Week 9 - Day 2 - Living In Serenity.
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Lets begin by reading the Serenity Prayer again.
“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. 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.
In Jesus name. Amen.”
As we continue to unpack the serenity prayer we find ourselves at living one day at a time and enjoying one moment at a time.
Living one day at a time
To say that my life has been chaotic in the past few years would be an understatement.
The world seems to be plummeting into a black hole that many are choosing to ignore in unhealthy ways. Unable to see any light at the end of the tunnel, many have just decided to bury their heads in the sand and hope it all goes away. This is their survival method. As they look into the future they struggle to see any point in standing against the tide and just get on with life as normal in the hope it will all just go away.
What we fail to realise when we do this, is that we accept what is unacceptable and we end up enabling those who seek to rob us of our serenity.
In the battle between good and evil there are only two choices and this means that the head in the sand approach is choosing to enable evil to continue.
But when we apply the Serenity Prayer to our lives we can in fact stand upright and have serenity in our lives because we trust in Jesus to cover us.
Applying the principles gives us a sense of standing in the light in the most effective ways while seeing clearly what’s happening around us. You can’t do that when your head is in the sand.
It’s vitally important to deal with each day as it comes though remembering our main verse for this week, Philippians 4:13….I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.”
All we have assurance of is the present, the now, and God’s grace is sufficient to keep living one day at a time.
We need to embrace the present moment as a sacred gift. Release the burdens of the past and the anxieties of the future. Focus on the here and now, committing to make the most of each day. Find gratitude in the simple joys and opportunities for growth that each moment presents. It works for me. The trick is to remember to do it each day.
Enjoying one moment at a time
As I write these devotionals in the early hours as the sun rises; my mind is filled with thoughts and plans and words. But the sun filtering through the trees in the orchard and the sight of two male kangaroos boxing in play has brought me to pause and to reflect.
My favourite hymn comes to mind. It is well with my soul.
The sun comes up each morning and sets each late afternoon and we are given a million opportunities to stop and smell the roses. These moments are precious and they are good for our souls.
Life is comprised of a series of moments, each holding the potential for joy and fulfilment. Cultivate an awareness as you savour the richness of your experiences. Whether in times of laughter or tears, allow yourself to fully immerse in the beauty of each passing moment. There are thousands of them each day.
Questions.
- Take a look at todays challenges and potential. What can you do today to ensure that you actually live just for today as you contemplate the Serenity Prayer?
- How much time do you spend each day worrying about things that may never happen and what can you do to spend that time better?
- Is there someone in your circle who could use a coffee and a chat that might help them stop and smell the roses too?
Prayer.
Dear Lord, Papa God.
Thank you for the wisdom of the Serenity Prayer and for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ who strengthens us every day. Lord help us to see that the big battles are yours and that we need only place our trust and faith in you to guide us home. Thank you for your imparted strength in our lives through faith in Jesus, that we may hand over the cares and worries of this world to Him.
We pray in Jesus name.
Amen.
Have a blessed day everyone.
Graham Hood.