Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Prayers and a Story Turning Hate to Love
Dr. King’s eloquence is often quoted. You’ll find hundreds of dissertations, sermons and letters written by King. He speaks of justice and righteousness. He speaks of God. But you don’t find many personal prayers in the vast collection of his works...until now.
Prayer for Strength to Love My Enemies
It was
night time and Dr. King placed the phone down after receiving another death threat. “Listen, (n-word), we’ve taken all we’re gonna from you, before next week you’ll be sorry.”
God, Give me strength to love my enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use me and persecute me.
Fear and
Confusion
He got up out of bed and went into the kitchen. He made some coffee, sat down at the table and began to doubt his decision to lead the Montgomery bus boycott. He was afraid for his wife and daughter. He was afraid for himself.
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.
Listening for God's Voice
Dr. King would tell the story years later, recalling the desperation he felt that night. He prayed out loud for God to give him guidance. He asked the Lord simply to tell him
whether to go ahead or turn back. God responded. King says he heard an “inner voice” that told him to stand up for righteousness and truth.
Here my prayer. O God, Heavenly Father, out of whose mind this great cosmic universe has been created, toward whom the weary and perplexed of all generations turn for consolation and direction, I come before You for guidance.
Meeting Doubt With Prayer
That night when faced with doubt, he asked God whether he should stay or go.
God, remove doubt from my heart. Show me the way. May my decisions be made with certainty, strength and courage. Are these bold plans Your
will?
Faith, Determination, Will
The Lord answered, “Go!” And the course of history was changed forever.
Oh God, gracious, heavenly Father, I thank You for the creative insights in the universe. I thank You for the lives of great saints and prophets in the past, who have revealed to us that
we can stand up amid the problems and difficulties and trials of life and not give in. Grant that I will go on with the proper faith and the proper determination of will, and I will be able to make a positive contribution to this world.
