A Devotion for Today: The Gift of Serenity

Serenity is a gift. And so is the Serenity Prayer. Certainly a divine impartation of God’s wisdom that we can apply to the difficulties of life.

The Serenity Prayer

The Full Version

God, grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change…
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.

attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr

The first paragraph of this prayer helps open 12 Step meetings around the world. I had no idea there was a longer prayer, and there is an “original prayer” as well. The prayer is powerful, simple and very direct.

Several years ago my path led me to Al-Anon. Applying the prayer and the steps to my life was certainly a gift, changing my life dramatically for the better.

Once in a while those old habit patterns like to rise up. Change or crisis seems to bring on those character defects back to the surface. Needing attention and quick.

So here I go again.

My rendition of the first three step. “I’m powerless over people, places and things. God can restore me to sanity, and I turn my will and my life over to God, praying for His will and the power to carry it out.”

Add to that the Serenity Prayer and life becomes hopeful again. I can change for the better.

The gift of serenity once again seeps into my psyche. Praise God for that.

Anxieties and worries flit away, and I can let go and let God with each daunting challenge one day at a time.