God, grant me the serenity […] (SA 210).

The Serenity Prayer appeared in 1943 to become part of the foundation of the Alcoholics Anonymous Program. This prayer opens our meetings, graces many sobriety chips, and appears in our literature and periodicals over and over. The Serenity Prayer even commonly appears on wall plaques and in cross-stitch panels. Serenity, courage, and wisdom are virtues sought by me in recovery and by much of the human community.

The first words of the prayer, however, are often glossed over. “God grant” means we acknowledge that this is not a prayer to try harder or to go deeper in our program. Instead, we admit our need for our Higher Power as the source of power to carry us through the next minute, hour, or day. Allowing God’s Spirit to guide our response to everyday life is the safest doorway to serenity, courage, and wisdom available on the other side.

God, grant me the willingness to let You guide my life today that I may move closer to the serenity, courage, and wisdom I want to share with others.