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.
August 28, 2025
We’re all excited about AI these days, God of eternal wisdom. Some argue that it will change everything about our world. Some look to this technology to be our next savior. One can’t help but wonder if artificial intelligence will help solve natural distrust, or organic ignorance, or human … well, human anything. Does increased reliance on machine intelligence make us less human in the end? We are still struggling with who has value, who matters, and who has rights these days. Adding in fawning over AI seems destined to compound our confusion.
Give us the wisdom, even with all the tools we might invent, to learn to value human beings, no matter their ethnicity or culture or national origin, as if we were all made in your image. And may we do more than say these words; may we live them too. In your name, Amen.
Derek Weber, August 2025
August 27, 2025
Righteous God, we cry out for justice. Too long, too often, too many have faced oppression and inequality. But You, O Lord, are a defender of the weak and the lifter of heads. Raise voices that speak the truth. Inspire laws that honor all people. Equip leaders to walk humbly and serve justly. May this month be more than a memory—may it stir action. Let the cries of our ancestors be heard in our prayers today. Lead us toward justice that reflects Your kingdom on Earth. Amen.
Brown Kelley, “25 Prayers for Black History Month,” Prayerlit, https://prayerlit.com/prayers-for-black-history-month.
August 26, 2025
Dear Lord, We come before You seeking justice and equality for all Your children.
May Your divine light shine upon the oppressed and marginalized, guiding us to stand against injustice.
Instill in our hearts a spirit of compassion and unity, that we may work together to create a world where every voice is heard and every life is valued.
Amen.
Alec Harper, “Prayer for Justice and Equality for All,” 13 Powerful Prayers of African American Faith, St. Michael’s Parish, https://stmparish.org/prayer/miscellaneous-prayers/african-american-prayer.
August 25, 2025
Stay with us, Jesus, for we are tired of the ongoing legacy of colonialism—racism, discrimination, and assimilation. Empower us with our senses so we can resist the system which tries to disconnect us from the land and from one another. Help us embrace our bodily experiences as the source of deeper connections. Bless our diverse tastes and our memories attached to them so we can participate in your work of regeneration—cultural, economic, and spiritual renewal for all. Amen.
Rev. Min-Goo Kang, Journeys to the Well: An Ecumenical Devotional Towards Anti-Racism, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, page 1o, https://presbyterian.ca/2025/02/20/new-cjp-resource-journeys-to-the-well-an-ecumenical-devotional-towards-anti-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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