WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
APRIL 28, 2025
TOPIC: WHEN DREAMS BECOME UNFULFILLED FANTASIES
BY T. O. BANSO
“The multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her fortress, and distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and look—he eats; but he awakes, and his soul is still empty; or as when a thirsty man dreams, and look—he drinks; but he awakes, and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves: so the multitude of all the nations shall be, who fight against Mount Zion” (Isaiah 29:7-8 New King James Version).
As the proverb goes, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” Everybody wants a good future for himself, but not everyone realises what he desires. While some people could be blamed for not setting realistic goals for their lives or even SMART goals, as the management experts teach, that would be a wrong accusation against others. For one reason or another, the goals of this latter group are yet to be realised.
Beyond having dreams for their lives and setting goals to achieve them, others also had spiritual dreams and visions they believed God showed them about their lives. They had divine revelations about their future, which they believed and expected to happen.
While some could be blamed for not doing the needful or playing their part to realise their God-given dreams, that would not be true of others who diligently pursued their realisation. They did what they thought they should do spiritually and physically, but the dreams are yet to become a reality. Such people are often concerned about why this is so.
Many years ago, a musician sang a philosophical song that someone who rejoiced because he picked up money in his dream should be advised to work hard. There is a difference between dreams and reality. Having spiritual dreams/visions about a great future for ourselves is good, and having great goals and plans is laudable. It excites one. It encourages one. It gives one hope. But dreams must become reality. That is the most important thing. Otherwise, after some time, one could become disillusioned. Unfortunately, failure to realise their dreams has caused depression for some people and led them to take drastic decisions like committing suicide. This is condemnable.
Someone said that he had stopped being excited about personal prophecies given to him because all the past prophecies were yet to be fulfilled. He said so because of the challenges mocking his faith in God, and weighing him down.
There are others like this child of God because, as the Bible says, “the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:9b New International Version). Such people must never become despondent. They must never lose hope. While it is true that some people give others fake prophecies, prophecies are real. “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 New King James Version).
There is a time lag between when prophecies are given and are fulfilled. It takes time for dreams to become a reality. Therefore, believers must continue to renew their faith in God by feeding on His Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). They must continue to pray and do what they are supposed to do naturally.
Isaiah 29:7-8 says, “The multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her fortress, and distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and look—he eats; but he awakes, and his soul is still empty; or as when a thirsty man dreams, and look—he drinks; but he awakes, and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves: so the multitude of all the nations shall be, who fight against Mount Zion” (New King James Version). This scripture is relevant to this devotional.
God said all the nations fighting against Jerusalem would vanish like a dream! Those attacking her walls would vanish like a vision in the night (Isaiah 29:7). He compared them to a hungry man who dreamed that he ate food but woke up hungry without food to eat. He said they would be like a thirsty man who dreamed of drinking water but woke up thirsty, and had no water to drink (verse 8). This means that their dreams of defeating Jerusalem would become unfulfilled fantasies. Their dreams shall not be realised.
Isaiah 29:8 describes the experience of some people. Their dreams are becoming unfulfilled fantasies. There is nobody in such a situation who would not be concerned. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy” (Living Bible).
When someone does all he knows to do spiritually and physically to realise his goals or his God-given dreams, he expects to see results after some time. But sometimes spiritual forces oppose the realisation of dreams and goals. Of course, this is not the only reason for unfulfilled dreams. There are other factors, including the failure of the person concerned.
But this devotional deals with the issue of spiritual forces that hinder the fulfilment of dreams and goals even after one has done all one should do, humanly speaking. These forces try to waste people’s efforts and frustrate fulfilment in life. They could cause the wind to blow against one’s boat as one rows to the other side, as it happened to Jesus’ disciples (Mark 6:48).
Matthew 13:25 says that while everyone slept, a farmer’s enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went away. When the good seed the farmer sowed had sprouted and produced a crop, the tares the enemy planted also appeared.
Some forces work to frustrate a man’s dream, and he must deal with them in serious prayer. He must never give up the fight, no matter how long he has been in the fight. Your dreams will not become unfulfilled fantasies. You won’t dream of abundance in your dream, but suffer from lack. You won’t dream of prosperity, but continue to live in abject poverty. You won’t dream of promotion, but experience demotion. You won’t see yourself generously blessing people with gifts, but begging to make ends meet. Your dreams won’t become unfulfilled fantasies.
In 2 Chronicles 32, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, entered Judah, encamped against the fortified cities, and purposed to make war against Jerusalem. He boasted against the LORD. His servants spoke against the LORD and His servant, King Hezekiah. After Hezekiah and the Prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven, the LORD sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valour, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. His dream of defeating Jerusalem became an unfulfilled fantasy.
The account of the incident recorded in 2 Kings 19:35-37 says the angel of the LORD went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian troops. Consequently, King Sennacherib broke camp and returned to his land. One day, while he was worshipping in the temple of his god, Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with their swords and fled to the land of Ararat. In this case, God caused Sennacherib’s dream to fail.
Any power of the devil that wants your efforts to fulfil your dream to be in vain shall be defeated in Jesus’ name. I pray that all attempts to waste your efforts shall end today. Isaiah 50:7 says, “For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed” (New King James Version). You will receive God’s help, which makes goals realisable and achievable. You won’t be disgraced. Your dreams shall not become unfulfilled fantasies.
1 Kings 1:5 says Adonijah, the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” He prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him as he executed his plan to become king to succeed his father, David, who was very old. Everything went smoothly, and Adonijah seemed to have realised his dream. He was entertaining his guests when he received the news that David had proclaimed Solomon, his brother, as the king. “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21 New King James Version). Adonijah’s dream became an unfulfilled fantasy because he was not God’s candidate (1 Kings 2:15). This shall not be your story.
Continue to have faith in God (Mark 11:22). Never stop praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Also, keep doing what is required of you physically. Romans 10:11 says that whoever believes in God will not be put to shame. 1 Peter 2:6b says the same thing. “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame” (Psalm 34:5 New International Version).
Don’t give up on your God-given dream. “Your hope will not be disappointed” (Proverbs 23:18b New Living Translation). Even if it seems the fulfilment of your dream/vision or goals is being delayed, never give up. “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3 Living Bible).
Keep hope alive. Your dreams shall not become unfulfilled fantasies. They shall come to pass in Jesus’ name.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: My dreams/visions shall not become unfulfilled fantasies in Jesus’ name. I receive the fulfilment of my dreams/visions, and goals. All forces trying to frustrate the realisation of my dreams/vision, and goals are defeated in Jesus’ name. My hope shall not be disappointed. My hope shall not be deferred; my heart shall not be sick. My dreams shall come true, and I shall have life and joy. The Lord shall help me; therefore, I will not be disgraced.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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