Almighty God, Thou has called us to walk for freedom, 

    even as Thou did the Children of Israel.  

We pray, dear God, as we go through a wilderness of State Troopers 

    that Thou will hold our hand.  

We pray, dear God, as we must go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, 

    that Thou will go with us and strengthen us for the task.  

Keep us strong.  

Keep us calm.  

Help us to love our enemy.  

And above all, keep the fires of freedom burning in our hearts, 

    so that no matter what happens, 

    ain’t gonna let nobody turn us around.

Because Thou, dear God, has set us into this place.

Thou has sent us to fight, not just for ourselves,

    but to fight for this nation 

    so that democracy might exist here for the whole world.

Keep this vision in our hearts,

    and may we one day wake up and find the state of Alabama,

    where all men might vote, 

    where all children might get a decent education,

    where every man and woman might find a decent job

        according to his or her abilities,

    and where every man and woman 

        might be able to live together as brothers and sisters

    and violence and bloodshed and hatred and prejudice

         shall be no more.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929 -1968, American pastor and civil rights activist

“Thou, Dear God” Prayers That Open Hearts and Spirits  link

 

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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they shall be satisfied.