Biblical Dream Interpretation: What if God is Speaking Through Your Dreams
Dream interpretation: Is it Biblical?
Can dream interpretation actually be biblical?
Could God be speaking to us through our dreams?
Yes and yes.
I have always been attentive to my dreams and their meaning, and especially as a believer seeking to hear from Jesus. I normally take my dreams to the Lord and ask, “Are you speaking something to me? Is there anything in the dream that You want me to see or understand?”
In this moment, a scattering of “Jesus dreams” are flashing through my mind. God has given me dreams that convicted me and drew me closer to Him. Through a dream, He clarified my calling. Through dreams, He has warned me of spiritual danger and shown me when I have gotten off His best path for me.
The dreams God gives me aren’t happening every night, week, or even every month. But they have come in unexpected moments across the course of my faith journey with Jesus. When I know they are from God, they stay with me. I don’t forget them like most dreams. I remember them and carry them with me because they impact my life.
What about you? Have you ever had a dream that felt different? You knew it wasn’t because of what you ate or did the day before. It wasn’t meaningless, but instead you thought God might be speaking to you.
If you’ve ever wondered:
“Was that dream from God?”
“How do I know if I’m hearing His voice?”
“Is dream interpretation even biblical?”
You’re not alone.
In this conversation on HER Podcast, Margaux Nelson and I dive into what Scripture says about dreams, how God speaks in them, and how you can walk in confidence—not fear—and hear His voice in our dreams.
Listen now to 👉 Biblical Dream Interpretation and Discerning God's Voice with Margaux Nelson
Dreams are Biblical
Let’s be honest.
Many Christians feel uncomfortable with dreams because of a fear of falling into something unholy, off-base, or New Age. The last thing we want is to be deceived — especially when the Bible warns us of the danger of deception in these last days. We want to make sure that we aren’t delving into something spiritual, yet not grounded in truth.
That concern is valid. And for me personally, I have a New Age background. That was my story pre-Jesus. I read all kinds of occult books—books on reincarnation, New Age practices, and yes, dream interpretation. So, I too am always cautious because of that spiritual background.
But — here’s the truth — Dreams are biblical.
Here are a few facts about dreams in the Bible.
The word, “dream” is used 66 times in the Bible.
The word, “dreams” is used 24 times in the Bible.
The word, “dreamed” is used 2 times in the Bible.
The fact is, God has spoken through dreams to His people and has used them to change, lead, warn, prepare, and direct His people throughout history. I have heard of so many incredible stories of God doing exactly that. And as we think about our current day and time, God’s word shows us that He will speak to us through our dreams even today.
But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:16-17
This is not outdated.
This is ongoing.
Discernment in our Dreams
Fear often causes us to avoid diving deeper into our dreams to determine if God is speaking to us. When we avoid the possibility of God speaking through our dreams, we may also miss what He is actually saying. But now that we have acknowledged our fears and seen that God speaking through our dreams is biblical, we are positioned to seek God’s voice.
Our goal is not to avoid dreams… It’s to discern them correctly.
Discern means to perceive with the eyes or the intellect or to comprehend mentally. We want to perceive what God is putting before our spiritual eyes. We want to understand and comprehend intellectually what He is speaking to us. Why? First, nothing compares to experiencing God speaking to you personally. Second, our best life will always be knowing, being, and living in God’s will for us. — (“Best life” doesn’t mean what we identify as our best life, but what God says is our best life.)
With the task of seeking God’s voice in our dreams before us, I want to encourage you to take a moment to read Proverbs 2:1-11.
Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:3-5
Proverbs 2:3-5 points us to cry out for and seek discernment so that we can have understanding and knowledge from God. What I want you to see is that God is the source. He is the giver of the dreams and the giver of the understanding. Nothing we are talking about is apart from Him.
Guidelines and Guardrails in Interpretation
When I met Margaux Nelson, I had just finished reading and studying about Joseph, his dreams, and his ability to interpret dreams. And since dreams have been a part of my faith journey and hearing God speak, I knew God was leading me to address biblical dream interpretation. (I share several specific God-given dreams in this podcast.)
When I asked Margaux about setting guidelines or guardrails to protect us from falling into something “New Age” when it comes to seeking out interpretation for our dreams, she said,
“Dreams were God’s idea first.”
I love that.
No one else came up with the idea of dreams—God did.
God’s Word will always be our safeguard. If we stay grounded in God’s Word and sensitive to the Holy Spirit as we seek to hear Him, we have found our safest place for biblical dream interpretation. If God spoke to people in the Bible through dreams, He can speak to us through dreams as well. We want to give the Holy Spirit freedom to speak to us however He chooses.
When trying to discern God’s voice in a dream:
Check it against Scripture.
God will never contradict His Word.
Invite the Holy Spirit in — Pray 👉 “Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me?”
It is time to be prepared and ready to receive whatever the Holy Spirit wants to speak to us.
Expect God to speak to you — even in your dreams. You don’t have to be afraid or overcomplicate this. Simply embrace biblical dream interpretation.
How to Start Hearing God Through Dreams
1. Pay attention - Write down your dreams.
2. Stay curious - Don’t dismiss them too quickly.
3. Ask God questions - “What are You showing me?”
4. Be childlike - You don’t need to have it all figured out.
5. Trust God - He is faithful to lead you into truth.
I have come to realize that God wants to speak to us more than we want to hear from Him.
He is not distant, silent, or withholding.
He is speaking.
The question is simply whether we are paying attention.
Want to Go Deeper?
🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode here 👉 Biblical Dream Interpretation and Discerning God's Voice with Margaux Nelson
