Serenity Courage Wisdom - A Great Trio

Many of you know these familiar words:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Every time we pray the serenity prayer we are asking God for wisdom.  What is wisdom?  Why should we want it?  What do we do with it once we get it?  Wisdom is the ability to think and act wisely based on information, experience, and common sense.

The book of Proverbs in the Bible has 31 chapters of short sayings which express useful truths for everyday life.  You don’t have to read it in sequence from beginning to end.  You can just pick a section and find practical instructions that will help you have a better day today.  Here's a sample.

Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.  Never tell lies or be deceitful in what you say.  Keep looking straight ahead, without turning aside.  Know where you are headed, and you will stay on solid ground.  Don’t make a mistake by turning to the right or the left. 

Proverbs 4:23-27

Someone has echoed these thoughts in a well-known poem: Watch your thoughts; for they become words.  Watch your words; for they become actions.  Watch your actions; for they become habits.  Watch your habits; for they become character.  Watch your character; for it will become your destiny. (Author Unknown)

Loving God, we know that just wanting to be wise is not enough.  We need Your Holy Spirit living in us to help us recognize what wisdom looks like.  When we consult with and obey the Holy Spirit in the situations we face each day, we know we will gain wisdom and power to live life in a new way.

And so remind us often through this day to ask for Your guidance and wisdom in whatever form You can communicate it with us so we understand what You are telling us.

We have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.  We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.  But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit.  It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 

1 Corinthians 2:12-14

Lord Jesus, come and live in us today and help us to be wise people. Help us to understand what is right and good in every situation we face.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and strengthen us to obey Your principles in all we do and say. Give us serenity to face things we can’t change, courage to change what we can, and wisdom to know the difference. Amen

Let’s have a wonderful day.