Here is a Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday prayer for you based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings of the brotherhood of humanity.  You can use this Martin Luther King Jr. prayer in a group, a church service, or in your own personal prayer times.

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you that these first three words of my prayer addressing you as Father remind me of the truth preached by Martin Luther King Jr. that we are all brothers and sisters because we are all your children.  And yet, Father, so often I consciously or unconsciously forget this beautiful truth and label others as “not like me” and therefore not someone I care about.  Forgive my failure to love.

As I celebrate the Martin Luther King JR holiday, help me follow his example and his message not to pre-judge anyone by their outward appearance, whether it be their race, social standing, age, economic condition or nationality.   Forgive me for the ways such prejudices have crept into my life and show me how they have silently influenced my actions.  And please forgive the times I could have spoken up against prejudice and inequality in conversations with friends or in public discussions but I didn’t speak up.   Create in me a welcoming heart.  Help me live by the Golden Rule Jesus taught us when he told us  to treat others as I would want to be treated.  (Matthew 7:12)   Free me to love all people as Christ loves them.  Amen.