The Wisdom To Change The Things We Can

Reading from James 1:5 KJV with brief meditation. Some things we can change. Somethings we can't. May God grant us the wisdom to know which is which.

Pray For Those Who Persecute You

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matt 5:11-12 KJV)

It is to be expected that many will not hear or accept the truth that we are all sinners in need of redemption. It is to be expected that many will not accept the truth that Jesus hung on that cross to redeem us from our sins. 

Thanks be to God we can pray for those who persecute us even as Jesus prayed that those who persecuted him might be forgiven.

God help us to stand in your strength and in your love that we might might endure all persecutions and continue proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom by the power of the Holy Spirit to your glory, Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Serenity, Courage, Wisdom

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5 KJV

Every now and then, as I attempt to fix the things that I cannot fix, I am reminded of the Serenity Prayer that was written by Reinhold Niebuhr. 

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.

It is difficult to watch others suffer. Sometimes we can help them. Sometimes, we cannot do anything except to pray for them. Sometimes, we lack the wisdom to know the difference so we go about spinning our wheels trying to fix that which only God can fix.

Wisdom will help us to determine what we can and should change and what we must trust to God alone. When God gives us the knowledge and the wisdom of how we are to proceed, it would be very wise indeed to follow His directions. Ignoring what God has taught or told you (whether directly or through others) is definitely not wise.

May God grant us all the wisdom to listen to Him and the courage to do what He asks of us and go where He would send us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Serenity

"If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you."  (James 1:5 NRSV)

Every now and then, as I attempt to fix the things that I cannot fix, I am reminded of the serenity prayer that was written by Reinhold Niebuhr.  
     

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.

It is difficult to watch others suffer. Sometimes we can help them. Sometimes, we cannot do anything except to pray for them. Sometimes, we lack the wisdom to know the difference so we go about spinning our wheels trying to fix that which only God can fix. And... sometimes in the spinning of our wheels we end up making things worse.

Wisdom will help us to determine what we can and should change and what we must trust to God alone. When God gives us the knowledge and the wisdom of how we are to proceed, it would be very wise indeed to follow His directions. Ignoring what God has taught or told you (whether directly or through others) is definitely not wise.

May God grant us all the wisdom to listen to Him and the courage to do what He asks of us and go where He would send us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Grant Us Wisdom

"If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you." James 1:5 NRSV

Every now and then, as I attempt to fix the things that I cannot fix, I am reminded of the serenity prayer that was written by Reinhold Niebuhr.       

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.

It is difficult to watch others suffer. Sometimes we can help them. Sometimes, we cannot do anything except to pray for them. Sometimes, we lack the wisdom to know the difference; so we go about spinning our wheels trying to fix that which only God can fix.

Wisdom will help us to determine what we can and should change and what we must trust to God alone. When God gives us the knowledge and the wisdom of how we are to proceed, it would be very wise indeed to follow His directions. Ignoring what God has taught or told you (whether directly or through others) is definitely not wise.

May God grant us all the wisdom to listen to Him and the courage to do what He asks of us and to go where He would send us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A New Life In Christ

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Romans 6:4

We get to live a new day, every day. Every day brings new challenges; opportunities to learn; to grow. Each new day brings changes; some big changes, some so small you do not even notice them. Regardless of the size of change, the new opportunities will be there. We can ignore them and live our days in the old, tired way allowing our egos to run the show or we can celebrate those changes as new opportunities to live and grow in Christ.

In Christ, we have the opportunity to live a new life. May God help us to accept this gift of new life and live in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J.