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Page: Serenity Prayer

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The Serenity Prayer


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Most of us have seen on cards or in a book what has become known as the Serenity Prayer.
 

          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.  

 

These first four lines of the serenity prayer are especially well known – but the prayer actually continues as follows:
 

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships 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. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 

Background to the Serenity Prayer

Originally written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the late 1930s to early 1940s, the serenity prayer may have been a part of a sermon. The original version reads as follows:  

 

God, give us grace to accept with serenity 

the things that cannot be changed,  

courage to change the things that should be changed,  

and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

 

Researchers believe that the first version of the serenity prayer was quoted from memory in a question to The New York Times Book Review dated July 12, 1942. The query requests the name of the prayer's author. In reply, the Book Review identifies Reinhold Niebuhr as its author and quotes the prayer as follows: "O God and Heavenly Father, Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed; the courage to change that which can be changed, and the wisdom to know the one from the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

          

The serenity prayer became much more widely known in the 1950s after it was adopted, in its popular version, by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It has also been used by Narcotics Anonymous and in other Twelve-step programs. 

          

Reinhold Niebuhr's daughter, Elisabeth Sifton, wrote a book about her father's famous prayer entitled, The Serenity Prayer: Faith and Politics in Times of Peace and War. In the book, she discusses the story and circumstances around her father's writing the prayer, the wide range of versions of it, and the true essence of the prayer's meaning.  

          

The serenity prayer has become one of the most widely known prayers in the world. It touches the hearts of people from all walks of life. Below are a few references to the prayer from well-known writers, artists, singers, and songwriters. 

 

·       The serenity prayer is referenced in Dan Brown's book, Angels & Demons

 

·       The back cover of the Neil Young's album entitled Re-ac-tor includes the serenity prayer in Latin. 

 

·       Whitney Houston's debut album, Whitney, includes a reference to the serenity prayer on the back cover. 

 

·       The 1970's rock group, Boston, sings about the serenity prayer in the song, "Higher Power". 

 

·       Sinéad O'Connor, the once famous bald singer of the 1990s, references the serenity prayer in her song, "Feel So Different". 

 

·       Well-known rapper 50 Cent raps the serenity prayer in his song, “Gotta Make It To Heaven”.  

 

·       The soundtrack of the movie, Soul Food, addresses the serenity prayer. 

 

·       Famous 1960's writer, Kurt Vonnegut, mentions the serenity prayer in his book, Slaughterhouse Five

 

·       The serenity prayer has made its way into the game, World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, where one of the Blood Elves recites it.  

 

·       In 2004, the punk band, Blood for Blood, titled their album Serenity, sings a song about the serenity prayer on track 2, and the lead singer recites the prayer on the first and last tracks of the album. 

 

·       Finally, Olivia Newton John's album, Stronger than Before, includes a song entitled "Serenity," and references the serenity prayer within it. 

 

Information adapted from: http://www.thevoiceforlove.com/serenity-prayer.html 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Things we Can or Cannot Change

         The following table gives a few principles when deciding what in life to accept and what to work on changing. 

 

 

YOU CAN’T CHANGE OR CONTROL

 

 

YOU CAN CHANGE OR CONTROL

 

Your feelings and moods

Your thoughts

 

Addictions

How you take care of your body

 

The outcome of decisions or pursuits

What you do with your day

 

Any other person

Who you invite into your life

 

Someone else’s opinion of you

Your self opinion

 

Society at large

Your character

 

Nature

Home environment

 

Fate or time and chance

Your need to control

 

God

Karma (cause and effect)

 

 


 

Adapted from Kathy Freston, Expect a Miracle: 7 Spiritual Steps to Finding the Right Relationship (London: Bantam Books, 2003), 54. 

 

 

 

 


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About God
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God's Grace and Mercy - Another View
God's Grace in Small Things
Walking with God
God's Gifts and User Manual
God's Loving Care
The Dynamic God
Our Awesome and Incomprehensible God
God, Creation and Truth
The Common Aim of all Godly Religions
Living Buddha, Living Christ
About the Bible
Bible as the Word of God
Inspiration of the Scriptures
Another Reflection on the Bible
Truth Versus Facts
The Bible at your Fingertips
Letter from a Loving God
Book About Basic Bible Teachings
About the Universe
Nature and the Universe
Life's Origin
Our Unique Planet
Mind of the Universe
The Nature of Creation and Existence
Metaphysical View of the World
Order, Beauty, and Harmony - Part 1
Order, Beauty, and Harmony - Part 2
About Humanity
Nature of Humans
Of Creators and Creations
Truth and Perceptions
Our Present State and Divine Potential
Hidden Treasure Within Us
Precious Balls of Clay
Intertwining of Humanity and Divinity
Conversion
Finding One's Mission in Life
Living with Paradox
Scripture Bell
The Potential Good Within Evil
About Health and Happiness
Key Principles for Health and Happiness
Twelve Laws of Spirit
40 Spiritual Principles
Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
Wisdom from Rumi
Aspects of Spiritual Life
First Things First
Disciplined Living
Compassion
Listening
Experiencing Joy
Each Day is a Gift
Dealing with Suffering
Living in the Present
Other Aspects of Living in the Now
Choose Life
Dealing with Change
Acceptance
Prayer
Prayer -- Another Perspective
Serenity Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
Prayer to Magnify God
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Pax -- the Peace of God's Presence
Let There Be Peace on Earth
Human Relationships
Children About Love
Inspiration from the Lives of a Godly Couple
Desiderata
References
Beauty
Skies and Seas
Glorious Sunrises
Beautiful Skies
Awesome Sunsets
Beauty of the Sea
Seaside Beauty
Trees and Flowers
Trees and Shrubs
Flowers in Bloom
Rose Garden
Beautiful Orchids
Animal Life
Australian Birds
Birds on Water and Land
Beautiful Creatures
Friendship of Kitten and Parrot
Other Animal Friendships
Parks and Gardens
Toowoomba Flower Festival
Riyadh Parks and Gardens
Spring Time
New Life
Spring Flowers
Flower Close-Ups
The Waterside
Water Edge
Water Mirrors
Artistic Expression
Art of Jindrich (Henry) Degen
Three Dogs Knowing
Beautiful Actions
The Cab Ride
Dancing in the Rain
Angel in Disguise?
Angels at Work
The Crocheted Tablecloth
Love in the Midst of Tragedy
Children's Innocence
Special Day
~ References ~
Free Downloads
God and Creation
God is Love
Identity in Christ
Love, Joy and Obedience
Nature of Truth
Thoughts about Life
Learning and Growth
Thoughts on Life and Death
Abandonment to God
Wishing You Well
Your Comments
Contact Us