THE SERENITY PRAYER

THE SERENITY PRAYER
(1937)

February 1, 1998 Issue
by Howard Hammonds

The New Year is here and I am just like the majority of people that never get done all the things that they want to before the New Year gets here. Someone has said, "Failure isn‘t fatal and success isn‘t final." Scriptures that come to mind this time of the year are found in Philippians 3:13,14 as spoken by Paul.

"Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

As we all look to the New Year, think on the things that these two passages suggest.

1. Forget the past; it is done and gone. Dwelling on yesterday will only rob you of the strength and fortitude it takes to face life's challenges.

2. Stretch yourself as you enter into the New Year: do not be satisfied with mediocrity. As a runner exerting that little extra bit of energy, put forth your very best.

3. Make the "High calling of God in Christ Jesus" your top priority. Develop the spiritual man and everything will take care of itself. After all, what have you (I) profited if you gain the whole world and loose your soul?

Here's hoping that all will have a happy, healthy, peaceful, prosperous New Year; also a very prayerful year while we "Let brotherly love continue." (Hebrews 13:1) Do not be ashamed to tell someone that you love and appreciate them. We are all important to God.

The beginning of a New Year is sort of philologically exciting. Really, it is just another day, but still, it has a certain freshness about it that suggests a clean slate, another chance, a new start.

We have 365 days in the New Year ahead of us. After each night's rest, there is the dawning of a new day. What the new day brings is mostly up to the individual.

As the New Year progresses, try not to rely just on yourself to get the job done. Don't be ashamed to ask for help. Everyone needs it every now and then. My lot in this life was to learn this lesson well and how to do it gracefully. This is still a beautiful world with a lot of wonderful people. Just remember that it is better to share the glory than to face defeat alone.

The older we get, the more we resent change. When we realize that we need change, we should do it.

Always finish what you start. Never leave anything half-done. Also, under this topic comes "Sins of Omission. Complete the task, come out on top in whatever you do. "Anything worth doing is worth doing well."

This year, I want to make myself available to those who need me. We all know that, "In this life, some rain must fall." We should all do a little preventative maintenance and seize the opportunity to do good while we can. It can get too late. Remember well, "You don't miss the water ‘til well runs dry." There is time, "When you can't come back."

I heard an elderly man once begin a prayer with these words, "Dear God, I just don't know what we would do without you."

Let us hold our heads high and with dignity live our lives closer to God this year.

May God bless you and may His word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. (Psalm 119:105)