The Serenity Devotion

In this preview from Daily Guideposts 2015, a frazzled woman learns to let go.

Daily Guideposts contributor, Julie Garmon
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“Get up! Eat something!” 1 Kings 19:5 (The Daily Life Bible)

I wrote “Surrender” in my prayer journal and scribbled a message to God: “I don’t know how to let go. Help me!”

As my husband left for work, he said, “You look tired. Why don’t you rest?” I just looked at him. Rest? How? I had obligations. Still wearing my bathrobe, I hurried upstairs to my office with a cup of coffee.

Around noon, my friend and mentor DiAnn called.  She works at home too. I admire her level headedness, so I told her that I felt chained to a treadmill.

“Oh, Julie,” she said, “your body’s a temple of the Holy Spirit. Take care of yourself.” 

Her kindness pulled at my heart. “DiAnn, what’s your daily schedule like?” I asked.

“I get up early, have my quiet time, exercise, take a shower, and dress.”

“In normal clothes?”

“Yes.” She laughed. “So I can answer the door. I eat breakfast too.”

“You do all of this before sitting at your computer?” “Yes. Always.” DiAnn promised to pray for me and offered another nugget of wisdom: “Don’t isolate yourself. See people.”

After we hung up, I took three more steps on my surrender journey. For the first time in months, I ate breakfast. I even accepted a lunch date. Then I prayed the Serenity Prayer.

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

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