training, we are free to make mistakes as part of the process.

We learn new habits of depending on Him for interpretation, confirmation, etc., remembering that even such supernatural experiences as these can be duplicated by the power of our soul, or the enemy, or by the power of the world (power of suggestion). So though we habitually test these manifestations, we are careful not to restrict the way the Lord chooses to guide us.

It’s not all that important (though it can be interesting and fun!) to delineate the differences between dreams, visions, trances, and open visions. The important thing is that we realize that God’s main goal is in getting our attention, to respond back to Him rather than to rely on our own (or another’s) ability to interpret and apply what is being conveyed. These manifestations are no more significant, they carry no more weight, than any other means the Lord may use, but because He wants us to be able to follow wherever He leads, and because He enjoys sharing His creativity with us, it is appropriate to ask to be trained in all these areas, according to His timing.

Responding to and Interpreting Supernatural Means of Guidance