It is Important to Have a Dream

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”  Harriet Tubman

Do you have a dream that is so big that you have no hope of accomplishing it apart from God’s help? It keeps you up at night. You think about it constantly. You know if you don’t go for it, you will miss living the more abundant life.

God desires to fill our hearts with big dreams. His desire is for us to live a maximum life that glorifies Him and blesses others. I have been guilty of dismissing big dreams because it seemed impossible at the time.

I canceled the dream before I even started because I allowed doubt and fear to hold me hostage. I made the mistake of thinking that the dream was about me making it happen instead of waiting on God to work through me.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the great Civil Rights leader has greatly encouraged me about the importance of having a big dream. His life exemplified what is possible when you have a big dream that you take consistent action on even against what others say or the current social climate. His dream of a better future for all individuals provided the glue that motivated him to focus on achieving the impossible.

Your dreams will do the same in your life if you act on them. They will give you a purpose for your everyday activities. They will push you to progress forward when life’s circumstances tries to push you backwards.

Dr. King had a dream that was so powerful that it influenced a movement that changed the face of an entire race and nation. Though he was criticized, beaten, jailed, house bombed, threatened, ridiculed and ostracized, he kept his dream alive.

His dream was so inspirational and impactful that after more than forty-eight years it still resonates in the heart and mind of those that hear it. The dream still prompts people to a call to action.

In his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech delivered on August 28, 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial you can hear the intensity that his dream for a better future commanded.

“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 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…”

As I write about one of the greatest dreamers that ever lived, I am reminded that God has given each of us a dream that He wants us to fulfill. He is not going to do it for us. It is up to us to live our dreams. If we don’t our dreams will die with us and the world will miss our contribution.

In anticipation of living my dreams I have realized Seven Keys to Activate Your Dream:

1. Spend quality, uninterrupted time seeking God’s face.
2. Make sure your dreams are in line with your core values.
3. Never downplay your dreams no matter how big or small.
4. Make your dreams strong and vivid so that they engage and empower you to achieve them.
5. Write them down in detail and post them in a visible place where you can see them every day.
6. Think about them daily – make sure your daily activities are in line with actually living your dreams!
7. Review your dreams periodically to see where you are in the process.

Having a dream from God is very powerful. It’s important to note that this dreaming process only works when it’s carried out through daily action. To dream is the start. To live the dream is the payoff.

Questions: What actions do you need to take to today to activate your dreams? Leave a comment below.