Good Advice

The Lord gave me some good advice lately.  He brought me back to my early walk with Him after I got clean and sober.  I was a drug addict and an alcoholic.  The Lord delivered me from the prison of addiction through a lot of time spent with Him in prayer and study, and working through the 12 step program.  He brought godly councilors into my life and surrounded me with strong, determined people in the groups I was involved with, gave me a wonderful support system in my family and friends and brought me to a place of freedom that I am grateful for every day. 

One of the things I learned back in those days was a simple prayer called the "The Serenity Prayer."  Many of you may have heard of it, but have never really given it much thought.  Many of you may have some of it memorized or know it just because you've heard it a few times before.  Our Father brought this sweet gem to my mind a few days ago, when I spent yet another day at work fussing and fretting over things not being done right, or as efficiently and wisely as possible.  My partner and I have a desire to see things done in a way that brings the best job we can for the customers we serve. 

Having that desire is good.  Wanting to do your best is admirable and godly.  And that's where God's advice came in.  He brought the Serenity Prayer back to my mind (I hadn't thought about it in ages), and told me to do my job with excellence and let the rest go.  I can't always change things and people around me.  And it isn't my job to do so.  That's not saying I don't make suggestions on how we can improve or do something better.  But I cannot force anyone to change the way they do things, especially the United States Postal Service.  LOL.  All I can do is my best. 

We are called to maintain peace and remain in peace.  We are called to be peacemakers.  Fussing and fretting will never coexist with peace and joy and loving others.   Another piece of advice we used to bandy around the 12  Step groups was "Let go and let God."   This does not mean giving up, but letting God do what I cannot do.  1 Peter 5:7  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Our God gives great advice! 

Lord, thank You for bringing these things to my remembrance.  Help me and all of us to put them into practice.  Make us people of excellence, not perfection.  Help us to let go of expectations for those around us...You work in them and let us focus on glorifying You in our work and loving others as You did.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

What situation do you need to let go and let God?  Where could you use the Serenity Prayer in your day? 


A lot of people have the first few lines memorized and those are great to get us through the day with our sanity in tact...but I put the complete prayer because it is so perfectly suited to our days walking through this world.