What is the serenity prayer?
The Serenity Prayer is one of the most popular prayers today, especially the shortened version below. Written by Reinhold Neibuhr (1892-1971), this prayer was widely used in sermons, Sunday school groups, and studies. In the early 1940s, the group Alcoholics Anonymous began using a shortened version of the Serenity Prayer in its twelve-step program.
How often have you seen The Serenity Prayer? on a card or magnet somewhere and just read the inspirational words without really understanding their message? It is a powerful prayer and we really need to believe in each sentence for it to improve our lives. because he trusts you.” ~ Isaiah 26:3
“Blessed is he who finds wisdom, and he who gains understanding, for his gain is better than the gain of silver, and his gain is better than gold.” ~ Proverbs 3:13-14
Serenity Prayer: Complete 1930s Version
God grant me serenity
Accept the things that I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living a day at the same time;
Enjoy one moment at a time;
Accept difficulties as the path to peace;
Take, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I want it;
Trust that He will fix all things
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I can be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.
Short version of the serenity prayer
God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,
the courage to change the things we can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Who wrote the Serenity Prayer?
As noted above, Reinhold Niebuhr is often the attributed author of the Serenity Prayer. It was composed sometime between 1932 and 1933 and became very popular in the 1930s and 1940s among church groups without proper attribution and credit to Niebuhr. In 1943 Niebuhr used the prayer in a sermon at Heath Evangelical Union Church in Heath, Massachusetts. The serenity prayer first appeared in print as part of a sermon in the 1944 Book of Prayers and Services for the Armed Forces and was officially published by Niebuhr in 1951.
William Griffith Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, liked the prayer so much that he printed it in its abbreviated form and distributed it to members. The Serenity Prayer has been used in AA’s 12-step program ever since.
3 Biblical Truths of the Serenity Prayer
When we try to change things or people that we shouldn’t, or can’t, chaos continues and serenity is the furthest component of our lives. True acceptance of God’s plan and purpose for your life will bring you the serenity you seek. Here are three scriptural truths about peace and serenity that can be applied to the words of the Serenity Prayer.
1. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”
As the prayer acknowledges, when life feels out of control, it’s easy to try harder to control everything and everyone around us! Some of us do the opposite and just throw up our hands and give up on the situation or the person. Whichever extreme you go to, peace and serenity continue to drift further away from your life.
Accepting and submitting to God’s control and plan for your life is the only way to find peace in situations you cannot control or change. We may not always know God’s plan, but we can stop trying to orchestrate and manipulate events and people and let God work through us. God promises transcendent peace when we bring our cares and concerns to him in prayer.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:7
“Be still and know that I am God!” – Psalms 46:10
2. “the courage to change the things I can,”
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have received the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can give you the courage to follow and act according to God’s plan for your life. Instead of fearfully ignoring difficult decisions or running away from what seems too difficult, we can call on the power of God to have the courage to move forward into the full life He has planned for us. As the serenity prayer says, we can ask God for courage!
“Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid or frightened because of them, because the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you. nor will I forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
“Because the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid, but rather gives us power, love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; submit to him in all your ways, and he will make straight your paths.- Proverbs 3:5-6
3. “and, the wisdom to know the difference.”
Wisdom is a gift that God promises to give to those who ask for it! You can grow in wisdom each day and make better decisions as you spend time reading the Bible and communicating with God through prayer. God will tell you, through his Word or the answers to prayer, when to accept things and when to take the courage to change them. The Serenity Prayer recognizes that God is the ultimate source of wisdom.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and he will give it to you.” – James 1:5
“And how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be fully equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:15-17
Adapted from: Single Moms and the Serenity Prayer by Donna Stanger
font: Serenity Prayer, Wikipedia