The Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer is one of the most famous and powerful prayers in all Christianity. The prayer, also known as “God Grant me the serenity”, is one of the AA Prayers that is said at every meeting to help recovering alcoholics.

At the bottom of this page you will find a Prayer Request form. We invite you to post your personal prayer for serenity so that we can share in your prayers.

As Christians we yearn to trust in God’s ways, though it is not always easy. This is the ultimate prayer, asking God for a strong faith, understanding and happiness in daily life. Below is the complete, full text of this powerful prayer.

The Serenity Prayer

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 hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

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How to Pray the Serenity Prayer

This is the perfect prayer to add to your Daily Devotions. Set aside a few minutes in the morning or in the evening to pray your devotions to God. Ask God for serenity on a daily basis using this prayer as your guide.

Some additional tips and exercises for praying this prayer.

Try to memorize the words to the prayer. Write it out on a post card and each day see how far you get before you need to reference the card.
Speak directly to God. Don’t just blindly repeat the words you’ve memorized. You need to speak directly to Him and truly mean the words you’re speaking.
After praying, write your reflections in a prayer journal. Over time you’ll be able to track your progress towards serenity and happiness.

AA Prayer History

“God grant me the serenity” became the default prayer of Alcoholics Anonymous in the early 1940’s when a member spotted the prayer in the obituaries section of the newspaper.

The prayers focus on acceptance resonated with the group. Acceptance is central to AA’s philosophy. Only once you accept yourself as you are, can you begin to change the things in your life that are within your power to change. Though life can be difficult, it is possible to change one’s life for the better, one step at a time.

To read more about AA Prayers and the history of Alcoholic’s Anonymous, click here.

Variations of The Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer is so popular that many variations of it have been composed. Here are a sampling of these altered versions. The authors of these are unknown.

The Pagan Serenity Prayer

Lord and Lady grant me the power of Water, to accept what I cannot change.
The power of Fire, for energy and courage to change the things that I can.
The power of Air, for the ability to know the difference.
Grant me the power of Earth, for the strength to know and walk my path.

Know Who You Can Change

God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it’s me.

The Serenity Prayer in Spanish

Dios, concedeme la serenidad para aceptar las cosas que no puedo combiar, el valor para cambiar las cosas que peudo cambiar y la sabiduria para conocer la diferencia;
Viviendo un dia a la vez, disfrutando un momento a la vez; aceptando las adversidades mundo pecador tal y como es, y no como me gustaria que fuera;
Creyendo qu Tu haras que todas las cosas esten bien si you me entrego a Tu voluntad; de modo qu peuda ser razonablemente feliz en esta vide e increiblemente felize Contigo en la siguiente. Amen.

Do you know another variation? Post it below!

Bible Verses about Addiction

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
Proverbs 20:1

Check out what the bible has to say about peace with this collection of Bible Verses about Addiction

Looking for a gift? Check out a collection of Serenity Prayer Jewelry

Related Prayers

The Third Step Prayer

A Prayer for Peace of Mind

Return to All Prayers

Serenity Prayer Request

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