God is always speaking—the question is, are you paying attention?
We often expect God to speak with thunder from the clouds or send angels with flaming swords. But more often than not, His voice comes in whispers. In the stillness. Through dreams, signs, nudges, and patterns we might overlook if we’re not spiritually sensitive.
Throughout Scripture, God used dreams and signs as powerful tools to guide, warn, confirm, and reveal destiny. He hasn’t stopped doing that. The challenge is that many people have lost the ability—or the patience—to discern His signals. But when you learn how to recognize and interpret these divine cues, your walk with God becomes not only deeper, but more directed.
Let’s dive into how God speaks through dreams and signs, and how you can sharpen your discernment to hear Him clearly.
God Still Speaks Today
God is not silent. He’s always communicating with His children, and He uses many methods:
✓ His Word
✓ The inner witness of the Holy Spirit
✓ Prophetic voices
✓ Circumstances and timing
✓ Dreams and visions
✓ Symbols, patterns, and divine signs
“For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night…” (Job 33:14–15)
Notice that the issue isn’t if God is speaking—it’s whether we perceive it.
Dreams: God’s Night Language
A dream is one of the most profound ways God bypasses your conscious mind to reveal what your spirit needs to know. When your body is at rest and your defenses are down, God has room to deposit insight, warnings, direction, or revelation.
Biblical examples of God speaking through dreams:
- Joseph (Genesis 37): God showed him his future influence and leadership.
- Pharaoh (Genesis 41): A dream warned of famine—Joseph interpreted and saved a nation.
- Solomon (1 Kings 3): God appeared in a dream to offer wisdom and blessing.
- Joseph, husband of Mary (Matthew 1–2): Received divine instructions to protect baby Jesus.
God still uses dreams today—if we’re willing to remember, write, and interpret them spiritually.
How to Discern God in Your Dreams
Not every dream is from God. Some dreams are:
✓ Soulish – reflections of your thoughts, worries, or emotions
✓ Demonic – sent to intimidate, confuse, or deceive
✓ Prophetic – messages from God to inform, instruct, or reveal
Here’s how to discern divine dreams:
- The Dream Has Weight – It lingers. You can’t shake it off. It feels different from regular dreams.
- It’s Vivid and Symbolic – Often rich in imagery and layered with meaning.
- It Aligns with God’s Word – Never contradicts Scripture or character of God.
- It Provokes Prayer or Clarity – It draws you closer to God, not confusion or fear.
- It May Repeat or Confirm – God may repeat the same dream or theme more than once.
Always record your dreams. Keep a dream journal by your bed. As soon as you wake up, write down the details, no matter how strange or unclear they seem. You may not understand it immediately, but revelation often comes over time.
Signs: God’s Gentle Nods and Nudges
God also uses signs to affirm His will, confirm His word, and get your attention.
Biblical examples of signs:
- Gideon’s fleece (Judges 6) – God confirmed Gideon’s assignment through specific physical signs.
- The Star (Matthew 2) – Led the wise men to the birth of Christ.
- Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3) – God used an unusual sight to call Moses into purpose.
- The rainbow (Genesis 9) – A sign of God’s covenant with Noah.
Modern signs might look like:
✓ Repeated numbers or patterns
✓ Timely encounters or conversations
✓ Confirmations through Scripture or sermons
✓ “Coincidences” that feel too specific to ignore
✓ Sudden peace or unease about a situation
These are not superstitions—they are divine signals.
How to Recognize When a Sign Is From God
- It Confirms, Not Confuses – God’s signs bring peace, clarity, or conviction—not chaos.
- It Aligns With the Word – God won’t give a sign that contradicts His written promises or principles.
- It Leads You Closer to Him – Any sign that points to dependence on God, not self, is worth noting.
- It Comes With Inner Witness – You sense the Holy Spirit affirming it deep within.
- It Often Comes in Patterns – One sign might be overlooked. A series becomes hard to deny.
Always test signs in prayer. Ask: “Lord, is this You? Or is this my own desire disguised as a sign?”
What to Do When You Receive a Dream or Sign
✓ Pray for interpretation – Ask God to give you clarity and spiritual insight.
✓ Search the Scriptures – Often, God confirms His messages through His Word.
✓ Seek wise counsel if needed – Trusted, spiritually mature voices can help discern meaning.
✓ Respond in faith – If God is warning, take action. If He’s confirming, step out. If He’s revealing, obey.
“Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” (2 Chronicles 20:20)
Caution: Don’t Chase Signs—Chase God
God gives signs, but don’t become addicted to them. Your relationship with Him should be rooted in faith, not always needing external confirmation.
“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign…” (Matthew 16:4)
Signs should never replace the voice of the Holy Spirit or the authority of Scripture. They are supplements, not substitutes.
Final Thoughts: Stay Spiritually Alert
God is still speaking through dreams and signs—but many miss it because they’re too distracted, too busy, or too doubtful. If you want to hear God more clearly, slow down. Quiet your spirit. Expect Him to speak. And when He does, pay attention.
Not every dream is random. Not every coincidence is by chance. Your Father is trying to show you something.
And when you learn to recognize divine signals, you’ll never walk blindly again.