Often times I try to shy away from talking about history and political activity too much. Sometimes it feels as though I am living in the past or discussing the inevitable. But this week, I wanted to take the time and give honor where honor is due. Today I share with you 7 life lessons I learn every time I reflect on the life, work, and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
An Atlanta, Georgia man born and raised, HBCU graduate, and grew up to be and one of the most prominent leaders of the civeil right moment from the mid 1950s to his death by assination in Memphis around early 1968. Dr. King was an African American Baptist minister and activitist that fought for the equality and togetherness of blacks all while focusing on a non-violent approach to change and protest. If you want to learn more, you can definitely read or watch these resources below to better understand his story.
- Selma- Movie
- Martin Luther King Jr.: A Life, by Marshall Frady
- Boycott- Movie
- The autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr., edited by Clayborne Carson
- King- Documentry
- I Have A Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King- Kid’s Book
- MLK/FBI- Documentary
7 Life Lessons You Can Learn From The Life Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
All life lessons written here are from my own experience with the issues Dr. King fought for and my perspective of his life’s works. All content is of my opinion bur consistent with God’s principles. No matter how you feel about the state of our country or what race you are. You can find wisdom and understanding in any sitiation, anyone’s story, and my listening and hearing out a different view point.
Have A Dream!
Don’t do anything else until you have a dream attched to it. Dream can be interchangable with vision or plan.
Dr. King didn’t just go through life winging it. He didn’t get to where he was in history by winging it or going viral for his 15 secs of fame.
Martin Luther King Jr. was an intentional man and leader in his family and community because of the dream and vision provided to him by God. Clarity sealed his legacy but his obedience heightened his confidence.
Have Faith!
God’s truths should be in our spirits. His truths should be the motivation behind everything we do. Trust and beleive that whatever challenges, scares, and uncertainties arise, God will see you through.
God will be with you and has already created the way of escape or victory on the other side. Faith starts with you having hope in the things to come. Understand and be real about where you are.
But most importantly, faith provides the character, the endurance, and hope for you to get through every trial and test (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:2-5). Dr. King used his faith to remain focus on the triumph of his call. He leaned on God in every situation in speech, in relationship with the community, his family, and during the battles within himself.
Speak Up!
Nothing can begin to change until someone speaks. If it’s not right, say so. Your words matter.
God is the greatest example of this lesson here. He wanted to change things so he created the earth and man in 7 days. Then he said, it is not good for man to be alone, and the woman was created.
Thoughts are fleeting but words bring life. When we speak up for what’s right, share our pain, and provide solutions, life’s burden’s get alittle bit easier. We no longer carry the heaviness within us but let it out so change can begin.
We Are Better Together!
No matter our differences, we should work to be at peace with one another. We need each other to get through this life. And for him to be living during the time where the opposite was the norm.
I highly commend him for staying focused on what God asked to do in His Word (Hebrews 12:14). We were not created to segregate, not created to hate one another, nor created to oppress/abuse your brother or sister.
Today, we are dealing with in another way through police killings, cancel culture, and offense. We still have some of the challenges that was present then like economic disadvantages, limitations in education, and etc. But until we learn to agree to disagree, seek peace in all you do, and helping on each other by leaning on each other, nothing will ever change.
Stay True To Your Character!
Don’t stay true to your personality, moods, how everyone else is feeling and doing. Stay true to what you believe which is morally sound and rooted in love.
The greatest thing Dr. King did was stay true to his belief of ‘Love, Not War’. When everyone else was ready to ride out on white supremacy, he continued to preach non-violence.
I know there were times on his journey when he was tempted to fight in anger but he make a conscious decision not to and I commend him for that. Would his legacy even be as impactful today as it is, if he would of stepped out of his character, his moral beliefs?
Never Give Up!
You may be in a situation where all odds are stcked against you and it looks like there is no relief in sight. However, whatever you do, keep moving forward.
Dr. King said something similar to this in two amzing quotes that remind us tho never give up:
We must accept finite disappointment. But never lose infinite hope.
If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then wlk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving.
And we do! Moving toward progress, moving toward what is right, moving toward justice and peace. Martin was the epitome of never giving up on dreams and goals, and not giving up on his strategy to get there.
Leave A Legacy!
Everything you do is connected to your lineage. Everything abaraham did in the bible travelled through generations, the stories and the no—so-good habits.
Don’t live your life just for you. Live your life in a way that is a blessing rather than a burden to the future generations of your family. Living in a way where the stories they tell about you blesses your grandchildren’s children.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did just that in the short life he had. Even though his life was shortened by those who could see the compassion within them, he left a legacy, a story, a vision, and continued work for others to learn from and grab ahold of.
Like Moses, he was not able to see the promise land. We haven’t seen fully yet either, but we are closer than before.
All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem. – Martin Luther King Jr.
I loved writing this blog post so much! It inspired me to write my own Dream with the relavations God has already given me about my life and the people/cause I am called to. So I created a free printable to help us all speak our dream, create a legacy, and live as confident and full of faith as Dr. King.
All in all,
Dr. Martin Luther Kings has made one of the biggest impacts in American culture and is still today leaving a legacy that has helped transformed the hearts and minds of many generations.
Even though his life ended sooner than expected, we can still carry him with us and teach his works to our children’s children through the life lessons provided hear today.
May you continue to feel celebrated every January 17th and may your legacy of unshakeable faith, bold confidence, and passion for healthy relationship within our culture ring true for centuries to come.
Inspired by the life lessons of Dr. King?
Here is another post to supplement for additional life lessons that will change your life:
What Life Lessons Would You Add?
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