Today's Devotions
February 9, 2024
Save us, O God, from ourselves,
from racism often cloaked in pious words,
from the machinations of white supremacy hidden in calls for civility,
from micro aggressions thinly veiled in arrogance,
from apologies when they don’t give way to action,
from forgiveness without facing the truth,
from reconciliation without reparation.
Deliver us, O God, from expecting siblings of color to continue to bear this emotional work, which is not theirs to do.
Grateful for the long arc that bends toward justice, we pray:
Grant us wisdom, give us courage for the facing of these days,
by the power of the Spirit, all for the sake of the kin-dom that we share in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
“A Prayer for Racial Justice” (pdf), Worship Resources for the Day of Racial Healing, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, pages 5-6.
February 7, 2024
From Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Prayer for Social Justice” (pdf), Weekly Prayers, Christ Church Episcopal, Anchorage, Alaska, page 1.
February 5, 2024
Breath Prayer
Facebook Image
February 1, 2024
Black History Month begins.
Do For me God
Wikimedia Commons Photo
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth
Oh, God, you know I have no money, but you can make the people do for me, and you must make the people do for me. I will never give you peace till you do, God.
- Sojourner Truth, Xavier University Prayers for Black History Month
January 29, 2024
From Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism:
“Creator of all people, in our amazing diversity of size, shape, color, and giftedness: guide us, by your grace, to recognize the beauty and fitness of all whom you have made in your own image. Give us gifts of humility and generosity of spirit to recognize in all people, the face of our Savior, Jesus, and to practice his commandment to ‘love one another,’ toward the end of bringing harmony and peace among persons of all colors, origins, and abilities, for the sake of your Kingdom.” Amen.
“Prayer for Racial Harmony” (pdf), A Year of Prayers to End Racism, the Diocessan Commission to End Racism, pages 1-2.
January 28, 2024
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom: “Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.”
–Courtesy of Tripp Hudgins, Facebook
January 25, 2024
Proverbs 28:10 Those who mislead the upright into evil ways will fall into pits of their own making, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.’
From the Northumbria Community
January 24, 2024
Psalm 64:8-10 Because of their tongue he will bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake with horror. Then everyone will fear; they will tell what God has brought about, and ponder what he has done. Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him. Let all the upright in heart glory.
– From the Northumbria Community
January 23, 2024
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following Your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please You
does in fact please You.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road
although I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust You always,
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death,
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
Thomas Merton, courtesy of the Northumbria Community.
January 22, 2024
Today's Prayer from Praying for Change: United Methodists Stand Against Racism
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,
Creator, forgive.
The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,
Creator, forgive.
The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,
Creator, forgive.
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,
Creator, forgive.
Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,
Creator, forgive.
The lust which dishonors the bodies of men, women and children,
Creator, forgive.
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,
Creator, forgive.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Amen.
“The Coventry Litany of Reconciliation,” Contemplative Prayer to End Racism, December 2023. Catholic Worker Movement.
Today's Scripture Reading - Morning Prayer from the Northumbria Community
22 January
Psalm 34:13-14 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Proverbs 16:27-28 Scoundrels concoct evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire. A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear that when I come, I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish; I fear that there may perhaps be quarrelling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
These Scripture Readings relate to the Colman Readings (Monastic Diseases) in Celtic Daily Prayer 2.
Send your favorite prayers, scriptures and other devotions to Today's Prayers.