Now that we have made our serenity boxes I hope that you will use them each and every day. This will help you to live a more serene life. Another way to really bring more serenity into your life is to live the Serenity Prayer (pass out The Serenity Prayer).


A. First of all you have to be at Peace with Yourself - Changing What You Can

I have always loved the serenity prayer:

In that little prayer is the prescription for the joy of being yourself. What are some things can you change about yourself? I have always battled with my weight since I got married. I think I’ve blamed everything and everyone but myself. I am here tonight to tell you that there is something I can change...pray that I have the internal fortitude to do it. This is an area in my own life that I can change. It may not be weight in your life but maybe a bad attitude all the time, or maybe not spending enough time with your kids, or spending more time with your husband. I congratulate those of you coming to the relationship class. You are learning how to make some changes. I guarantee you those changes will bring more peace in your house and more joy in your life. Sometimes, I need a priority check-up. What am I spending most of my time doing? We all have some things that we know we need to change...when we don’t then we are robbed of our joy. We feel down, depressed, and often guilty. What needs to change in your life? Reach way down within and see.

B. Accepting What You Can’t Change

There are many things we can’t change. That sounds very simple but the problem is that we can’t accept it. We keep trying to change the things that can’t be changed and not changing the things that need changing. Did you get all that? Some things that need changing...nappies, tyres, hair colour, oil...attitudes, perspectives, outlooks....get the picture? Some things that can’t be changed...a profound truth...we can’t change our husbands, kids, parents, or anyone else. We make ourselves miserable trying. The author Barbara Johnson wrote about the seven stages of womanhood which all deal with us wanting things to be different.

In your twenties you want to wake up with romance.
In your thirties you want to wake up married.
At forty you want to wake up rich.
At fifty you want to wake up successful.
At sixty, to wake up contented.
At seventy, to wake up healthy.
And at eighty you just want to wake up!

We have to quit trying to change other people. We must leave that up to the Lord and to those people. A lot of the things we gripe about would dissipate if we would change ourselves. It is amazing the difference just changing our own outlook on life and attitude will make on everyone around us. I have been so astounded at the joy people can have in the midst of major difficulties. I’m sure you’ve heard stories about people who overcome major obstacles and had so much joy in their lives because they had accepted their condition and moved on. What things do you just need to accept? I won’t go into a long sob-story, but I was born blind in my right eye. I accept that. I know that I cannot change the situation that’s just the way it is. Having sight in only one eye has never taken my joy away. I refuse to let it. I look at all the things I do have and praise God for what I do have. Let’s not be miserable in trying to be someone else either. The Bible warns us about comparing ourselves to others. It says that it is not wise. Let’s be happy for the women God has made us to be. Let’s take a deep look within. What am I trying to change or upset about because I can’t change it. Look for the joy in just being who you are.

C. Having Wisdom to Know the Difference

Pray! Pray! Pray! Ladies, we need to be on our knees always praying for wisdom to know the difference between these two. We need to seek the Lord’s guidance for what needs to be changed in our lives. We need to study His Word and see what changes need to be made in accordance with His Word. We need to seek godly counsel from church staff and Christian friends. The best friend I have is the one who can tell me like it is. And, I don’t get upset at her for doing it. Seek wisdom. I have several great books for women if you are interested in learning more and are really serious about making some positive changes in your life. Sometimes we just need to use our brains. Have you heard the saying, “The Lord gave us two ends -- one to sit on and the other to think with. Success depends on which one we use the most.” Proverbs 4:5 says “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”

My prayer for you is that you will use your serenity box each day and that you will change the things you can, accept the things you cannot change, and always have the wisdom to know the difference.