The Serenity Prayer Ultimate Guide #1

What is Serenity?

Serenity comes from the word “serene”, which is to be “calm and clear.”

The etymology is derived from the Latin “serenus” or “serenitas”, which is to be “peaceful, calm, clear and unclouded.” The Latin was mostly used to describe the weather. It has been repurposed in English to apply to various situations.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/serenehttps://www.etymonline.com/word/serenity

1. To be serene; calm; and at peace.
2. To be without agitation and undisturbed.

Synonyms

•  Sereneness
• Tranquillity
•  Harmony
•  Peace
• Hush
• Placidity
• Quiet
• Quietude
• Still
• Repose
• Calm
• Restfulness

Antonyms

• Commotion
• Unrest
• Uproar
• Pandemonium
• Turmoil
• Bustle

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/serenity

Reinhold Niebuhr’s version is the most famous and most widespread version of the serenity prayer. It is said to have been in circulation since 1937. It is written by a man who had been to war, stood against the Klu Klux Klan’s rise and authored “The Irony of American History.” He had undoubtedly seen unserene things in his lifetime. So he implored God to grant him this elusive serenity.

How does the serenity prayer go?

God, give me the grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

https://www.csun.edu/~twd61312/Niebuhr%20precis.htm

Serenity Prayer Meaning

What serenity prayer means

The overarching meaning in the serenity prayer is found in the definition of the word. It is a prayer for peace. It is a prayer asking that God would grant you peace through life’s storms, and strength to fight what you can. We will break it down a few lines at a time and derive biblical references as well as meaning.

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed

At times peace is found in being able to recognise that we don’t have control over all situations. Serenity can come from the acceptance of situations of which we have no control or ability to change.

Courage to change the things
which should be changed

The author was a man who stood and spoke against the KKK at a time when their practices were still widely accepted. When most were simply turning a blind eye to the plight of their neighbour, he spoke up. The courage exhibited in those actions is that which he was praying for. It is also a prayer to see things that ought to be changed. It is one for wisdom, to know things that should be changed when you see them.

Peter prayed a similar prayer! A prayer for boldness:

Acts 4:29-35 New International Version (NIV)
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

As mentioned above, the serenity prayer is one for Godly wisdom. The wisdom that is not earthly. The bible tells us that earthly wisdom is sensual and demonic.

James 3:15 “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”

Earthly wisdom will have you walking with your times when God is ahead of the times. It will have you walking with the crowd, among so-called believers when God has long departed!

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,

Philippians 4:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

What does serenity prayer mean to you?

Real impact and change come from when these things apply to you on a personal level. What does serenity in your life look like? What would you need to pay less attention to in order to experience it?

As the scripture above shows, we are encouraged to live serene lifestyles. We are told to live lives free of anxiety, ones that are filled with prayer, supplication and thanksgiving.

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

This is probably a difficult one for most. We are more and more impatient. The virtue of hardship is no longer noted or accepted. There is always a price to be paid for peace, teach us to pay it, dear God!

Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,

Our churches are filled with hatred for the world that we ought to be reconciled, we have a ministry of reconciliation. It takes wisdom to know how to approach it. Jesus’ methods didn’t sit well with his day’s “church”. He took the sinful world as it was, and brought transformation that way. Not as he would have it! Yet he took it as it was. He ate with Zaccheus and brought transformation.

Isaiah 1:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,

We are often solution-oriented. That is the way of the world. We are raised to believe that “God helps those that help themselves”. Lord teach us to trust you, to surrender to your will, and not lean on our own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV)
5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Matthew 10:29-31 New International Version (NIV)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

1 Peter 5:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Philippians 4:11-13 New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be contentwhatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Beyond the peace that comes from allowing the Lord to care for us, there is the joy of prioritising the life that is to come in eternity, more than the one that we live today.

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SERENITY PRAYER

Who wrote serenity prayer?

The serenity prayer was written by Reinhold Niebuhr.

Who really wrote the serenity prayer?

There was previously doubt cast on Reinhold Niebuhr being the author of the serenity prayer. This was rested when the critic Fred R. Shapiro, conceded that there was more evidence in support than there was against Reinhold Niebuhr being the author.

When was the serenity Prayer written?

The first version of the serenity prayer was in circulated 1937.

How old is the serenity prayer?

It is 81 years old this year, based on being authored in 1937.

Where did serenity prayer come from?

The long-form version that is circulated today is based on the short form that was written by Reinhold Niebuhr.

Where was the serenity prayer written?

It is hard to say where Reinhold Niebuhr was when he wrote it. It was somewhere in the United States of America, for sure.

Where is serenity prayer in the bible?

Is serenity prayer in the bible

The serenity prayer is not in the bible. It was written by Reinhold Niebuhr, who was a Christian theologian.

What is the original serenity prayer?

This is the original serenity prayer:

“Father, give us the courage to change what must be altered, the serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.”

Why is the serenity prayer important?

It covers one of the greatest human issues today, we are constantly not at peace. The world is an unserene, chaotic place. We desperately need serenity!

Serenity prayer in Italian

Dio , concedimi la serenità
di accettare le cose
Non posso cambiare,

Il coraggio di cambiare la
cose che posso , e la
saggezza per conoscere la differenza .

Vivere un giorno alla volta ;
Godendo un momento alla volta ;
Accettare le difficoltà come il
percorso verso la pace .

Prendendo , come ha fatto , questo
mondo peccatore come è,
non come avrei esso .

Confidando che farà
tutte le cose per bene , se io
cedere alla Sua Volontà ;

Che io possa essere ragionevolmente felice
in questa vita , e sommamente
felice con Lui per sempre in
il prossimo.
Amen

Translation source

Serenity Prayer in French

La Prière de la Sérénité

Mon Dieu,
Donnez-moi la sérénité
D’accepter
Les choses que je ne puis changer,
Le courage
De changer les choses que je peux,
Et la sagesse
D’en connaître la différence.

Translation Source

Serenity Prayer in German

The short form of the serenity prayer german version:

Gott, gib mir die Gelassenheit,
die Dinge zu akzeptieren,
die ich nicht ändern kann,
den Mut, die Dinge zu ändern,
und die Weisheit,
den Unterschied zu erkennen

Serenity Prayer in Chinese

上帝给我平安接受我无法改变的事情。
勇于改变我能做的事情，
用智慧来区分。

Serenity Prayer in Spanish

Dios, concedeme la serenidad para aceptar las cosas que no puedo combiar,

el valor para cambiar las cosas que peudo cambiar y la sabiduria para conocer la diferencia;
Viviendo un dia a la vez, disfrutando un momento a la vez;

aceptando las adversidades mundo pecador tal y como es, y no como me gustaria que fuera;
Creyendo qu Tu haras que todas las cosas esten bien si you me entrego a Tu voluntad;

de modo qu peuda ser razonablemente feliz en esta vide e increiblemente felize Contigo en la siguiente. Amen.

Serenity Prayer in Polish

Niech Bóg da mi spokój, aby przyjąć rzeczy
Że nie mogę się zmienić,
Odwaga
Zmienić,
co mogę zmienić,
Mądrość,
pozwól mi odróżnić
jeden z drugiego

Serenity Prayer Quotes Images