Stupidity Prayer

There are so many songs and poems and Christian literature about being in storms.  About leaning on God when things are hard.  About finding God's peace when life let's you down. Etc. Etc.  Great songs, great poems, great writings.  Most of these works deal with circumstances that were created outside of your control.  They speak of how God knows what is going on and while we cannot see it, He is in control.  Let me make this perfectly clear, that is absolutely true.   One thing, that I find lacking in all these is dealing with those times when you were in control.  When you are the cause of the storm.  When you dug the pit around yourself.  When you stood at the edge of the abyss, looked down into it, and jumped in. When you filled the cess pool in which you decided to swim and bathe. When you knew better, even heard God's spirit warning you, and made the wrong choice.

Almost everyone is familiar with Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer.  It is wonderful and has been used for T-shirts, plaques, pillows, wall hangings, sobriety groups, etc.  Inspired by that, and by what I stated previously, I have written a new prayer.  Get your cross-stitch needles sharp... I call it the Stupidity Prayer.  SO without further adieu...

Lord please forgive me for I have been stupid.
I heard you say no but I wanted yes.
Lord forgive me for looking where I should not.
Lord forgive me for grieving your Spirit.
Lord forgive me for not listening.
Lord forgive me for I have been stupid.

Lord forgive me for my carelessness with your provision.
Forgive me for allowing unclean thoughts to control my mind's eye.
Forgive me for turning away from those in need,
Forgive me for judging without full knowledge.
Lord forgive me for being stupid.

Lord forgive me for speaking when I should have been silent.
Forgive me for being quick to anger.
Forgive me for worrying.
Forgive me for being prideful.
Lord forgive me for being stupid.

Lord forgive me for exasperating my spouse and children.
Forgive me for my unforgiveness.
Lord forgive me for denying you.
Lord forgive me for hating myself.
Lord forgive me for being stupid.

Help me Lord to weather the storm which is the consequence for my stupidity. Grant me peace, though I deserve none.  Lord help me to learn the lesson so that the stupidity is not repeated.  Thank you for forgiving me when I don't learn the lesson and my stupidity is increased.

Lord, please help me to overcome and please forgive me for one of the greatest of all stupidities of not forgiving myself for making choices that I knew were wrong before I made them.  Help me to see that it is stupid to hang on to that which you have forgotten.

Thank you Lord, that the cross and your blood accounts for my sin and the stupidity that led to it.  I ask this in the name, and by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, Amen.


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