serenity prayer remix

So, I'm a few days delinquent in posting.. it's been a busy weekend.

First of all, praise God, I got all my cleaning done.  I didn't get finished on Friday night as planned, but I got started Friday night and finished on Saturday.  I even got my car detailed; yay, no more french fries between the seats and crumbs everywhere!

Something I've been learning lately, is that trying to change another person is a vain pursuit.  The only person I'm capable of changing is me!  I think about how much time and breath I've wasted trying to convince people to come in line with the way I think they should act, think and behave.  God never called me to change anybody.  He did call me to influence people, but that influence is achieved by being a living example, sharing my faith, praying for others, and trusting God to make the change.

Being an example


Hypocrisy is probably the biggest hindrance to being an example.  If I'm professing to be a Christian, my life may be the only Bible some people ever see, so if I'm living as a hypocrite that's what I'm discipling them to become.  I'm also discrediting the entire faith.  Before I ever open my mouth to someone, they should see the fruit and see the consistency of my lifestyle.  The Gospel has to be lived to be shared.

Sharing my faith


Doesn't mean arguing with someone on why they should believe and getting hostile with them.  It's just like sharing food.  If I had some cookies, I'd offer them to others; some people might accept them, some my ask more about them, others may down right turn them down.  But there's no case where I force the cookies on anyone.  Sharing the Gospel is the same way, I have to remember to just offer it, not try to force feed it to someone.

Praying for others


I've caught myself recently, like today, on my high horse trying to tell someone what she should do.  I could tell she wasn't receptive before I opened my big mouth, but did that stop me..noo.  Even a few minutes into my spill when she was clearly looking annoyed, did that stop me? of course, not.  I just kept flapping my jaws until I finally started feeling rather foolish for trying to out talk her ability to ignore me.  What would have been the correct, Godly response? Say hey sis, if you wanna chat about what's going on sometime give me a call; I'm here for you and willing to listen.  Then, I should have left it alone and went to pray for her and let GOD do what He does best...transform the hearts of people.

Trust God


God has called us not only to disciple and share the Gospel, but also pray for others and for our fellow laborers.  No one person was meant to do it all.  God is the only one that can do it all.  When I step out of my lane and do what I haven't been called to do, I'm telling God that I think I know more than He does.  I'm not trusting Him, His process, or His timing.

Today's incident made me think of the prayer of serenity.  It's a popular prayer that people quote often, although it's not in the Bible, the original serenity prayer says:

"God grant me the serenity to change the things I can change, to accept the things I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Well, I don't particularly agree with the notion of accepting the things I cannot change.  I think when we realize we are incapable of changing something, that's when we should bring it before God, because He specializes in the impossible.  So, here's my remixed serenity prayer:

God grant me the serenity to change the things you have commanded me to change, to petition you about the things I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference.