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.
April 25, 2025
“Trees have the answers.” So says the homepage of the Arbor Day Foundation. But I’m not sure of the question. God of all creation, in this week of Earth Day and Arbor Day, can we find answers to the persistent questions of racism and injustice, of inequality and division? It seems beyond the capability of planting trees to bring about such transformation.
What might your trees tell us, if we decided to listen? Or better, what might you tell us if we began to plant? Would you tell us to take a long view, but dig today? To work today for a better tomorrow? To work in such a way that everyone around us can breathe easier? To do that which brings beauty to our surroundings?
I don’t have the answers and barely understand the questions. But I know what it is to hope for a transformed future. I often pray that your kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven. I plant that tree as often as I can. Amen, and thanks be to God.
Derek Weber, April 2025
April 24, 2025
Dear Lord,
As we exercise our democratic right to vote, we pray for racial equality in the voting process. Grant us the wisdom to protect and expand voting rights, ensuring that all citizens can participate in shaping our collective future. Break down the barriers that disproportionately affect marginalized communities and empower them with equal access to the ballot box. May our elections be a testament to the principles of fairness and justice, where every voice, regardless of its racial origin, is counted and valued.
Amen.
“Prayer for Racial Equality in Voting Rights” cited in “15 Compassionate Prayers for Racial Equality,” Strength in Prayer, https://strengthinprayer.com/prayer-for-racial-equality/.
April 23, 2025
Messiah, Majestic King, Creator, Ruler of the land and everything that dwells within it. We praise Your holy name, for there is none like You in all the earth. You created us each uniquely in Your image and likeness, in all shapes and sizes and complexions.
We pray with faith and belief that You will heal the land of the infectious disease of racism that targets many even today.
Help us to not participate in any racial acts against our brothers. Clear our minds of all negative thoughts against them. Free them of any racial injustice that may cause them bondage; break every chain!
Remove all separations of skin colour in our land. Help us all to live in peace and harmony with one another.
Remind us that we are all created equally, and we are all children of Your mighty kingdom. Help us to be meek and humble, for those are the ones who will inherit Your earth.
Negative energy and thoughts dealing with racism will not consume our minds. Purify our tongues to not speak ill against our brothers. All bitterness, resentment, hatred, prejudice, malice, jealousy, and pride will flee, in Jesus’ name.
We will experience Your unconditional love at this very moment and be able to spread it like a wildfire across the nation.
Cleanse our minds, bodies, and souls as we go out to represent You, Lord, in love’s purest form. In Jesus’ holy, precious name, we pray, Amen!
Cheryce Rampersad, “Prayer Against Racism and Prejudice,” https://christianstt.com/prayer-against-racism-and-prejudice/.
April 22, 2025
Gracious God,
Thank You for all Your blessings upon us. We thank You for the gift of water that refreshes and hydrates us. We know that not everyone has access to water, especially clean water. So, we bring our pleading prayer to You for those who thirst and for the condition of our water.
We ask that You bless those who are without clean water with an overflow of water. May their thirst be quenched and their bodies receive the necessary water to keep them hydrated and healthy.
Please help us to purify and protect our water sources. May all those around the world have access to clean water and sanitation. And help those who have the resources to invest in making it a possibility for those who can’t.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
“A Prayer for Clean Water” in “9 Earth Day Prayers,” So Very Blessed, https://soveryblessed.com/earth-day-prayers/.
April 21, 2025
One God, in Three Persons, creator of one human species, in many hues: all who pray to you are descendants of Adam and Eve, all members of one race called “human.”
Forgive the blindness that causes our eyes to notice and magnify those things we regard as different from ourselves in others. Teach us to see clearly that we, your children, are far more alike than we are different. Help us to put aside the racial prejudices embedded within us and to see within every person the Child of God you created, our sister or brother, destined for Glory. In the name of One who died for all persons, of all colors, Jesus Christ.
Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia, cited in “Stand Up to Racism,” Social Justice Resource Center, https://socialjusticeresourcecenter.org/prayers/racism/.
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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