10 Steps to Decode Your Dreams: Your Prophetic Guide from the Courts of Heaven

One of the greatest challenges to dreams is the ability to interpret them and know their meaning.

I have watched people get really weird with the interpretation of dreams. However, when a dream is interpreted correctly, it will fit in your spirit. You will know that you are rightly discerning the word of the Lord. There are 10 guidelines I’d like to give for interpreting dreams. These guidelines will be very helpful in discerning what God might be saying through your dream life.

Guideline 1: Dreams Reveal Secrets

Daniel was used by God to unveil what King Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed. Remember that in this happening, the king had said that if no one could tell him his dream and the interpretation, then all the wise men would be killed. Daniel and his three companions were part of this group. Their lives were in jeopardy. God used this situation to exalt Daniel. The Lord showed Daniel in a dream the king’s dream and its interpretation. They were all spared as a result. When Daniel came before Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel made a statement concerning the secrets of the Lord.

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these” (Daniel 2:26-28).

Daniel declared that Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams were God declaring secrets. We should know that this is the purpose of dreams. This will help us discern what dreams mean. The Lord grants the knowledge of His secrets to those who fear Him. It is a great privilege to be shown the secrets of the Lord.

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant (Psalm 25:14).

Having dreams and knowing what they mean is a sign that we are walking in right relationship with the Lord. More than anything, though, dreams are a statement of God’s love toward us. When we have His commands and keep them, it is because we love Him.

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (John 14:21).

Notice that when we have His commands and keep them, we are loved by the Father. Notice also that those who do this, Jesus will manifest Himself to them. This is a cherished blessing when we are loved by God and therefore receive the revelation of His secrets. This is what dreams and their interpretation are. They are the secrets of God being seen and known.

Several years ago, when Mary and I were leading the work in Waco, a man on my staff was a very gifted person. He was a worship leader. As I allowed him to function in the church, my wife had a dream about him. He was standing behind a car with the trunk raised. He could not be seen, but she knew he was kissing a woman who was not his wife. I knew the accuracy of my wife’s dreams. I therefore sat down with the person. He denied any wrongdoing at all. However, it was revealed later that he was not only kissing this woman, but was having an ongoing affair with her. I had to sit him down again and deal with him and the situation. This secret was revealed through a dream. It allowed us to root out what could have been scandalous and destructive. This is the power of secrets being revealed through dreams.

Guideline 2: Dependency Must Be on God

When Joseph was brought before Pharaoh to interpret a dream, he let it be known that his dependence was on the Lord. Sometimes people think that if they just learn certain concepts, then dreams can be interpreted. However, God is very creative and can speak through dreams in unusual ways. This requires that we listen to Him with absolute dependence.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Genesis 41:15-16).

Joseph let it be known that he could interpret dreams, but only as a result of God’s help. Notice that in both Joseph and Daniel’s responses they gave glory to God. They both saw that this was an opportunity to put the emphasis on the Lord and to magnify Him. Even though they both had a gifting to discern and unveil, they always lifted up the Lord.

Of course, this dream that Pharaoh had was about the economic future of his nation. Through this dream, Joseph told Pharaoh what was going to happen, then gave him wisdom to prepare for it. As a result of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams, he became a preserver of life. When Joseph’s brothers were confused concerning Joseph’s motives, this is what Joseph said:

But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt (Genesis 45:5-8).

Joseph’s dependence on God to interpret dreams set him in this place before Pharaoh. He knew that the Lord had done this to preserve the budding nation of Israel, but also many other nations as well. Joseph became a preserver of life because of his ability to interpret dreams.

Guideline 3: Recognize Gifting

In the midst of our dependence on God, there are those who are gifted in interpreting dreams. In other words, they have been given a grace that allows them to understand what a dream is saying. We find this in Daniel’s life when the quality of the young men taken to Babylon is discussed:

As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17).

Daniel had the ability to hear a dream and under-stand its meaning. Any gifting we have is a result of the grace we have received in that area. Whatever gift we have is a result of the grace we have been given from God. We are to steward that gift and grace faithfully.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith (Romans 12:6).

If you continue reading through Romans 12, you will find seven different gifts of grace mentioned. The point is, however, that the gift is due to the kind of grace we have been given. We should celebrate grace because of this. First Peter 4:10 tells us that we are to recognize and steward what our gifting is:

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

We are to minister with the gift we have been given. This is being a good steward of the grace of God. This is what Daniel did with his ability to interpret dreams and visions. He had the grace to accomplish this and used it well. It brought him before kings. We should recognize the gift we have from the Lord and be faithful with that grace.

Guideline 4: God Speaks in Unique Ways

The Lord will speak in terms that you are familiar with. He will use dreams with a certain setting that contains secrets and words from the Lord. This is why Jesus spoke in parables. He used situations and settings that people were aware of in their daily lives. Jesus used parables so they would be dependent on Him to hear what He was saying.

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:10-11).

Many times our dreams will be in what we understand, to communicate to us deeper spiritual truths. Psalm 78:1-3 shows that the Lord uses dark sayings to communicate with us:

Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Hidden within these familiar settings are words from the Lord that can contain profound wisdom. We must pay attention and receive the revelation contained in it.

Guideline 5: Keep It Simple

I have watched some people, in their efforts to interpret dreams, get really strange. I have watched them stress and strain to make something mean something. I have found, however, that once we see and hear the word of the Lord from a dream, it is simple. Our eyes just weren’t opened to see it. Once we do, though, we can’t understand how we could have missed it in the first place. We are told in Jeremiah 17:5-6 that those who have their confidence in the flesh will miss things that those who are spiritual see:

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.”

Notice that when we are walking in the natural realm and not being spiritual, we don’t recognize the good things God sends. We must shift out of the natural realm of trying to make something mean something. We must get into the spiritual dimension and be able to spiritually discern what is really being said. When we do, we discover God is speaking from a simple perspective.

Guideline 6: Pay Attention to Common Phrases

The Lord has many times used a common phrase within culture to make a point. I was in a situation where someone was accusing me of something I wasn’t guilty of. They were even threatening natural legal action against me. In the midst of this, I had a dream where a huge snake was rearing up against me. It was in a threatening posture toward me. I was on my back in a position that wasn’t powerful. As this snake stood up and over me, I pulled my foot from the position I was in and kicked the snake’s head. I realized then that the snake was stronger than I thought. I then reached into my back pocket and drew out a towel. I threw the towel over the snake’s head. In the moments that it was unable to see because of the towel, I escaped.

When I woke up, I immediately thought of the situation I was in with this person. I knew I did not need to fight. I needed to throw in the towel. This is a phrase in our culture that means to surrender and give up. The Lord was telling me, “You are not in a strong position. You need to let it go and surrender.” This is exactly what I did. The situation was rectified, and we moved on in peace. If I had fought through, I am sure the outcome would have been much different. The Lord used a common phrase in our culture to depict what I was to do in this circumstance.

There was another time when an associate of mine was seeking to go into business with some other people. In the midst of this negotiation and business dealings, I dreamt that my associate was badly burned. In the dream, it was the fact that he was physically burned. I went to him and told him the dream. I warned him that if he entered this business deal, he would be burned. This phrase within our culture means take advantage of someone. He did not hear me. He went on with the investment of his money into this deal and lost it all. He didn’t believe that these people would take advantage of him. They did, however. They took his money, and he was burned.

God will use common phrases to communicate His heart to us.

Guideline 7: What Was the Feeling in the Dream?

This is a very important element when interpreting dreams. What I sense and feel in a dream can be very important in knowing what God is saying. Was there fear in the dream? Was there excitement in the dream? Was there apprehension in the dream? Was there com-fort in the dream? What was the feeling? Many times God will use dreams and highlight an emotion to communicate what is happening that we might not know about. Philippians 4:7 shows us that there is a supernatural peace we can have: “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The word guard is the Greek word phroureo. It means to be a watcher in advance. When we have the peace of God in our hearts, it is God testifying that what is coming toward us is good. The Lord will use dreams at times with this sense to let us know everything is going to work out. We all carry fears and insecurities. The Lord will release dreams with certain senses and feelings in them to communicate His love and care. He will deliver us from our fears according to Psalm 34:4: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

The Lord has done this for me several times. I had a dream about one of my children. I had some concerns and fears concerning this one. This person is a grown adult. In my dream, though, he, along with some of my grandchildren, was in my bed. Anytime you dream about your bed, it can be speaking of your place of rulership and dominion. As I saw him in my bed, I knew that he was living under my authority and power in the spirit world. He was safe and secure in my bed. I not only saw it in the dream, but I also felt it as I looked in the dream at the situation. I told his mother, my wife, that he is safe because he is under our dominion and rulership in the spirit world. There is a peace that passes understanding that is present because of what I saw and felt in the dream.

Guideline 8: Magnified Situations

I have found through the years of dreaming that God will magnify certain things in dreams to get your attention. This may be to warn you or to show you how to pray. Several years ago, I had a dream about a young man I was very close to. This young man had a history of drug abuse. Yet he had been free and delivered from this for several years. He had grown a substantial business and was married and had a child. Things seemed good. I had a dream one night where I knew this per-son had been killed in a crash. When I had it, I told my wife this person was going to crash. Sure enough, he went back to the drugs he had been delivered from. He lost the business and suffered great sorrow. He literally crashed. The dying part wasn’t a natural death. It was about losing destiny.

Many times when you dream about someone dying, it isn’t a natural death. It is the loss of destiny and future you are witnessing. This doesn’t mean this has to happen. We can pray and stand. We can seek to change it. The awareness of it in the dream can be magnified to show you what is coming and how to react.

Guideline 9: Practice Makes Perfect

The more we practice interpreting dreams, the better we can become at it. We begin to learn how the Lord speaks and what certain things mean. Psalm 103:7 speaks of the difference between knowing the acts of God and knowing the ways of God: “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.”

The longer we walk with the Lord and even seek to minister and know His ways, the more proficient we become. As we know the ways of God, we will begin to be more effective at dream interpretation. Abraham walked with God and found out something. This is what Romans 4:1-2 tells us:

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Notice that Abraham found something. This means that as he walked with the Lord, certain revelations and insights began to come to him. He discovered that we are justified by faith, not works. This was a result of his journey with God. He discovered the ways of God. This is true for us as well. We shouldn’t grow weary. We should keep exercising our spiritual senses. If we keep trying, we get better and better at it, according to Hebrews 5:14:

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We become mature in our abilities as we exercise our senses through use. The ways of God become part of our understanding. With this said, we should never be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” There are times in dream interpretation when I don’t know. I am not fearful to admit this. It may be a dream you need to simply set aside. If the Lord is saying something from it, He will have to reveal it.

Guideline 10: How Does It Fit in the Spirit

We are told that we should test everything by how it feels in the realm of the Spirit in Romans 8:16: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

This is the final test of what a dream means. Is the Holy Spirit bearing witness to this interpretation? If I am trying to make it mean something, but the Holy Spirit isn’t saying “Yes” to this, I need to lay it aside. Whatever the dream means, the Holy Spirit will agree. This is where we need to consistently be developing a relationship with the Spirit of God. This is what we are encouraged to do in 2 Corinthians 13:14:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

In the midst of walking in the love of God and the grace of who Jesus is, we are to be in communion and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. The more we practice this, the more we will be able to allow the Spirit to let us know if our interpretation of a dream is correct or not. He will bear witness one way or the other.

Lord, as I stand in Your Courts, may these guidelines for dream interpretation work on my behalf. May You grant me wisdom and discernment to know what You are saying through these dreams. May I know from Your wisdom how to use these in the Courts of Heaven. Thank You that You don’t leave us wondering. You come to unveil for us Your Words through these dreams. In Jesus’ name, amen.