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Monday Meditations - Serenity


Serenity

When I think of serenity, I imagine peaceful and serene settings. That is definitely something I crave. I don't need the chaos of the world or to constantly be around people. The dictionary definition of serenity is "the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled." Unfortunately, life isn't always serene. But, we can't say we weren't warned.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

I have seen Satan at work. It's disheartening, but it does make me aware of spiritual warfare. Other times I need the reminder from 1 John 4:4.

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

And…

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

One doesn't have to look too far to see any of these situations from the next verse.

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household" (Matthew 10:34-36).

When distress, hatred, discord, and frustration come into our lives and disrupt our peace and serenity, we can hand it all over to God. He will carry our burdens. Only in Him can we find true peace amidst the chaos. In Christ is serenity.

We often hear the shortened version of the Serenity Prayer, but here is the original version. Let us take this into the next week. 

God, give me 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.

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