People do not change their minds when others shout at them or call them names. On some subconscious level, we truly believe that we can make other people see our point of view if we just have one more conversation with them, explain our position one more time or, sometimes, yell loudly enough. We often have an overinflated sense of our own power to enact change. …And the wisdom to know the difference.ĭiscernment is one of the most difficult skills to master especially when it comes to dealing with our ability to influence the world around us. The penultimate line of the first stanza of the Serenity Prayer asks God to help us find the inner strength and deep well of bravery we all possess and turn that willpower and courage toward bringing about the changes that matter to us. It takes time, effort, energy and, yes, risk. It is not easy to go up to someone we respect and say “I disagree.” It is not easy to face down someone who is screaming with hate and say, civilly and respectfully, “You are wrong and here is why.” Truly creating change does not happen from behind a screen or around a water cooler. It is easy to complain, especially from behind the protection of a screen name and keyboard. Ironically, many of the loudest virtual voices have never done a thing to help the causes they claim matter so much. In the age of social media and the internet, it is easier than ever to jump on the bandwagon and complain about an event, person, policy or organization. The first two lines of the Serenity Prayer ask for perhaps one of the hardest things of all: the strength to both accept that some things are out of our control and come to peace with that fact rather than drowning in useless, toxic rage. The inevitability of those facts does not make them less horrible, but it does mean that there is nothing we can do about it. In our hearts we know that there is nothing we can do to change some facts of life. We do the spiritual equivalent of punching a brick wall and expecting the wall to come down instead of our knuckles to bruise and split and break. We deny the terrible news of a deadly diagnosis and stick our heads in the sand. We rage against the congested traffic and fall prey to road rage. When faced with something we wish we could change, we often fight it. May the Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,Everyone has things in their life they wish that they could change, whether it is something as small as the traffic and congestion that fills a person’s daily commute or something as serious as a loved one’s diagnosis with terminal cancer. The courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. May God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Señor, dame la serenidad para aceptar las cosas que no puedo cambiar, la fortaleza para cambiar las cosas que sí puedo y la sabiduría para saber la diferencia. Permite que mi corazón sea paciente y mi alma serena.ĭios, dame serenidad para aceptar las cosas que no puedo cambiar, valor para cambiar aquellas que sí puedo y sabiduría para distinguirlas. Serenidad a través de Dios, me dirijo a ti con una mente abierta y un corazón limpio.Įnvía tu luz y tu paz para guiarme en este día, así como también lo haces por la noche cuando me duermo.Ĭoncédeme la sabiduría para reconocer mis limitaciones y la humildad para reconocer tus dones. That calls for a moment of rest and contemplation, during which we might offer God our most heartfelt gratitude and praise. The gospels show us how God’s plan came to fruition when we met Jesus and learned about His life, His numerous acts of kindness, and His final sacrifice on the cross. ![]() Eventually, you will be able to find cause for celebration in the Lord, regardless of your current circumstances, since He has been faithful throughout the good times and the bad. Give God the credit when you accomplish something. Take a time to appreciate the fact that God brought you together with a loved one. ![]() Don’t miss out on the next breathtaking sunset. ![]() Praising God is the gateway to a fruitful prayer life. We can accomplish this by appreciating the natural beauty around us or by taking pleasure in the many gifts God has given us. God is a kind and compassionate Father who knows us inside and out, and though we can have a close personal relationship with Him, we must never forget that He is worthy of the highest awe and reverence.īy celebrating God for who He is, we display our awe and reverence for Him (Deuteronomy 13:4). ![]() Understanding Whom we are praying to is the first step toward a deeper relationship with our God.
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