We all have things in our lives that we can’t change.
They run a broad spectrum between minor annoyances, like a family member’s persistent, obnoxious behavior, and real tragedies, like the loss of someone close to us.
But even in situations that are beyond our control, we can choose how we respond.
The wisdom of St. Francis’ “Serenity Prayer” reminds us that we can’t change some situations and we can’t change other people, but we can change ourselves.
We can modify our own response to that family member. We can adopt a positive attitude in sticky circumstances. In other words, we can choose joy.
And even during those moments when we can’t change our emotions, when grief overwhelms us, we can still choose God. When we do, we are accepting His promise to bring joy into our lives.
Lord, I want to choose joy today. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me wisdom to respond rightly to everything in my life. Amen.
–author unknown
St. Francis wrote an amazing, touching prayer, but St. Francis didn’t actually write the Serenity Prayer. It was Reinhold Niebuhr.
Phi 4. Rejoice. Despite the bad things. He will redeem us as his beloved. Jn 3:16
Put your bad in another “room”. Pray.
Thank you for this wonderful reminder!
God says where two or more are gathered ask in His name, agree upon it and it shall be… God that verse just came to mind, and I thank you Take away the pain and fill me with the fullness of your joy, Use me.
Such a fitting word for today. Lord, change my heart to choose joy!