So I’m still processing some things this morning…

Isn’t it amazing how God can teach us foundational lessons through our dreams, and through the biblical interpretation of those dreams? He fills me with wonder every time He does that…every time He causes a dream to unfold, every time He gives understanding. ✨

He did it yesterday, and as I’ve reflected on what He revealed through this dream, it feels like a “golden lesson” —almost like a very strange parable that seems like it could come straight from a bible story…

Just amazes me at how He does things like this for us, and it’s because He loves us, because He has promised to guide us. ?

Through this very simple dream, He delivered a message to my heart, from His heart, an important message that He designed for me to ponder, and to realize, and to know through and through. ❤️

It was an important reminder to me, that man’s way, man’s understanding, man’s “way of thinking” or thinking “independently” of God— it can be alluring, it may seem appealing, it may seem like a doable way… it may even appear as if it’s just the same as the Lord’s way…. disguised as His way if we’re not really paying attention.

But God’s ways are always higher than man’s ways.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:9

Man’s ways can quickly and easily turn into “religion“, while God’s way always leads us into closer relationship, and an even greater dependency on Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.“—Proverbs 3:5-6

Our Heavenly Father has invited us into relationship with Him, closeness with Him—and that means far more to Him than us doing all the things a certain way, that means far more to Him than figuring it all out ourselves, that means far more to Him than us gaining head knowledge…or being able to do all the things the “right way.”

Because if relationship with Him is not the absolute foundation, everything else will crumble and fall apart.

Everything we attempt to build in our own strength, in pride, will fall.

If we’re running, running, running… but we’re not running after God, we’re running down our own path, we’ll eventually run into a wall.

If relationship with Him is not our foundation, then “religion” can quickly allure us and become “our way”…

And it will come down. It may “grow” for a time, but it will not “flourish” ? and good fruit will not come of it.

“Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees”—Matthew 16:6 NASB

^““Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

⁷ They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

⁸ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? ⁹ Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹¹ How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” —Matthew 16:6-12

He invites us closer, and He wants to teach us how to trust and lean on His understanding.

He will give us all that we need from this place.

His Heart is like a “treasure chest.” And there is no end to the beautiful and valuable things we’ll find and discover in Him.

There is no need to attempt to strive in our own strength, He’s got more to give us than we could ever need, but we must come to Him— it all comes from the place of simple and pure relationship with Him.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:3

“Come to Me…. Call to Me…. Turn to Me... Focus on Me…”

He wants us to learn this more than any other kind of “knowledge” or “skill” we can possibly gain while living on this earth.

He says,

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” —Psalm 32:8

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” —Ephesians 1:17

Did you see that?

“…so that you may know HIM better.”

So that we may know Him better. This is what He longs for.

Relationship. ?

And everything else will come from that place. From there is will flow. ?

From that simple place of relationship, He’ll plant and grow the right things within us, and it will be His beautiful way, because He will have put it there within our hearts. And He will cause us to flourish and produce an overabundance of great fruit.

“The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.” —Psalm 119:130

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” —”Matthew 19:26

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” —2 Peter 3:18

To grow in knowing Him…relationship…. this is the kind of “knowledge” He desires for us, above all, most of all.

Knowing Him. ?

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.” —1 Corinthians 3:11

Thank You for this foundational lesson, Lord! ? Thank You for reminding me to remember to simply press into relationship with You… and all will grow and flourish from there. ✨May this soak into my heart through and through. Lord Jesus, may You be my “foundation” in all things.

-Heather ?