Connected to the source

I had one of those dreams last year that stuck with me, but not due to its entertainment value. This dream was disturbing, and frankly, annoying. It falls into the category  of frustration dreams—you know, the kind when nothing you do works; you’re lost in a familiar building (for me that place is usually a school); nobody’s listening to you—that type.

But this dream was more straight-forward and made more sense in real life than the common frustration dream. I think that’s why it was so disturbing.

In this dream, I entered my home before dark one summer’s evening and turned on the lights. Nothing. I went from room to room trying to find a switch that worked. None did. However, when I looked up at the ceiling fan, it was operating. The power was on, but the lights would not work.

I inspected each light fixture all over the house—whether ceiling, stove, sink, or table lamp. Each one was fully stocked with bulbs—perfectly good bulbs. I knew the power was on but the lights were not shining.

I climbed up onto my bed and was aware in the dream of the instability of my footing on the mattress. With legs shaking and feeling like a novice surfer on a large wave, I reached up to the bulbs in the ceiling fixture—each one in its place—and then discovered the problem. Every last bulb in the house was just one or two revolutions away from connecting with the power.

When I awoke in the morning after the dream, I didn’t think much about it and went on with my day.

Later, like a bolt out of Heaven—when I was telling someone about the dream—I realized what it signified. My dream was a tutorial about the power and the light operating within me—and the Church.

First, the dream was set in my house. Therefore, it applied to me just as much as it did to anyone else—probably more. Keep this in mind when God reveals issues to you—let Him search your own heart first. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1, KJV; emphasis added).

Here’s what I saw: The power in the house was on. Nothing was wrong at the electric company’s end—I knew that because the ceiling fan was doing its thing. The light bulbs were all in place—they appeared to be properly installed.

What I know: There is nothing wrong with the power of God in our time. It is every bit as strong as it was when Elijah and Elisha lived, when Peter, Paul, and John preached, and indeed, when Jesus walked the earth. The power is most definitely ON.

This dream opened my eyes to a small adjustment I needed to maintain so that Jesus—the Light of the world—could shine through my life. This “fine-tuning”, I believe, is applicable to anyone else hungering for more of God, as well. Here’s what I gleaned:

• The electricity that was being used was unhindered in operating the ceiling fans. In other words, coolness and comfort were maintained—perhaps prioritized. In my life and in most churches—at least in this nation—the environment is cool and comfortable.

• Every single light bulb was manufacturer-ready and in its place. They looked just right; they appeared to be 100% functional. In the same way, there’s nothing defective with you or me—the people God has pulled out of the world and placed in His Church. Each one of us is capable of 100% functionality.

• None of the bulbs produced any light. No corresponding heat was produced, either, and the house stayed cool. In my dream, the bulbs that were capable of lighting my house were not lighting up. A benefit of that was the lack of heat on a hot summer’s day, but again, no light was shining. When light shines, heat is produced. When you or I start shining, often persecution heats up. One way to avoid the heat is to keep the lights off.

• It took some effort to discover the problem. I had to get up on furniture I don’t normally climb on; I had to force myself out of my comfort-zone to problem-solve. It’s easy to complain or point a finger at others or at issues; it’s much more uncomfortable to endeavor to honestly seek God for the cause so the problem can be solved. Although it may feel precarious—very shaky—to step out of the security of “everything’s great” to face off with besetting issues, the results that come from God are worth it.

• The problem wasn’t in the power or in the bulbs themselves or even in their placement. The power was on; the bulbs each had the appropriate wattage; each bulb was in the right spot; they just weren’t connected to the power. They were mere millimeters away from connection.

We must never take it for granted that because God’s power is present and we are in position to be used that we are actually fully connected to the power. Connection at full revolution is the only sure way to produce light. Heat will be generated as well, but we can’t let that stop us from seeking full connection to our Power Source. Heat is produced when light shines; but when the heat is on, God’s grace and glory flourish all the more.

May the Lord grant all of us the grace we need to turn those“bulbs” the one or two notches it takes to connect with Him at full strength. And may we keep that connection tight on an ongoing basis.

Dorothy

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5