Pray the Prayers of MLK
This MLK Day, the Vineyard remembers that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an activist and a minister, a seeker of justice and a seeker of God’s Spirit, a man whose deep faith led him to deep actions that have changed our nation and our world.
This week, we highlight three prayers that come from MLK’s life and ministry. We pray that our Vineyard churches, pastors, and leaders will pray MLK’s prayers and be reminded that the outgrowth of our faith is justice and righteousness for our communities. This challenging work begins in prayer to Jesus, the one who reconciles us to God and to one another.
The Prayers: Confession into forgiveness; desperation into a release of calling; & uncertainty into hope.
Our first prayer from MLK is a confession and a charge. In order for us to do justice, we have to admit where we have not loved God nor one another. Then, we can receive forgiveness from Jesus and courage to follow Him. Our second prayer from MLK came in 1956 during the Montgomery Bus Boycott after a week of death threats. Ready to give up, MLK prayed and then felt the Lord commission him through a still small voice to do the work of justice of righteousness with his life no matter the cost. Our last prayer centers the hope that is needed to do God’s work of justice in a broken world.
Vineyard, there is work for us to do in prayer as we ready for the work of justice in our lives, congregations, and wider communities. We hope these prayers will be a blessing to you, your leaders, and your congregation. Let’s pray these prayers of MLK and look to Jesus to walk with us on our justice journey.
Prayers for Spiritual Guidance
“Forgive Us for What We Could Have Been but Failed to Be”
O thou Eternal God, out of whose absolute power and infinite intelligence the whole universe has come into being. We humbly confess that we have not loved thee with our hearts, souls and minds, and we have not loved our neighbors as Christ loved us. We have all too often lived by our selfish impulses rather than by the life of sacrificial love as revealed by Christ. We often give in order to receive, we love our friends and hate our enemies, we go the first mile but dare not travel the second, we forgive but we dare not forget. And so as we look within ourselves we are confronted with the appalling fact that the history of our lives is the history of an internal revolt against thee. But thou, O God, have mercy upon us. Forgive us for what we could have been but failed to be. Give us the intelligence to know thy will. Give us the courage to do thy will. Give us the devotion to love thy will. In the name and spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Prayers for Strength in Times of Trial
“I Can’t Face It Alone”
Lord, I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But now I am afraid. The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.
Prayers for Uncertain Times
“The Buoyancy of Hope”
And now unto Him who is able to keep us from falling. And now unto him who is able to lift us from fatigue of despair to the buoyancy of hope. And now unto Him who is able to solve the race problem if we will cooperate with Him. And now unto Him who is able to transform this cosmic energy into constructive force. Now unto Him who is able to transform this midnight of injustice into a glowing daybreak of freedom & justice. To Him be power and authority, majesty and dominion, now, henceforth, & forever more.
VUSA Contributors
Josh Williams, Joel Seymour, and Geno Olison. If you’re interested in reading more prayers from MLK, “Thou, Dear God” is an excellent resource.
We hope these prayers will be a blessing to you, your leaders, and your congregation. We’d love for you to pray these on social media and around your tables so others can join us.
