Develop a Discipleship System
Praying for Change: Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism
By Derek Weber
While the headlines may have receded, the sin of racism continues to be seen and felt on both individual and systemic levels. Dismantling racism is not a short-term task but a lifelong moving forward to perfection in love—to use founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley’s words. Therefore, Discipleship Ministries and other agencies and bodies of The United Methodist Church will continue to provide resources and guidance on how to become anti-racist individuals and churches. Please seek out the help you need to maintain your efforts to transform your community into an anti-racist fellowship.
The Worship Team of Discipleship Ministries believes, however, that such a change will not happen unless the whole process is bathed in prayer every step along the way. To that end, we will continue to provide daily prayers to help keep us all centered on the ongoing journey of transformation. From Monday through Friday, a new prayer will be posted here for your use as personal devotion, to share in your small group, or for use in corporate worship.
If you wish to receive these prayers each day in your email, the process for signing up is outlined below. If you would like to submit a prayer for anti-racism, click here to contact us. Join with us in this season of prayer and change in our denomination and beyond.
February 21, 2025
God of challenge and hope,
I confess this is a difficult prayer for me to pray.
You have taught us to love our enemies
and pray for those who persecute us.
And so, I lift this prayer to pray
…for those who believe they are superior to others
because their skin is white.
…for those who fear the wonderful diversity
of people from other places;
…for those who choose a path of intimidation,
Violence, and destruction;
…for those who teach hatred to their children
with their words and the example they display with their lives;
…for those whose minds are not open to the truth;
…for those who discount equality and the gift of justice it is;
…for those who bar the doors of opportunity
and refuse to include people who are different
Here, O God, is the hope portion of my prayer,
and I confess this is a big petition on my part.
My hope is that your message of love will lead to true repentance;
My hope is that the wisdom of languages and cultures
will loosen the hardest of hearts;
My hope is for a world of peace and harmony among the races;
My hope is that my complicity and attitudes will be met
by your mercy and forgiveness;
My hope is for faithful examples of people who call us
to follow your way of uplifting grace;
My hope is for an end of suffering caused by racial prejudice.
I come before you in the trust you will answer my prayer
according to your divine will. Amen.
God of Challenge and Hope, By George R. Crisp, OSL, February 5, 2025 – Redlands, CA
February 20, 2025
God, You have told us what is good.
You have made clear what You require of us.
We pray that You remind us of our shared responsibility
To work with You to build a better world for all.
As we seek to do what is just,
Help us to recognise injustice,
To notice those who are oppressed or alienated.
As we sow love throughout this world,
In Your mercy, guide us to the ones who feel unloved.
May we bring Your light and love
Into places where fear and hatred have cast their shadow.
May we walk in humility and solidarity with all around us.
Help us not to trespass or misstep
On the journey towards equality and justice for all.
Amen.
A Prayer based on Micah 6, from Coat of Many Colours: Racial Justice Sunday, 09.02.25, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, page 19, https://ctbi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Racial-Justice-Sunday-2025-English.pdf.
February 19, 2025
Heavenly Father, we cry out to you for our country
and ask that you make us instruments of Your peace.
Where there is racial hatred, help us to sow Your love.
Where there is injury, help us to heal and bring pardon.
Where there is discord, help us to bring harmony.
Where there is error and misinformation, let us bring truth.
Where there is doubt that we are all your children, let us bring faith;
Where there is despair, let us bring hope;
Where there is darkness, shine your light;
and where there is sadness, help us to bring joy.
O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Adaptation of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, The Rt Revd Canon Dr Anderson Jeremiah, Diocese of London, cited in Prayers for Peace During Civial Unrest and Racial Tension, https://www.london.anglican.org/articles/prayers-for-peace-during-civil-unrest-and-racial-tension/.
February 18, 2025
We pray for healing to address
The persistent sin of racism
Which rejects the full humanity
Of some of your children,
And the talents and potential You have given.
We pray for the grace to recognize
The systems that do not support
The dignity of every person,
That do not promote respect
For those who are seen as other,
Who bear the legacy of centuries
Of discrimination, fear, and violence.
We pray for graced structures
So children of color in all communities,
Can grow up without fear.
Lord of all, we ask you to hear and answer our prayers.
Give us eyes to see how the past
Has shaped the complex present,
And to perceive how we must create
A new way forward,
With a new sense of community
That embraces and celebrates
The rich diversity of all,
That helps us live out your call to reject
The sin of racism, the stain of hate,
And to seek a compassionate solidarity
Supported by Your grace and your love.
We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to Address the Sin of Racism, Bigotry and Discrimination, Diocese Of Scranton, video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eECXpdWUrRM.
February 17, 2025
Shall we pray for all presidents on this Presidents’ Day, God in whose law we delight, or only for those we like? Shall we celebrate and lift up those we consider successful at the task or pray against those who seem to have caused more harm than good to the nation they led? I suspect that is what many of us are doing in our divided world today. Picking and choosing who is worthy of our prayers, who is worthy of your blessing or reproach.
But that has never been our job, has it? Our job is to pray for all. Our job is to pray. Our job is to live the values of your kin-dom in all aspects of our lives. Our job is to build coalitions, to cross boundaries, to include those pushed to the margins. Our job is to live in a way that helps us see you, helps us reflect you, even as we pray for leaders and followers both. So, help us, God of us all, set aside our desire to score points against those with whom we disagree and pray for your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Christ, have mercy. Amen.
Derek C Weber, February 2025
Rev. Dr. Derek Weber, Director of Preaching Ministries, served churches in Indiana and Arkansas and the British Methodist Church. His PhD is from University of Edinburgh in preaching and media. He has taught preaching in seminary and conference settings for more than 20 years.
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