The Bible reveals that in times past, servants of God were given visions and dreams for specific reasons or to convey special messages. While God has used this means of communication in the past and will do so again, we must realize that He employs it only when circumstances warrant, often directing such revelations to His ministers and specially chosen servants like Jacob, Joseph, Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel. It is not always easy to determine the origin of a vision or dream one might experience, so we must be cautious about ascribing such communication to God, even if it appears supernatural. We are warned to test the spirits to discern if they are of God, as many false prophets exist in the world. God instructs us through Isaiah to test such experiences against the law and the testimony of the Bible; if they do not align with this word, there is no light in them. Unless a dream or vision completely agrees with the Bible in message and content, we can know it is not of God. Some dreams may simply result from mental or physical stress, or the pressures of daily life, as an upset or overly stimulated mind can produce vivid dreams. If an unpleasant dream causes distress or fear, we should seek God's intervention and healing, asking Him to rebuke satan if he bothers us with bad dreams. Staying close to God through prayer and Bible study ensures that satan cannot disturb us, and God will grant peace of mind to those who walk with Him each day.