“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

It was 1963 when a young minister stood on the steps of the Capitol and shared with the nation a dream that he had about the future of America. In spite of the realities of his time, he was able to project beyond his reality to see a hope and a future. He dared to dream. Here is some of what he said:

“Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. 

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have adream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

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 but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall 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.“

Today we are living in the reality of this dream. When most people think of a dream, they think of the thoughts, ideas, and stories that wander in our minds while we are sleeping. The reality is that we seldom remember those dreams.

Here when I speak of a dream, I’m speaking of a vision, a preferred future, a hope of a future that you desire and is in line with God’s purpose for your life. This dream is not developed in your sleep but while you are awake and alert. It does not catch you by surprise but rather it is based on intentional effort on your part. What dreams do you have? What are you believing God for in your business or personal life? You may be saying to yourself, “I want something better but my current circumstance makes it impossible.” I challenge you to dare to dream.

Dare to imagine a better future. Dare to see your business achieving those revenue goals, dare to see yourself acquiring those new contracts, dare to imagine a state in your life where the things you are believing God for has come to pass.

If Dr. King’s dream can come to pass, so can yours. As a matter of fact, yours may even be more possible than he was. For this to come to pass it took a combination of political, social, economic and spiritual factors all working together at the same time. No one could have imagined that. Yours may not need all of those elements to become a reality.

The key to realizing your dream is to have dreams that are others-focused and God-centred. Martin Luther King’s dream was not for his benefit, but the benefit of others. It was in line with God’s will for the nation. Remember to dare to dream because God’s thoughts toward you are of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.

My prayer for you today is that God will grant you the grace to dare to dream and the ability to carry out those dreams no matter how impossible they may seem.

Reflection: How determined are you to live out your full potential?

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