God still speaks to his children through visions. 

A vision is a supernatural revelation from God. Numbers 12:6 says, “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams”. The purpose of visions is to reveal God’s glory. They may offer guidance, direction, warning, or show future events that confirm God’s calling on someone’s life. We see examples littered throughout Scripture. 

I am currently reading Ezekiel, where God speaks to Ezekiel clearly through visions. In Ezekiel 1, “the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God”. To summarize, the vision Ezekiel saw was a storm coming from the north, four living creatures, wheels within wheels, a platform, a throne above them, and the glory of the Lord. The reason God gave Ezekiel this vision was to reveal his glory to him and to draw him into his calling of becoming a prophet.

In the book of Daniel, God provides Daniel with visions that reveal the future and God’s sovereignty over nations and kingdoms. In Acts 16, God gives Paul a vision of a Macedonian man asking for his presence and help. The vision served as a calling for Paul to travel to Europe and preach the gospel. Revelation contains a series of powerful visions that God shares with John. These visions are revelations of spiritual realities, end times, final judgment, and Christ's victory. 

God still communicates to his people through visions. It was not just something he did for prophets in the time the Bible was being written. I did not know this until about two years ago. Growing up, I had no idea that we could hear God's voice outside of reading the Bible. So when God taught me that I could ask for visions, and he would speak to me in that way, I was immediately hooked. I vividly remember being at a worship night and I prayed a simple prayer filled with faith. I said, “God, I believe that you speak to your people through visions, and I have faith that you can give me one.” Moments later, I received my first vision. For context, when I shut my eyes, I don’t see pictures or images behind my eyes. I see grey. So the moment I saw a picture in my head with my eyes closed, I knew it was from the Lord and that it was a direct answer to what I had just prayed. I received three or four more visions from the Lord that year. It was a rare occurrence, but I wanted more. I went to the Lord hungry, and God always feeds the hungry. When I arrived at training camp the following August, the Lord poured out visions. He spoke to me daily through them. Most frequently, while I was prophesying over someone. He would download in my mind an image for them that would offer encouragement or direction.

In every country, God has continued to be faithful to speak. In Guatemala and Greece, his voice was crystal clear. It came from a knowing in my Spirit that would pour out the moment I started writing in a journal. In Albania and Macedonia, his voice came from Scripture through consuming his Word. Since coming to Turkey, God has been speaking heavily through visions. He has given me visions for people on my squad, friends and family back at home, for the Islamic community, and the nation of Turkey as a whole. What a privilege it has been to steward these pictures from the Lord. 

Our whole squad spent the first two weeks of Turkey together in Istanbul. The day after arriving, a small group of us went inside two famous mosques, the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. 

The Hagia Sophia was built as the main cathedral for the Eastern Orthodox Church in 537 AD. It was the largest church in the world for nearly 1,000 years. It was constructed with large mosaics of Jesus and Mary and a central dome that symbolized heaven. In 1453, it was converted into a mosque. Minarets were added, and the mosaics were covered. Some with plaster and others with fabric veils. 

In Muslim practice, when responding in prayer, you must always face the direction of Mecca. Mecca is the holiest site in Islam, located in Saudi Arabia. Muslims pray in this direction to symbolize unification and worship of Allah. As we entered the main prayer space in the Hagia Sophia, we noticed there was a large mosaic of Jesus covered with a white veil. Directly under the mosaic is the direction of Mecca. This means that daily, over 1,000 Muslims pray directly under an image of Jesus. 

The next day, I was praying for Muslims in Turkey to give their lives to Christ. God is actively revealing Himself to Muslims through visions. One in every three Muslims who convert to Christianity does so because they experience dreams or visions of Jesus. That is radical. As I prayed, I received a vision from the Lord. The vision was inside the Hagia Sophia. Muslims were praying facing towards Mecca. All of the sudden, there was an earthquake, and the veil covering the mosaic of Jesus fell to the ground. All across the room Muslims began to stand up and jump for joy. True worship of Jesus broke out in the mosque. Their eyes were open to Jesus because the veil was removed. The Lord then filled my mind with Scripture. Matthew 27:51, 54 “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” And 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”. What blew my mind about this vision is that Turkey experiences thousands of small earthquakes every year. It has also had some of the most powerful earthquakes in European and Middle Eastern history. Istanbul is the most high-risk city in all of Turkey to experience a large earthquake due to its position on the North Anatolian Fault.

Join with me in praying that God would remove the veil in front of Muslims' eyes for them to see him rightly. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” It is God's desire that every Muslim would be saved and come to the truth. So let's lock arms in praying that this vision will come to fruition one day and true worship of Jesus will break out in mosques across Turkey. I have faith that God wants Muslims to enter a loving relationship with him.

Additionally, if what I am writing here about visions seems foreign to you, but you have a relationship with Jesus, that is okay. It used to be for me as well. I would encourage you to begin praying with faith for God to give you visions. He wants to speak to you in any way you are willing to listen. So start asking and keep listening. He loves you. And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me.

Grace