September 8, 1999
FAMILY MATTERS:
Dreams may reflect daytime concerns
___Every night I'm having nightmares, and they won't go away. What can I do to make them stop?
___Nightmares can rob us from the rest our bodies and our minds need. I bet
you're waking up in the morning still feeling tired and needing sleep. What happens to us while we're sleeping may seem so real and can create physical effects. Our breathing, heart rate and blood pressure all can be affected.
DEBBIE CHISOLM
Minister to Students
Royal Lane Baptist Church, Dallas
___There are many things that can cause us to have nightmares. Our minds are like computers and can store information indefinitely. Sometimes, this information can seep out during our sleep.
___This means the shows we watch, the movies we go to see, the books we read and even the music we listen to can be translated into bits and pieces of our dreams. I think when the Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to focus their thoughts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, perhaps he understood the power of our minds to store this information.
___You may want to evaluate the kind of things you're watching and reading.
___Sometimes our nightmares are a result of the circumstances of life. Perhaps you are under a lot of stress and pressure. School, relational problems, insecurity and change all can create a sense of doom in our minds. These feelings of fear can be repressed during our waking hours, but they can come out while we're sleeping.
___We do not have control over many of the things that happen to us, but we do have control over how we will respond and walk through those circumstances. If you find yourself in this situation, don't be afraid to talk to someone. A school counselor, teacher or other trusted adult can help you find the right person to share with.
___Because God created us in such a unique way, our minds and spirits and physical bodies all impact us. Therefore, your dreams may be the result of a physical situation you may not be aware of. It may be something in your diet or a chemical imbalance that is manifesting itself during your sleep. Make an appointment with your doctor, and have her run some tests to make sure you're physically all right.
___The Lord often invites us and encourages us to enter into God's rest. Jesus said if you're tired and weary, you can come and find rest. Ask the Lord every night to give you rest.
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