Dare to Dream

by Patrice Tsague, Nehemiah Project International Ministries

"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

It was 1963, a young minister stood on the steps of the capital and shared with the nation a dream he had about the future of America. In spite of the realities of his time, he was able to project beyond his reality and 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 a dream. 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 color 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 experiencing the reality of this dream. When most people think of a dream, they think of the thoughts, ideas and stories that wander in their minds while they sleep. The reality is that we seldom remember those dreams. When I speak of a dream, I speak of a vision, a preferred future, or a hope of a future that you desire and is in line with the purpose of God 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; rather it is intentional on your part. What dreams do you have? What do you believe 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 come to pass.

If Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream can come to pass, so can yours. As a matter of fact, yours may be even more possible than his was. For his to come to pass, a combination of political, social, economic and spiritual factors had to work together at the same time. No one could have imagined that. Yours may not even need all of those elements to become a reality.

The key to realizing your dream is to have dreams that are God-centered and others focused. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream was not about his personal benefits but was for the benefit of others and was in line with God's will for the nation. What dreams do you have? Are they God-centered? Are they others focused? 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.