There is a saying that the dream we have when we are in a state of “half-awake and half-asleep” becomes a prophetic dream. Some people commonly refer to it as a waking dream —a hallucination that occurs when we are in a drowsy state. Sleep psychologists consider them as lucid dreams or sleep paralysis. In this hybrid state, we process our thoughts or feelings that we ignore when we are wide awake. In this semi-conscious state, we can actually become what we dream about towards this glimpse to the future or become the exact opposite by exerting efforts away from it. Our thoughts, especially before going to sleep, affect whatever we dream about. Almost always, I get nightmares whenever I watch a suspenseful movie before going to bed.
In contrast, during a person’s conscious time, thoughts relating to the future inexorably abound, oftentimes masked and marketed as visions, predictions, fearless forecasts, and premonitions. These are shared with others to manipulate minds and eventually influence actions. For instance, at the inception of the pandemic, social media erupted with claims that American author Dean Koontz, way back in 1981, predicted the entry of the coronavirus, in the year 2020. Among those circulated were a few pages in his novel The Eyes of Darkness, which mentioned “Wuhan-400” virus. The exact text posted on social media said, “They call the stuff “Wuhan-400” because it was developed at their RDNA labs outside of the city of Wuhan, and it was the four-hundredth viable strain of man-made microorganisms created at that research center.” However, a fact check done by a reputable US media outlet belied such prediction due to lack of evidentiary facts. Indeed, the 1989 book described a fictional virus, but the original version in 1981 called the virus as Gorki-400, attributing its creation to Russia. Further, the fact check said that the virus described by Koontz, although similar, does not share the same current effects of the coronavirus. Either way, most social-media users remain astonished by the fact that a person like Koontz managed to predict an outbreak of a “severe pneumonia-like illness.”
In the local textile of projections in the form of newscast, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque was once heard disputing the forecast of the OCTA Research anent the upsurge of Covid infection in the country. Roque fearlessly forecasted that there won’t be a significant increase in new cases since the Duterte administration has already imposed sufficient and stringent measures to curb the local contagion. He must be in a waking dream! The OCTA Research team’s forecast actually came about, with close to a 99 percent precision. To his credit, Roque claimed “victory” over a UP Study months ago that projected a certain number of cases which, fortunately, did not happen. On the whole, the graphical illustration of Covid statistics has gone from bad to worse since the announcement of the State of Public Health Emergency in March 2020. What is more woeful is that some officials in this administration kept insisting, some rather vigorously, that the government response to the virus is excellent, compared to other countries. If longer lockdowns and numerous labels of quarantines serve as the criteria, then this county has the best response ever!
Admittedly, while we are fans of projections of the future, whether marketed as a prophecy, a vision, or a forecast, we are normally fixated at the “what” and not the “how”. Whenever anyone shares a prophetic dream to another, the latter would dwell on the prophecy itself and overlook the process. However which way we call it, any glimpse of the future is two-pronged. For “what goes behind” matters more than “what actually is.” Dreams, to a certain extent, are projections of the future. Hence, we should be cautious with our thoughts, especially during bedtime. Context dictates the content. If our minds are charged with negative and harmful things like disease, injury, and even death, our adversary the devil, who “prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour” will have the chance to maneuver the wheels of tragedy.
We should therefore approach sleep with a positive sense of anticipation, by reading inspirational Scripture instead of angry Facebook posts. We can wake up rested and recharged if we have happy thoughts a few hours before sleeping. In contrast, demonic encounters are not far-fetched if, a few hours before sleeping, our thoughts are upon negative events or doomsday scenarios. For instance, I have read that some people are convinced that our Heavenly Creator caused this pandemic. After all, they say that nothing happens here on Earth without his intervention! By focusing on His Word with the help of able mentors instead of reading up on these clairvoyants and commercial fortune tellers disguised as brilliant seers in the mold of Nostradamus, I strongly believe that this virus was authored by the enemy and not by God.
I say so because, first, Our Creator is capable of only what is good and perfect for us: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”(James 1:17). Second, while our world is filled with a plethora of mysteries, we need not be drowned in its clouds, especially dark ones. Armed with a genuine connection with God to help us understand what is inside His heart, I was taught to simply follow His light until we see the goodness in all things. No one can ever supplant His wisdom with theirs, even by the most gifted prophets, amid these trying times. Whether His purpose for us appears in our dreams (like a prophecy) or while we are awake (like a vision), what truly matters is that we allow ourselves primarily to be led by His light.
In the Bible, Daniel is more known as the interpreter of the king’s mysterious dream. Daniel was an upright young man, walking in the light, thinking and acting only of what was good and decent. He requested God to give him an answer in a dream, not obscured in symbolism, but in a cloudless encounter with his spirit and God’s mind. God answered that prayer because we know in Daniel 2:22 that he received his answer in a night vision: “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.” We should remain focused on the light of our Creator, as it is said: “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5).
In a shaken world, full of stupefying declarations, astounding predictions, opinionated forecasts, and flawed surveys, we can evade the “eyes of darkness” by simply following His light. In the Bible, Proverbs 3:24 tells us, “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” I rather sleep with this promise than with any promise outside the Bible. Whether our dreams are random, soulful, or prophetic, whether in a hybrid state or otherwise, we can be assured that our last thoughts dictate them.
My friends know that I still get 7-8 hours of sleep, for the most part. What they do not know is that I have been dreaming more often than usual. Random ones amuse me; upsetting ones make me anxious. These days, when I feel unsafe about any situation or second-guess a life-changing decision, I just sleep on it. I sleep not only to delay and ponder about it but I sleep knowing that “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalms 4:8)
This is a sure fire way of dreaming the good stuff!
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission.
For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.