#Full serenity prayer text how to
#Full serenity prayer text full

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. Philippians 4:4-8, 11-13 (NLT)īut if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

#Full serenity prayer text full

I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

#Full serenity prayer text how to

12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.ġ1 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.Ĩ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. It was written and published by Reinhold Niebuhr in 1951, although he had used it much earlier in a sermon in 1943. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. The Serenity Prayer is one of the most widely known prayers in existence. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Remember, the Lord is coming soon.Ħ Don’t worry about anything instead, pray about everything. I say it again-rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. James 1:5 (NIV)Ĥ Always be full of joy in the Lord.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 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. When you say “Amen” after asking for God to do for you and in you what you cannot do for yourself, you are declaring that you have decided to let go of what you cannot control anyway and you’re turning your will and life over to the care and plan of God since you believe He can and will “grant you…” if you let Him. The word “Amen” means “let it be so” or “so be it”. The most important words in the prayer are “God grant me…” acknowledging that you are not God and you need His favor. When you pray, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference… Amen” you are admitting that you lack acceptance, courage, and wisdom. But He did send Jesus, and those who accept His sacrifice are the only ones who have a real hope of being “reasonably happy” in this life and supremely happy in the next.Keep this in mind the next time you say The Serenity Prayer. If that were true, He would not have sent His Son to die for sin and reconcile the sinful world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). At the same time, the serenity prayer says God takes the sinful world as it is. Fretting and worrying our way through life indicates a lack of faith in our God and an unwillingness to surrender to His will and trust that He has all things under control. The serenity prayer speaks of a life lived in calm, courageous faith in God, reminiscent of Paul’s admonition to “be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). It has been part of Alcoholics Anonymous ever since and has also been used in other twelve-step programs.īiblically speaking, there are some excellent thoughts expressed in this prayer and may very well be something Christians can pray and meditate on. The co-founder of AA, William Griffith Wilson, and his staff liked the serenity prayer and had it printed out in modified form and handed around. The first two lines are most familiar because of their association with Alcoholics Anonymous. That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change Ĭourage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.Īccepting hardships as the pathway to peace The text of the entire serenity prayer is as follows: Niebuhr himself did not publish the serenity prayer until 1951, in one of his magazine columns, although it had previously appeared under his name in 1944, when it was included in a Federal Council of Churches book for army chaplains and servicemen. There are various versions of the serenity prayer floating around with minor alterations. The serenity prayer is attributed to a Protestant theologian named Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971).