010 - Visions

Understanding Visions: How God Speaks Through Pictures

I want to share something foundational about visions and how they play a role in hearing God. For the longest time, I didn’t realize that the pictures I saw in my mind when I prayed were God speaking to me. To me, they felt like distractions. I didn’t know how to interpret them, and no one had ever taught me about visions.

Yet visions are woven throughout Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, we see examples of God communicating this way. Dreams, visions, angelic encounters—they’re all part of how He has spoken and continues to speak to His people. It would be unwise to dismiss these methods of communication simply because they seem unfamiliar or mysterious to us.

Visions in the Bible

God has spoken through visions since the beginning. We see them in the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Ezekiel, and John, among many others. They’re not limited to the Old Testament either—the Book of Acts is filled with examples of visions guiding and directing God’s people.

God’s way of speaking has never changed. If He communicated through visions in Scripture, why would we assume He no longer does?

Recognizing and Recording What You See

When you ask God to speak to you, one of the best things you can do is write down everything you see. Even if it doesn’t make sense, write it down. For instance, you might see something as simple as a mustard seed, even if you’ve never seen one before. You might think, What does this mean? It’s okay if you don’t immediately understand. Just record the details faithfully.

Sometimes, the images you see might seem random: a bicycle on a dirt road, a tree swaying in the wind, or a specific person or place. As you write down the details and revisit them, God’s meaning often becomes clearer.

Let me share an example. Someone might tell me they saw a bicycle. When I ask them to elaborate, they reveal it was an African man riding the bicycle on a dirt road. Suddenly, they realize they’ve been praying about whether to go on a missions trip to Africa. In this case, the vision becomes a confirmation of what God is speaking to their heart.

Paying Attention to the Details

One of the key lessons in learning to hear God through visions is to pay close attention to details. It’s easy to overlook or dismiss parts of what you see, but those details often carry significant meaning.

For example, when someone sees an angel in a vision, they might focus only on the words the angel speaks and miss other elements of the vision. Perhaps there was a choir singing in the background or a particular setting where the message was delivered. These details can add depth and clarity to what God is communicating.

Sometimes, visions come so quickly and are so vivid that it’s difficult to capture everything. It’s like walking into a crowded room filled with conversations, music, and movement—you may only focus on one part at a time. But with practice, you can learn to pay attention to more of what God is showing you.

Overcoming Doubt and Distraction

When I first began seeing visions, I often doubted what I saw. I questioned whether it was from God or just my imagination. Sometimes, I’d even “close the window” on the vision by overanalyzing or second-guessing it.

God, however, is patient. He waits for us to listen. The more we pay attention and trust what He’s showing us, the clearer His messages become. Like any relationship, communication with God deepens as we grow in confidence and familiarity.

God Speaks in Many Ways

Visions are one of the countless ways God communicates. They can happen during the day or at night, as part of a dream, or even in the middle of prayer. Angelic encounters in the Bible often occurred within visions or dreams. Some visions are symbolic, while others are more straightforward.

For instance, the Apostle John was taken to another dimension in his vision on the island of Patmos. Others, like Peter’s vision of the unclean animals in Acts, carried a symbolic message that required interpretation.

Learning to Pay Attention

As you grow in recognizing and interpreting visions, you’ll discover that they can be incredibly detailed and meaningful. It takes time and practice to discern what God is saying. Writing down what you see, reflecting on it, and asking God for clarity are all essential parts of this process.

The Bible is filled with examples of God speaking in dreams and visions. He hasn’t stopped doing this. Learning to see what He is showing you and listening to His voice in this way is a powerful way to grow in your relationship with Him.

So, the next time you pray and see a picture in your mind, don’t dismiss it. Write it down. Ask God what He’s saying through it. Pay attention to the details, and trust that He is speaking—even if it doesn’t make sense at first.

God is a God who speaks. Always has been. Always will be. The question is: are we listening?