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.
January 15, 2025
Dear God, whose steadfast love never ends, last Friday was Quitter’s Day, apparently. Research shows that most of us aren’t very good at keeping resolutions for the new year, and an astonishing number of us quit by the second Friday of January. I don’t doubt this research, patient God, because I know my own inclination to give up even on the best of resolutions. It is hard to sustain change for the long term, especially when progress seems so slow as to be non-existent.
Antiracism is a change we can’t quit. Yet even some who see the wisdom in an antiracist community are beginning to give up. We are quitting our efforts of diversity and equity and inclusion because it is just too hard to keep swimming against the tide. We are quitting our work for justice and reparations because of the political pendulum swinging against such efforts. We are quitting working for a beloved community because the status quo is too beneficial for those with privilege.
Give us grace and give us courage to continue the work for justice, God who doesn’t quit on us. Encourage us to continue to pray for your kingdom, your kin-dom, to come on earth as it is in heaven, and then to work as though we really believed it and never quit believing and working for beloved community. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Derek C Weber, January 2025
January 14, 2025
God of justice, all people are made in your image
and all people have equal dignity and worth.
Show me the ways I have been blind
to my own prejudices
and help me be part of the healing
rather than part of the problem.
May I have the humility to learn
and the courage to call others forth
to a world of greater equality.
Amen.
Shannon K. Evans, “Active Anti-Racism” (August 23, 2021), Franciscan Media, https://www.franciscanmedia.org/pausepray/active-anti-racism/.
January 13, 2025
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27 NRSV
Heavenly Father, we know that You are the source of the peace that passes understanding. In these troubled times, give us understanding minds and hearts as we listen to the cries of the oppressed, the wounded, the confused, and even to the voices of those with whom we disagree. Give us the wisdom to respond with Your Truth, offering words and actions that build up instead of tear down.
Across the nation, racism casts a long shadow. We believe that all life is sacred and worthy of our deepest reverence. Give us the courage to stand up for racial justice and reconciliation. As individuals, as a ministry, and as a nation, help us to see when we have missed the mark and empower us to do better.
Root up any violence or malice within our hearts and minds and transform it into love, a love of neighbor and a rightly ordered love of self. Let us work for peace and be peace to one another and the people we serve. Amen.
A Prayer for Racial Justice, from St. Dominic’s Antiracism Team (St. DART), https://bonsecoursrcc.org/2023/05/07/a-prayer-for-racial-justice/.
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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