By Joseph Perry

Do you dream a lot?

Dreams deal with the mind. Dreams can occur when you fall to sleep. Some of us doze off when we sleep, and some of us get into a relaxing sleep. Sometimes we go into a deep sleep. When we go into a deep sleep at times, we can start dreaming. Some people can’t even get a good night’s sleep; they can’t go into a deep sleep because they have a lot going on in their mind. They have a lot going on in their life.

As we approach the end of this year, it has given some people some good times, but for others, it has felt like they were in a nightmare. There are people who have encountered so much in this year that it felt like a nightmare. It seemed as though things had fallen apart.

I want you to know this upcoming year does not have to feel like another nightmare.

In Matthew 1:18, Joseph was a young man who wanted a good life. He wanted to be successful in life. He wanted to feel like everything was good in his life. One night he had a dream, and when he had this dream, it was so unusual, that he felt it was a nightmare. He could not believe what he saw through his dream, as he was a part of not only Mary’s life, but also a baby who would be the Savior of the world. When God is ready to take you to another level or in a different direction, it may seem very different from what you are used to.

God in this year is going to reveal to you that all of your nightmares are over. All of your tough times are over. You need to hold up under pressure. There are people who just can’t handle any pressure. You need to stop thinking about quitting and stop talking about quitting. The Bible says Joseph and Mary are about to be married. The enemy wants Joseph to give up and not marry Mary. However, if he had decided to quit, he would have altered the salvation process for every person who desires to make Christ their Savior. You must learn to hold up under pressure, knowing that God didn’t bring you this far to leave you.

The next thing you need to know is to stop telling everybody what the Lord has told you in your dreams. Stop telling people your business. Sometimes what the Lord shares with you is just for you. You must learn how to keep quiet while God is setting up some things for you. Joseph kept the things God shared with him because they were just for him. Yes, sometimes you need to reveal some things, and sometimes you do need to bounce things off of somebody else. But other times, you need to hold it in until God allows it to come forth. Sometimes we hinder what God wants to do for us, because we talk too much.

The last thing you need to know is to hold on to the promise. I hope this is a wakeup call for those who are getting ready to wake up to a new year. When Joseph woke up, he found that God wanted to do something special in his life.

What God has promised to do, He will do it. He is one who does not renege on what He said He would do. He keeps His promise. All we need to do is keep on dreaming. Keep on looking to the hills from which comes your help. You keep trusting in the Lord with all your heart.

The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Perry is pastor of St. Mark AME Zion Church. Contact him at josephp134@gmail.com.