Dreams and Visions: Generational Patterns and Dream Gifting

Generational Patterns and Dream Gifting

By: Minister Denise N. Fyffe

Embracing the role of being a dreamer is a relatively new occurrence for me. I have spent the last 25 years trying to grapple with operating in the prophetic and accepting that call. Meanwhile, I didn’t focus any significance on my dreams, as I did on prophecy. On reflection, I vaguely lumped dreaming and prophesying into one bag. However, due to major life changes, it started to surface with alacrity, and I was faced with a new realization and reality. Moreover, I started to reflect on the fact that my mother was a dreamer. I remember her recounting her dreams to me. I understood them and often analyzed them within my spirit. She mostly had simple symbolic dreams. Looking back, I garner they were highly discerning and filtered with elements of spiritual warfare. The Lord also showed her things concerning her children, my brother and me, as well as her friends and family. The Lord also showed her exactly what was disturbing her life in the spiritual realm. Within my own family, I have observed what I believe may be a generational pattern in dreams and spiritual sensitivity. My mother was a dreamer, and I am a dreamer. Looking back over our experiences, I recognize similarities in how dreams have brought warning, discernment, spiritual insight, and awareness of matters affecting our family. From my personal experience, I believe spiritual gifts and sensitivities can sometimes appear across generations within a family. Scripture does not explicitly establish a doctrine that the gift of dreams is biologically inherited, and 1 Corinthians 12:11 reminds us that the Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to His will. Therefore, I present this as testimony and spiritual observation rather than a universal rule for every family. Where similar patterns appear across generations, they are worth prayerfully observing and discerning. A family pattern may help a person recognize how God has worked within their family, while the source, purpose, and stewardship of every spiritual gift must ultimately remain under the direction of the Holy Spirit. I should further clarify that it is through my mother that I developed a relationship with the Lord, as she would always send or take me to church when I was a little girl. I remember this from a toddler, her making matching suits and then later I accepted Jesus Christ of my own volition at about 12 years old. For many years, I had dreams on occasion, that I can recall and thought nothing of them. However, they have increased immensely over the last few years. Now, I dream and have visions constantly. This has prompted me to seek answers and clarification. I wanted to gain knowledge, and understanding, and grow in wisdom on the topic of dreams and visions. But as a writer and teacher, I had to also decipher and accept that God wanted me to teach others about the language of heaven and help them understand when he communicates via dreams and visions. That is a part of my kingdom assignment. Admittedly, I do not consider myself to be a master of dream interpretation. I am simply being obedient to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to pour out His wellspring of knowledge through me and into you. This indeed is a faith walk.

Activity:

Reflect on who in your family regularly recounts dreams. If you notice a pattern across generations, record it as an observation rather than assuming hereditary gifting. Write down what you remember in your dream journal and note their names. Stay tuned for our next lesson on dreams and visions. Subscribe to receive notifications. Be encouraged.

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About the writer: Minister Denise N. Fyffe is a published author of over 50 fiction and non-fiction books. She started Revealing the Christian Life Ministry to help other Christians and provide support. She is also a trainer and mentors aspiring writers towards achieving their goals. For more information on Dreams & Visions, visit The Mystery of Dreams and Visions in the RTCLM Book Shop.

Continue in the Dream Center: Explore Understanding the Dreamer for the current Dreams & Visions Knowledge Center framework on calling, development, character, stewardship and discernment.