Dreams are used by God to warn us of imminent peril, to give us insight regarding a situation or to help plan our course. Man's purpose could be revealed through dreams or it could be last night's pizza, so we need discernment. But we can't disregard that our dreams are a portal into the future. The Lord knows that we need guidance because life can be one incalculable mess. In the Bible, the Lord sent dreams to aid His people. Without a dream, Joseph would not have a compass regarding the calling of God in his life. He struggled against the jealousy of his brothers and received reassurance from a dream. “Joseph had a dream and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, 'Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.'" God still employs dreams to help us maneuver through life. Here are 5 reasons that your dreams matter.

They are a tool for communication.

Just like God gave Joseph a dream about his future, the Lord also spoke through Joel in dreams: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions.” Your success as a believer depends on hearing what God has to say. First, you need to believe God wants to speak to you. Jesus said in John 14:26: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." Be sensitive to what God is speaking in a dream and be open in hearing His voice.

They are used to bring healing.

British adventurer, Bear Grylls, suffered from a parachuting accident in Zambia in In 1996. Afraid to return to skydiving, he kept having a dream about falling and it healed him emotionally from the traumatic episode. God heals through faith, the laying on of hands but also through prophecy and dreams. Said Grylls: "I’m away a lot, so I kind of cling to the simple things, like, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ and ‘I’m holding you by your right hand.’ The simple things are what I try to keep my faith like. Jesus is unchanging and we are forgiven," he described to Relevant.

They can warn us about the future.

Look no further than in the Book of Revelation where John wrote about the return of Christ and when world history comes to an end! "In those last days, evil will be conquered and banished forever. God will judge all humanity. Those who have rejected him and his Son will be ejected from God’s presence, and the source of all evil, the beast or satan, will be destroyed." Have you ever had a dream that warned you to drive better, behave better or shared that a loved one was going to become sick? God uses dreams to warn us of pending dangers that lurk ahead.

They are used as creative inspiration.

Not all dreams are warnings of danger. Niels Bohr was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding the atomic structure and quantum theory. He had a dream about the atomic structure beforehand and tested it. In 1922, he received the Nobel Prize in physics for his work. C.J. Walker was the first African-American woman to become a self-made millionaire and it all started with a dream. An angel in the dream told her what ingredients were needed to fight against hair loss. She developed the “Walker System” and sold her hair care products and became a wealthy woman.

They are used to bring encouragement.

Pilate's wife was given a dream to encourage the governor to free Jesus during His trial. She was convinced that they were executing an innocent man. While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, she begged: “Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered." But Pilate couldn't do anything. Paul had several visions to inspire him. He was encouraged to keep preaching in Corinth and God gave him a vision of Heaven. Zacharias was an old priest and was told that he would have a son, John the Baptist, in a dream. God gave Solomon a dream and posed the following question: "Ask what you wish Me to give you." Solomon answered: "Wisdom." More recently, Olympian Edwin Moses, a former American track and field athlete, said that he had a series of encouraging dreams that offered peace and resolution about running. He went on to win 10 races in a row!

What can we gather from the way that the Lord works? Well, He's always on the move and dreams are just another way for Him to communicate with us. Dreams are the perfect way to hear from God because you can't simply ignore them. But also use discernment as not every dream is from God. Pray that God would expose the origin of the dream and confirm if it is from Him and seek wisdom from other Christians. Also, make sure you pray and seek God's presence while hunting down the facts.