In the United States and across the world, today, 17th January is Martin Luther King day. It is a day set aside to remember the work of one of the pioneers of freedom and racial equality in modern day history. He was a Baptist minister and an activist who became one of the leading people in the American civil rights movement from 1955 till his assassination in 1968. His leadership was fundamental to the movement’s success in ending the legal segregation of African Americans. This segregation mandated that people of different races be separated by law and black people were restricted to particular institutions or communities only.
He is known for the iconic ‘I have a dream’ speech which was delivered on 28th August, 1963.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin by by the content of their character.”
“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted and mountain be made low, the rough places will be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”
Excerpts from “I have a dream” by Dr Martin Luther King.
Presently, the US still struggles with a lot of racial issues and injustices but Dr King’s speech paints a beautiful picture of what life can be if we allow ourselves to be instruments of God. It’s a beautiful ray of hope in this dark tunnel we call our world. Dr King passionately believed that his dreams were possible and he took steps to achieve them
Do you have a dream? Is it about a nation like MLK’s, is it about your family, your career, your faith, the church? Do you believe that its possible, do you believe it is achievable or are they just mere pictures in your head or words on your lips?
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams…
Joel 2: 28
Dream, vision or whatever you call it, let it be one fueled and inspired by the Holy Spirit because that is the only criteria which warrants God’s assistance.
Below is a dream I’ve been nursing for a while about our individual walk with God and the body of Christ in general which was inspired by Dr King’s speech. I pray it encourages you to keep dreaming and most importantly take important steps to making those dreams a reality.
I have dream that one day,
Our beauty to church will match our fervency for God.
The great make-up on our faces will match the beauty of our hearts.
The glitter of our jewelry will match the the brightness of our character
The height of our high heels will match the height of our longing for God
That we will carry our Bibles and journals with the same grace we carry the expensive dress we bought for Christmas service.
No more will we be carried away by every wind of doctrine but we’ll be firmly rooted in the knowledge of our God.
Not babes but sons. Sons of the Most High
Together we will stand in unity and shine our lights as brightly as our Father wants us to.
I’ll keep dreaming and making sure that dream becomes my reality.
Lovely piece to embrace, Lord help us to establish our dreams in You. God richly bless you