Serenity Prayer has become one of the most well-knownprayers of our time. While there is much speculation about who wrote it, it is most commonly believed that it was written by Reinhold Niebuhr, a theologian who lived in the early to mid 1900s. It is believed that Niebuhr originally wrote the serenity prayer as part of a sermon.
According to Elisabeth Siftoninher book, The Serenity Prayer, below is the original version of the .
"God, give us grace toaccept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change thethings that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from theother."
It was the later versionbelow, however, which eventually became adopted by Alcoholic Anonymous in the 1940s:
"O God and HeavenlyFather,
Grant to us the serenity ofmind to accept that which cannot be changed; the courage to change that whichcan be changed, and the wisdom to know the one from the other, through JesusChrist our Lord, Amen."
Niebuhr himself discusses the Serenity Prayer in his book, The Essential Reinhold Niebuhr: Selected Essaysand Addresses. He writes,
?...The embarrassment, particularly, was occasioned by the incessant correspondenceabout a prayer I had composed years before, which the old Federal Council ofChurches had used and which later was printed on small cards to give tosoldiers. Subsequently Alcoholics Anonymous adopted it as its official prayer.The prayer reads: 'God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things thatcannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and thewisdom to distinguish the one from the other.' ...?
What does the Serenity Prayer mean?
Thereare, of course, many interpretations. Below is from DavidPaul Doyle, author of TheVoice for Love:
The intention of the Serenity Prayer is to bring peace, faith, and certainty to the mind and heart of those seekingGod's support. It asks God for the wisdom and ability to gracefully accept"what is," (what cannot be changed) and for the willingness tomanifest, with God's support, that which is in one's highest good. (Courage tochange the things which should be changed).
The Serenity Prayer acknowledges that if one seeks truepeace and happiness in this life and beyond, it is important to consciouslylive and enjoy one's life in each moment; embrace one's struggles andchallenges; accept the world as it is, not as we would will it to be; and trustin God and surrender to God's Will thereby uniting our will with His.
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