“Then he dreamed and behold, a ladder was set up on earth and it’s top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” ~ Genesis 28:12

My (rhetorical) question: did Jacob dream of a ladder or did the ladder appear because he dreamed?

Admittedly, it could be both.

It is important, even critical for us to dream. Not just dreaming during the night while we sleep but day dreaming, dreaming with a purpose, dreaming to envision something.  Over 5 years ago, the Lord spoke to me regarding a relocation. I was to move north, establish a city of refuge and He gave me a vision of ministry to go along with the move. But despite my best intentions and efforts I remained in south Texas.  With egg on my face, I turned the promise back over to God, accepting that maybe it was just a spiritual move and not a physical one.

I did not forget the promise; still believing someday I would move north but I wasn’t going to try to ‘make it happen’. Instead, I began to implement pieces of the vision here He had spoken to do there and kept moving forward. Many times I had to contend for my faith as I waited on the promise of God. Let me emphasize: my waiting did not involve sitting around twiddling my thumbs. This was a season of active waiting as if preparing for a door to open so that when it did I could walk through it. You don’t start getting ready for an appointment when it’s time for the appointment.

After awhile, I began to inquire of the Lord, “What does this place look like? You’ve shown me pieces which I have put into motion but what does it look like there?”  I would sit quietly and as I daydreamed He would fill my head with images; not a complete picture all at once  but a bit here and there over a period of time. As He would show me a piece I would pray and prepare. For example, I’ve always dreamed of having a cow, so I began to picture a cow on the property and as an act of faith I went to a working dairy to find out as much as I could about milking a cow. I bought books and did research on what type of cow would be best and how to care for it. I started making my own butter from the raw milk I purchased at the dairy and trying my hand at some cheese. Did I have a cow? No, but when a cow comes my way I will be ready!

Seeing with our eyes of faith is important because seeing is believing! Maybe not with our natural eyes because we know faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)  but it can be seen in the spirit. It’s the evidence we need because without vision the people perish! What are you believing God for? Have you been praying for the salvation of a family member, wondering if it will ever happen?  Ask Him , “What will that look like?”

Begin to envision it! Visualizing a promise in the Spirit adds substance to  your faith and encourages us to keep hoping, waiting and believing in the promise God spoke.

Allowing ourselves to daydream with a God-purpose connects us with heaven’s plans: angel = messenger in Hebrew. God spoke to Jacob from the top of the ladder but He also sent His messengers. When was the last time you got lost in a God daydream?

Do it today!