Here are three truths from Scripture about peace and serenity that can be applied to the words of the Serenity Prayer. Accepting God's plan and His purpose for your life will bring the serenity you seek. 3 Biblical Truths of the Serenity PrayerĬhaos continues when we try to change things or people that we shouldn't or can't, and serenity is the farthest component of our lives. The Serenity Prayer has been used in AA's 12-step program ever since. William Griffith Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder, liked the prayer so much that he has it printed in its shortened form and distributed to members. The serenity prayer first appeared in print as part of a sermon in the 1944 Book of Prayers and Services for the Armed Forces and was officially published by Niebuhr in 1951. In 1943, Niebuhr used the prayer in a sermon at Heath Evangelical Union Church in Heath, Massachusetts. It was composed sometime between 19 and grew highly popular in the 30s and 40s across church groups without proper attribution and recognition to Niebuhr. Who Wrote the Serenity Prayer?Īs noted previously, Reinhold Niebuhr is often the attributed author of the Serenity Prayer. God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,Īnd the wisdom to know the difference. 'Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.' ~ Proverbs 3:13-14Īmen. 'Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.' 1 Peter 5:6-7 'Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you he will never permit the righteous to be moved.' Psalm 55:22 'You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.' ~ Isaiah 26:3
Be inspired to live with serenity through faith in Christ with these Bible verses about giving God our anxieties. How often have you seen The Serenity Prayer on a card or on a magnet and simply read the inspirational words without fully grasping its message? It's a powerful prayer, and we truly need to believe in each phrase for its wisdom to enhance our lives. In the early 1940s, the group Alcoholics Anonymous began to use a shortened version of the Serenity Prayer in their twelve-step program. Written by Reinhold Neibuhr in the 1930s, this prayer has been widely used in sermons, Sunday school groups, and studies. This prayer is one of the most well-known today, especially the shortened version below. The Serenity Prayer is a prayer that asks God to grant acceptance, courage, and wisdom for things in our life we can't control.
