A Prophetic Dream
By Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading
“In the last days, God says, I will pour my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” Acts 2:17
“Can I talk to you?”
Our daughter came to my husband and me one day and said she wanted to talk to us after church. Expecting the worst, we thought she would say something like she was walking away from God or having difficulty with someone in the church. Instead, she told us about a vision God had given her during worship in the church service. She said she felt the Lord gave her a vision of a camp where she used to work.
She believed God told her to "remember the camp.” She'd previously worked at this camp as a counselor in training. She had not returned the year before because she was busy working and getting her driver's license. She felt strongly that the Lord was calling her back to become a counselor and minister to the kids at the camp over the summer.
We were ecstatic. We were glad to hear that the Lord was working in her life and that he had a specific plan for her for service during the summer. She did return to the camp and came back completely transformed. Not only was she able to speak life into the kids of the camp, but she also felt the Lord spoke to her many times and used her powerfully to give morning devotions and lead worship.
Although she was excited about the camp two years prior, she decided not to return to camp the year before. This decision to not return made her less enthusiastic about serving there. She would never have gone back if it hadn't been for the Lord speaking to her. Because of his vision, she went back and was used powerfully by the Lord, who was able to transform her life. After that year, she bought commentaries, studied the Word, and even started a small group with others to teach them about the Word, too.
Although the above verse is given in the Book of Acts, it is a prophecy from the prophet Joel. Joel tells his prophecy to the people to encourage them that God will use younger and older people through dreams and prophetic words to impact people to believe in the Lord. The Acts Church was on fire and had manifestations of the miraculous gifts in people. People received the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues, and gave prophetic words.
It was so abnormal they appeared to unbelievers like they were drunk. People of this church were accused of being intoxicated at 9:00 AM. But Peter gets up and corrects them. He reminds them that it's only 9:00 AM and that they are not drunk but that this is fulfilling the prophet Joel's words to his people.
God uses prophetic words, visions, and dreams to instruct, comfort, and encourage his people. Not only are prophetic words a foretelling of the future, but they can also be a word that gives people hope and direction. These prophetic words encouraged Peter, and he used them as a word of instruction to those who had trouble believing that the people were not drunk but instead receiving the Holy Spirit. In the same way, God used the prophetic vision to encourage my daughter to return to her camp.
Because of this, her life was forever changed. Not only this, but she could change other people's lives forever, too. It has been two years since that vision, and she has returned to camp. Both times, she has come back excited about what the Lord has for her in the future. At the time of this writing, she plans on going to college to begin her career in ministry.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
God uses visions, dreams, and words to give people vision, direction, and hope for the future. What word may God be giving you to help you in your future?
God, let us take a moment to appreciate the profound way in which you communicate with us. Your words can pierce our hearts, provide correction, and offer encouragement when needed. Let us strive to listen and obey what we feel he is speaking to us. Amen.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/metamorworks
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