Have you ever wondered what the difference is between prophecy, dreams, and visions? Someone once asked me that, and I realized how many believers wrestle with the same question. The truth is, all three are ways God speaks to us.
Prophecy is like God sending you a text message. Dreams are like God sending you a video; something vivid and detailed. And visions are like a photo or a short film clip God uses to reveal something to you.
Each one is communication from the same God who loves to speak to His people.
Dreams usually happen when we’re unconscious, whether asleep or in a trance-like state. Visions, on the other hand, happen when we’re fully awake and alert. Both can be either literal or symbolic, and that’s where many of us struggle. I tend to take things literally, so when God gives me something symbolic, I sometimes wrestle with understanding what it means.
In Acts 9:10–12, both Ananias and Saul have literal visions. The Lord tells Ananias exactly where to go and what to do—clear instructions that led to Saul’s healing. In Acts 10:3–8, Cornelius receives a similar literal vision, detailed down to names and addresses.
I can’t help but think how many people today might have visions like that but never act on them out of fear of what others might think.
Then there’s Acts 11:5–10, where Peter falls into a trance and sees a sheet full of animals coming down from heaven. This one is clearly symbolic. God wasn’t telling Peter to start hunting reptiles for lunch; He was revealing that salvation was for both Jews and Gentiles.
And finally, in Acts 22:17–21, Paul has another literal vision of Jesus, who tells him to leave Jerusalem.
The lesson is simple—whether it’s a dream or vision, literal or symbolic—it’s all God speaking. The real question is whether we’re listening.
In Genesis 37:5–11, Joseph’s dreams caused a lot of trouble with his brothers. They hated him for it. Yet Joseph still shared what he saw because he feared God more than he feared man. His obedience led to years of hardship, but it also positioned him to save his family during a famine.
We can learn a lot from Joseph. If you’re always judging obedience by the immediate reaction of people, you’ll fall into the fear of man. Proverbs calls that a dangerous trap. Obedience isn’t about the outcome—it’s about trusting that God knows the bigger picture.
In Judges 7:13–14, a soldier dreams of a loaf of bread rolling into the Midianite camp and knocking over a tent. His friend immediately interprets it to mean God was giving Gideon victory. Some symbolic dreams are that clear; others take time and prayer.
When I’m most in tune with the Spirit—like after a powerful Sunday service—I sometimes receive interpretations instantly. Other times, I have to sit with the Lord, pray in the Spirit, and wait for revelation. The key is not to get frustrated. God loves the process.
When He gives you something symbolic, He’s inviting you into an adventure of seeking Him.
For most of my life, I only had one dream that I knew came from God. It was when I was 18 years old. In the dream, I stood at the front of a church in a tuxedo as a bride walked through the doors—it was Beth. We weren’t even close at the time, but the Lord said, “That’s who I have for you to marry.” We were married just months later. Eighteen years later, I can tell you that dream changed my life.
From then until 2020, I didn’t have another God-given dream. But over the last five years, I’ve had more than fifty. Nearly all of them point to one thing—stepping into what God has called me to do, even when I feel uncomfortable or unqualified.
Many of those dreams involved me wearing clothes I didn’t like while preaching. It took me years to realize what that meant. God was showing me that obedience doesn’t always feel comfortable, but it’s still necessary. The biggest area of resistance for me was stepping into online ministry.
I told the Lord I didn’t want to be known, but He kept pushing me forward. Now I see why—He was preparing me through years of video, website, and creative work for this exact purpose.
If you don’t write down your dreams, visions, and prophetic words, you’re telling the Lord you don’t value what He’s saying. I’ve documented every dream I’ve had, and when I look back, I can see time markers—details that seemed random at first but later confirmed God’s timeline.
For example, I once dreamed about a cousin I hadn’t seen in years visiting me. Months later, she showed up unexpectedly. In another dream, a friend I knew was married appeared divorced. I didn’t want to believe it, but months later it happened, just as a time marker God had shown me.
God uses these moments to say, “When you see this happen, know what comes next.”
I often receive visions on Sundays during ministry time. Sometimes I’ll see someone’s face, and I’ll know God wants them to speak or act in that moment. Other times, He shows me scenes that reveal what’s happening spiritually.
Once, while praying for a woman seeking deliverance, I saw a vision of her mother. That led to a breakthrough moment of forgiveness that brought her freedom. Another time, I saw a vision of a grenade with the pin being pulled—God showed me that repentance is the pin in the grenade of revival.
During a recent service, I saw myself hugging someone who was struggling, and the Lord whispered four words: “Love is the answer.” When I spoke those words aloud, all the chaos stopped. That’s the power of listening for God’s direction through vision.
When I prophesy, I usually receive words like a ticker tape in my mind—one word at a time. I speak each one as I hear it, not adding to or taking away from what God gives. If I get stuck, the flow pauses until I understand the next word.
When the words stop, the prophecy is complete. That’s a powerful reminder that true prophecy is about obedience, not performance.
If a dream is symbolic, you can’t get caught up in the literal details. Your kids in a dream may not represent your children—they could symbolize people you lead or influence. God often uses symbolism that either resonates with your life or reflects His own language in Scripture.
When you’re unsure, go to the Word. Ask, “What does this represent to God?” For instance, water can represent cleansing or destruction, depending on context. Snow might symbolize purity. Bread often represents Jesus, the Bread of Life.
I had a dream recently where a figure holding a knife said, “I’m going to kill you.” I recognized it as the spirit of lust. In the dream, I turned on the light, and it fled. The message was clear—when darkness threatens you, all you have to do is turn on the Light.
“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”
—John 8:12 (NLT)
Dreams and visions aren’t spooky or reserved for the spiritually elite. They’re tools God uses to lead, correct, and encourage His people. Whether it’s through a literal instruction or a symbolic adventure, He’s always speaking. Our job is to listen, seek Him for understanding, and obey what He says.
