Martin Luther King Jr. Reflections

Today, we honor Martin Luther King Jr. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. King experienced racism from an early age, and those events stayed with him and eventually brought him to live a life of activism and promoting change.

Although none of us have had the joy of being in King’s presence, we do have many speeches and quotes that reflect his heart, passion, and life.

Today, I invite you to reflect on just a few of Martin Luther King’s words. Sit with these quotes. Pray about them. Consider how and why MLK might have said what he did. Allow God to challenge you through King’s life and words below: 

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Challenge: How do you need to keep moving forward? How do you need to persevere in your life right now? Pray that God will help you take that next step.

“Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness."  Challenge: Do you have any lingering bitterness? Pray that God will help you get rid of all bitterness and help you love, even when it’s hard to love.  

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” Challenge: Perhaps, MLK knew that it was tough to forgive, especially considering how he was treated. But he knew he MUST forgive. Will you forgive, even when it’s hard?

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Challenge: Hebrews 11:1says “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” King knew he didn’t know the whole picture. But he had a relationship with God and faith to trust God in what He didn’t see. What’s your one step? Just take it. God will give you confidence.

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me? ‘But….the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’” Challenge: How might God give you this same mindset? Consider the verse in Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility, consider one another as more important than yourselves.” Ask yourself “If I don’t help, who will?”

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Challenge: Have you decided to stick with love? Day after day after day? Ask God to help you stick with love.

“We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.” Challenge: Throughout the Bible, God tells us not to fear, but to have courage. Will you trust God and not give in to fear? Build your dike of courage!

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.