“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. 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.”
Reinhold Niebuhr was using this prayer in 1934, as seen here. Some scholars believe that it dates back to 500 AD.
It is my believe that it follows the teaching of Jesus and the healing process we find in His teach, found in Matthew 5 etc.
Just as we find help in praying “The Lord’s Prayer” (taught to us by Jesus in Luke 11:2-4) we can also use this prayer to follow Jesus’ suggestion that we ask God for the strength to submit to His will, finding freedom & healing in Him.
How is this Spanish translation?
“Dios, concédeme la serenidad para aceptar las cosas que no puedo cambiar, El coraje para cambiar las cosas que puedo, Y la sabiduría para saber la diferencia. Viviendo un día a la vez, Disfrutando de un momento a la vez; Aceptar el sufrimiento como un camino hacia la paz, tomando, como Jesús hizo, este mundo pecaminoso tal cual es; No como yo quisiera; Confiando en que harás todas las cosas bien si me rindo a tu voluntad; Para que pueda ser razonablemente feliz en esta vida y supremamente feliz contigo para siempre en la próxima “.
Pastor Ben Malmin 