“So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives.” (Genesis‬ ‭6:13-14, 17-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

“During our stay of several days, Agabus, a prophet from Judea, came to visit us. As a prophetic gesture, he took Paul’s belt and tied his own hands and feet with it as he prophesied, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘The one who owns this belt will be tied up in this same way by the Jews and they will hand him over to those who are not Jews.’” (Acts 21:10-11 TPT)

God reveals His plans for us through Scripture, dreams, visions, prophets and direct communication.

Make a record of Scriptures that speak to you and dwell in them:

Search the prophets and New Testament for a verse or passage that stands out to you.

Write it out in your favourite translation but look it up in other translations too.

Journal what you think it means.

Read an introduction to that Bible book form a study Bible or Bible encyclopaedia.

Read the whole passage it comes from out loud.

Look up the key words for meanings in a Bible dictionary or encyclopaedia.

Write down what is God promising to do in that Scripture.

Write down what God asking of you in that Scripture.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what it means and write down what He says without questioning what you hear until you are finished. If what you write is more helpful, more encouraging, more loving, more insightful, more empowering and more like Jesus than anything you would say, it is the Holy Spirit speaking. Note that this can be an on going/daily question as He gives you more. Don’t limit it to a one time thing.

Ask the Holy Spirit what it would look like if this Scripture was seen active in your life now, today.

Ask the Holy Spirit to make it real for you and in you today.

Journal the journey. Dwell in that Scripture daily until God says it is time to move on.

Recalling true dreams:

Can you recall a time when suddenly you realised you had dreamt what was happening before it happened?

Write down what you can remember of the experience and the dream.

Ask God, “What does this mean?” and then “Is there anything I should do in response now?”.

Journal His replies. Don’t judge it till you are finished.

If what you write is more helpful, more encouraging, more loving, more insightful, more empowering and more like Jesus than anything you would say, it is God speaking.

Make the response God asks of you (if it is a significant or life direction change ask God for confirming words from others and Scripture before you act.)

Understanding dreams and visions:

Most dreams and visions that God uses to communicate His plans with are symbolic like Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:1-7) or Jesus parables (e.g. seed = the Word of God) so having a dream symbol dictionary (e.g. The Divinity Code to understanding your dreams and visions” by Adam Thompson and Adrian Beale) is useful as it saves you having to search the Bible yourself. There are also Christian dream interpretation courses and resources available on the internet.

Write out or draw the shortest dream or vision that you have had and can remember.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in interpreting it.

Write out a list of the people and things (e.g. buildings, surrounding scenery etc.) that are in the dream.

Were you purely an observer to the events in your dream or were you involved? If you were involved at all the dream is about primarily about you. If you were just an observer the dream is about someone or something else.

You normally represent You in your dreams and visions.

For each person you recognise other than you, think of the first main character trait, gifting or talent that you associate with that person. That is what that person represents in your dream (e.g. a known prophet represents prophetic gifting). The gifts of the people you are with in your dream are the gifts God is giving you.

For each person you don’t recognise, identify the character trait, gifting or talent that you saw that person had in your dream. The spiritual version of that is what that person represents in your dream (e.g. a cleaner might be someone who has come to do some spiritual cleansing).

Use a Biblical dream dictionary, or a concordance, or a Bible dictionary, or a Bible search to identify what the non-people things in your dream represent spiritually (e.g. mountains = spiritual highs).

Then with the Holy Spirit’s help, look at what happens with you and those symbols in the dream or vision and work out what God is planning to do in your life (e.g. If you went to the bathroom God is planning to spiritually cleanse you. If you were up a mountain God is taking you to a higher place spiritually)

Black and white dreams and visions (no colour) usually represent a spiritual warfare situation.

Journal the meaning.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how this has or is happening in your life. Journal His response. Don’t judge it till you are finished. If what you write is more helpful, more encouraging, more loving, more insightful, more empowering and more like Jesus than anything you would say, it is God speaking.

What is God saying He will do for you?

What is He asking of you?

Do not make major or life changing decisions based on just your dream or vision interpretation. Ask God for 3 confirming signs or words from others and Scripture.

Engage with a prophetic word you’ve received:

Write out a prophetic word you have received from someone else as well as you can remember it.

Identify the key words and phrases. Use a Bible or ordinary dictionary if you need to understand them better.

What is God saying He will do for you?

How have you seen this happen so far?

What is it saying about your identity?

Has this changed the way you see you?

What is He asking of you?

How have you responded so far?

If this word has been completed, thank God for His blessings in it.

If this word still has some work to do, make it into a declarative prayer and pray it daily for 4-6weeks. e.g. Lord You said I am ….. Lord You promised You will …….. Lord You said ….

Ask the Holy Spirit to make this word real in you and your life.

Journal the journey.

Practicing receiving plans direct from God:

Choosing to let God give you plans in the smaller things builds relationship and confidence so that you can hear the bigger plans when you need to.

Ask the Holy Spirit to instruct you.

Cook a meal asking God for the recipe and making what He says.

Make a piece of art, craft, sewing, music or handiwork following God’s instructions.

Do some garden planning with God as instructor.

Do some home decorating with God as instructor.

Ask God for details of a social event He wants you to have and do it.