The Wisdom of Discernment: From the Serenity Prayer to an Analysis of Agency and Constraint in Global Systems

Part I: The Prayer and Its Intellectual Foundations

The starting point of this essay is the 'Serenity Prayer,' not merely as a religious text, but as a complex philosophical statement. By clarifying that this prayer is a product of a specific intellectual and historical moment, and by tracing the genealogy of its core concept—the 'dichotomy of control'—back to ancient philosophy and forward to modern psychology, we establish its universal scope.

1. The Serenity Prayer: Full Text and Origins

Presentation of the Full Text

The full text of the 'Serenity Prayer,' which serves as the foundation for this essay, is presented below in both the original English and a Japanese translation. This document serves as the basis for all subsequent analysis.

In addition to this widely known three-line format, a longer version exists to further deepen the understanding of its spiritual dimension. This expanded version includes themes such as the acceptance of suffering and trust in God's will, further emphasizing the comforting aspect of the prayer 5.

Historical Context and Authorship

The origin of this prayer is generally attributed to the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971), and it is said to have been first used in a sermon at a small church in Massachusetts around 1943 3. The background of this creation lies in the extreme historical situation of World War II. The fact that cards inscribed with this prayer were initially distributed to soldiers suggests that it functioned as a spiritual pillar when facing immense crises beyond an individual's control 3.

After the war, this prayer was adopted as a motto by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other organizations supporting recovery from addiction, which played a decisive role in its popularization 3. Through this adoption, the scope of the prayer shifted from geopolitical crises to more personal, internal struggles, thereby proving its universality.

Niebuhr's Philosophy: "Christian Realism"

To understand the "Serenity Prayer" merely as words seeking peace is superficial. It is nothing less than a concise expression of "Christian Realism," which forms the core of Niebuhr's thought 9. This philosophy is based on the premise that human nature is inherently flawed by self-interest and sin. Therefore, it harshly criticizes idealism and utopianism that are detached from reality, arguing that ethical action in the world must be carried out realistically after looking squarely at the cold realities of power, conflict, and human limitations 10.

Reinterpreting the prayer from this perspective, it emerges as a strategic principle for acting effectively in the real world.

1. Serenity: Calmly accepting the realities that cannot be changed, such as human sinfulness, the structures of history, and inevitable fate. This is not resignation, but a strategic judgment to avoid wasting energy on futile resistance.

2. Courage: The moral obligation to take action against things that should be changed, such as social injustice and oppression. For Niebuhr, hesitating to intervene against evils like Nazism was the negligence of an idealist who turned a blind eye to reality 11.

3. Wisdom: The intelligence to accurately distinguish between the two aforementioned realms. This is the most important element and the key that determines the success or failure of ethical action.

This prayer is not a request for passive comfort, but an active inquiry into how to take meaningful action in a constrained world. It is inseparably linked to the ideological background in which Niebuhr criticized isolationism and advocated for confrontation with the concrete evil of Nazism during the unprecedented crisis of World War II 13. Therefore, this prayer is not merely a soothing phrase, but an extremely practical guideline for action to fulfill moral responsibilities within the constraints of reality.

2. Philosophical and Psychological Precedents

The dualism of "things that can be changed" and "things that cannot be changed" in Niebuhr's prayer is not so much his own invention as it is positioned upon a long lineage in the history of Western thought. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Greek Stoic philosophy, and its structure plays a central role in modern psychotherapy as well.

The Stoic Dichotomy

The 1st-century Greek philosopher Epictetus placed a clear distinction at the center of Stoic teaching between "things that are up to us" and "things that are not up to us" 14.

• Things that are up to us: Products of our will, such as judgment, impulse, desire, and aversion. These are by nature free and cannot be hindered 14.

• Things that are not up to us: External events such as our bodies, property, reputation, the words and actions of others, illness, and death. Attempting to control these completely is a cause of unhappiness and agitation 15.

According to Epictetus, peace of mind (apatheia) is achieved by focusing one's energy and attention entirely on "things that are up to us" and accepting "things that are not up to us" as they occur in accordance with the laws of nature 16. This structure is strikingly similar to the allocation of "serenity" and "courage" sought by Niebuhr's prayer, and the "wisdom" that distinguishes between them. It can be said that Stoic philosophy provides a secular and philosophical blueprint for this prayer.

Application to Modern Psychiatry

This ancient wisdom has been rediscovered in psychotherapy since the 20th century, and its effectiveness has been scientifically verified. In particular, two major therapeutic approaches are based on the principles of this dichotomy.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is based on the premise that it is difficult to directly change emotions, physical reactions, or external events themselves (things that cannot be changed) 21. However, it posits that our 'cognition' regarding those events—that is, how we perceive and think about things—can be changed (things that can be changed) 23. The focus of therapy is to identify dysfunctional automatic thoughts and beliefs and reconstruct them into more realistic and adaptive ones. This is precisely an attempt to regain mental peace by pouring 'courage' into the internal cognitive processes that can be changed, in the face of external stressors that cannot be changed.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT takes a step further than CBT. In ACT, the very attempt to forcibly change or eliminate internal experiences such as unpleasant thoughts and emotions is considered a cause of suffering 25. Therefore, it encourages 'accepting' these internal experiences 'as they are' without evaluation or judgment. This corresponds to 'serenity' in the Serenity Prayer 27. On the other hand, the area where ACT seeks 'courage' is in concrete 'action (commitment)' based on an individual's 'values' 29. In other words, continuing to act toward what is truly important to you, even while feeling anxiety or fear, is what constitutes the 'things that can be changed.' The 'wisdom' in ACT is nothing other than 'psychological flexibility,' which balances the acceptance of these internal experiences with commitment to value-based action.

The intellectual lineage from the Stoics to CBT and then to ACT shows that the definition of 'things that can be changed' has evolved subtly but decisively. While the Stoics and CBT focus primarily on controlling the internal world (judgment and cognition), ACT accepts the control of the internal world as a kind of 'thing that cannot be changed,' and shifts the focus of 'courage' to changing actions in the external world. This evolution provides extremely important implications for thinking about the problem of agency in larger systems such as nations and economies, rather than just individual internal problems. This is because it suggests the possibility that while carrying the burden of unchangeable emotions and past entanglements, one can still change the trajectory of the future through value-based policies and actions.

Part II: Prayer in Global Discourse

The Serenity Prayer has transcended the framework of theological concepts, transitioning into the vocabulary of secular domains such as politics, literature, and business, demonstrating a remarkable adaptability for understanding human struggle and strategy. This chapter analyzes how prominent figures have interpreted and utilized this prayer within their own contexts.

3. Voices Beyond History: Politics, Literature, and Leadership

The three elements of this prayer—serenity, courage, and wisdom—have functioned as powerful rhetoric for analyzing complex situations and justifying actions. Below, we examine representative cases.

The Political Stage: Bill Clinton and Realistic Idealism

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is known for repeatedly citing the Serenity Prayer throughout his political career, particularly during his presidential campaigns 8. His use of the prayer can be interpreted not as mere rhetorical decoration, but as an attempt to express Niebuhr's Christian realism in the language of politics. The 'Third Way' path advocated by Clinton resonates with the structure of this prayer. That is, he calmly accepted 'unchangeable' realities such as globalization and fiscal constraints (serenity), while asserting the 'courage' to carry out progressive policies such as welfare reform and deficit reduction within those constraints 31.

Clinton also delivered speeches in line with the themes of the prayer during national and personal crises, such as the Oklahoma City bombing and the Monica Lewinsky scandal, finding the strength to accept tragedy, ask for forgiveness, and move forward 33. In this way, for Clinton, this prayer was an effective framework for conveying to the public his political stance of pursuing ideals without turning a blind eye to realistic constraints.

Literary Lens: Kurt Vonnegut's Fatalistic Irony

In contrast to Clinton's optimistic usage, the author Kurt Vonnegut interpreted this prayer in a deeply pessimistic and ironic way in his novel Slaughterhouse-Five 2. The words of the prayer are displayed on the wall of the protagonist Billy Pilgrim's optometry office, but Vonnegut adds a subversive sentence: "Among the things Billy Pilgrim could not change were the past, the present, and the future" 38.

This quote is a challenge to the very premise of the prayer. For Vonnegut, a survivor of the bombing of Dresden, the trauma of war erases the distinction between what can be changed and what cannot. The phrase "So it goes," which appears repeatedly in his work, and the philosophy of the Tralfamadorians, who view time not as linear but as a collection of all moments existing simultaneously, suggest that human free will is an illusion 41. Vonnegut's use of the prayer is not to affirm its teachings, but a biting irony to highlight the tragic futility of humans seeking agency in a deterministic and brutal universe 43.

Management Philosophy: Kazuo Inamori and Warren Buffett

In the business world, the principles of this prayer are deeply rooted in the philosophies of managers who have achieved outstanding results.

• Kazuo Inamori: The management philosophy of Kazuo Inamori, founder of Kyocera and KDDI, embodies the structure of the Niebuhr prayer. He preached the importance of accepting his fate and circumstances as they are (serenity), while at the same time strongly believing that he could change that fate for the better through hard work second to none and correct conduct (courage) 45. The "daily reflection" he emphasized was a mechanism for cultivating the "wisdom" to discern which actions were correct and effective 46. His belief that "actions are rewarded" aligns with the prayer's call to focus on the "changeable" aspects of one's work and character 47.

• Warren Buffett: Although renowned investor Warren Buffett rarely quotes this prayer directly 48, his investment philosophy is a perfect practical example of its logical structure. His "circle of competence" is about drawing a line between what one can and cannot understand, which is the very "wisdom to distinguish between the two." Accepting the "unchangeable" external factor of market sentiment (serenity), his maxim to "be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy only when others are fearful" requires the "courage" to act against market irrationality 49. He focuses on the "changeable" things, such as a company's intrinsic value and his own analysis, and lets the "unchangeable" things, such as the short-term whims of the market, pass by.

Table 1: Notable Mentions of the Niebuhr Prayer

Full Name Field Context of Mention Key Insights/Interpretations Source LinkBill ClintonPolitics Presidential campaign, crisis management speeches Used as the backbone of a political philosophy called the "Third Way," which pursues policy changes boldly while accepting realistic constraints. 8Kurt VonnegutLiterature Novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" Fatalistic and ironic critique. Suggests that for those who have suffered trauma, the distinction collapses and everything becomes unchangeable. 2Alcoholics AnonymousSocial Movement Adopted as the core motto of the 12-step program. Applies the framework to individual addiction. Accepting that one has a disease (serenity), changing daily abstinence behavior (courage). 8Kazuo InamoriBusiness Embodied in management philosophy. While accepting fate, believes that hard work second to none (courage) changes fate. Wisdom is cultivated through daily reflection. 45Warren BuffettFinance Embodied in investment philosophy ("circle of competence"). Knowing what is uncontrollable, such as market psychology (wisdom), and acting based on what is controllable, such as value analysis (courage). 49

Part III: Macro Analysis: Nations, Economies, and Finance

In this chapter, we use the framework of the Niebuhr prayer as an analytical lens to understand the trajectories of nations and markets. We define "unchangeable things" as initial conditions such as geography, demographics, and resources, and "changeable things" as policy choices, institutional design, and strategic investment. We consider "wisdom" to be the ability of leaders of nations and market systems to correctly diagnose their situation and apply the appropriate combination of acceptance and action.

4. The State: Courage as Policy, Serenity as Circumstance

Case Study of Courage (Changing What Cannot Be Changed): The 'Miracle on the Han River'

The development of South Korea after World War II can be analyzed as a case of refusing to accept circumstances that appeared, at first glance, to be unchangeable.

• The unchangeable reality: The land was devastated by the Korean War, lacked natural resources, and was geopolitically divided 50.

• The courage to change: The Park Chung-hee administration implemented a series of powerful, state-led five-year economic development plans focused on export-oriented, labor-intensive industrialization 50. They did not accept the reality of a lack of capital, but actively procured it through aid and loans from the United States and Japan 50. They viewed their only abundant asset—human resources—as something that could be 'changed,' and invested heavily in education.

• Numerical evaluation axis: In the ten years from 1965 to 1975, the Gross National Product (GNP) increased 14-fold, transforming the nation from one of the world's poorest countries into a global economic power 50.

• Wisdom: The 'wisdom' here lies in the recognition that the greatest 'unchangeable' constraint—the lack of resources—could be overcome through a strategic shift toward human capital and concentration on export markets.

The Failure of Serenity (The Resource Curse and Dutch Disease)

This section analyzes how a lack of 'wisdom'—that is, mistaking temporary, 'unchangeable' good fortune for a permanent state—leads to economic decline.

• The unchangeable reality: The discovery of valuable natural resources such as oil and natural gas 54.

• The lack of courage and wisdom: Instead of using this heaven-sent wealth to change the fundamental structure of their economies (diversification, investment in other industries), many countries fall into a trap known as 'Dutch Disease.' A resource boom appreciates the national currency, causes other export industries like manufacturing to lose international competitiveness, and consequently leads to the hollowing out of industry 55. By viewing easy income from resources as a permanent solution and passively accepting it, they neglect the vulnerabilities in their economic structure that they should have 'changed' 58.

The Norway Model as a Counter-Example

In this context, Norway provides a case that can be called the pinnacle of 'wisdom'.

• The unchangeable reality: The discovery of massive oil and gas fields in the North Sea.

• Wisdom and courage: The Norwegian government recognized that this good fortune was temporary and could potentially distort the economy. They possessed the 'courage' to carry out politically difficult policies to isolate oil revenues from the domestic economy. The concrete measure for this was the establishment of the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) 59. This fund prevents the appreciation of the national currency by investing its proceeds exclusively 'abroad' 59. Furthermore, they established strict rules stating that the government can only use the fund's expected real return (approximately 3%) annually, and that the principal must not be touched 59.

• Numerical evaluation axis: The asset value of the GPFG reached approximately $1.92 trillion (about 20 trillion kroner) between 2024 and 2025, coming to hold about 1.5% of all listed stocks globally 59. This is a successful example of brilliantly transforming an 'unchangeable' resource into 'changeable,' diversified, and sustainable financial assets. Additionally, the fund's decision to divest from certain companies based on ethical considerations demonstrates another form of 'courage': aligning financial power with national values 59.

5. Financial Markets: The Dialectic of Control and Chaos

In this section, we analyze two large-scale financial crises. These can be viewed as failures of 'wisdom' where risks that should have been 'changeable' were consistently ignored, ultimately leading to an 'unchangeable' systemic collapse. Here, we treat market psychology and momentum as powerful, nearly 'unchangeable' forces, and analyze regulatory policy and risk management as 'changeable' levers.

The IT Bubble (2000)

• Changeable factors: Following the collapse of the hedge fund LTCM in 1998, the low-interest-rate policy maintained by the Federal Reserve (FRB) provided 'cheap capital' 63. Furthermore, venture capital flooded into many 'dot-com' companies that were not generating profits, and regulatory oversight was lax 64.

• Unchangeable momentum: Speculative frenzy and herd behavior dominated investors, and traditional valuation metrics like P/E ratios were ignored in the face of the 'New Economy' narrative 64. This irrational exuberance became a self-propagating force, as if it were 'unchangeable'.

• Collapse: When the flow of capital, which was a 'changeable' factor, dried up, the bubble burst. This exposed the 'unchangeable' reality that most of these companies did not have viable business models 64.

The Global Financial Crisis (2008)

• Changeable factors: These include the deregulation of financial markets, the proliferation of complex and poorly understood financial derivatives (such as CDOs), distorted incentives at credit rating agencies, and the low-interest-rate policy of the FRB in the early 2000s 67.

• Unchangeable chain reaction: As the housing market turned downward, the interconnectedness of the global financial system triggered an 'unchangeable' chain of collapse. In particular, the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers froze the short-term money markets, transforming what appeared to be a technical issue into an unstoppable force that threatened the entire global economy 69.

• Failure of wisdom: The failure of 'wisdom' here lies in the fact that regulators and financial institutions failed to see, or failed to act upon, how the accumulation of 'changeable' risks was building 'unchangeable' systemic vulnerabilities.

Table 2: Key Economic Indicators during the IT Bubble Burst (January 2000 – December 2003)

This table quantitatively illustrates the interaction between monetary policy (what can be changed) and market sentiment/valuation (the momentum that cannot be changed). It can be observed that the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates in response to the market collapse (the decline of the NASDAQ) and fear (the rise of the VIX). This data demonstrates that after 'wisdom' failed to function during the bubble formation period, policymakers moved to address the crisis 63.

Year/Month, Federal Funds Rate (Monthly Average Effective Rate), NASDAQ Composite Index (Month-end Close), VIX Index (Month-end Close), March 2000 (Peak), Approx. 5.85%, 5048.62, Approx. 24.0, December 2000, Approx. 6.40%, 2470.52, Approx. 30.0, December 2001, Approx. 1.76%, 1950.40, Approx. 25.0, October 2002 (Bottom), Approx. 1.75%, 1114.11, Approx. 40.0, December 2003, Approx. 1.00%, 2003.37, Approx. 18.0

Table 3: Key Economic Indicators during the Global Financial Crisis (January 2007 – December 2010)

This table visualizes the dynamics of the Global Financial Crisis. It shows the sharp decline of the S&P 500, the record-high surge of the VIX index (indicating extreme fear), and the unprecedented policy response of the Federal Reserve's dramatic shift to a zero-interest-rate policy 69. This data tells the story of the moment when policymakers used the ultimate tool they 'could change' (monetary policy) to confront a market meltdown that could no longer be changed 73.

Year/Month, Federal Funds Rate (Monthly Average Effective Rate), S&P 500 Index (Month-end Close), VIX Index (Month-end Close), October 2007 (Peak), Approx. 4.75%, Approx. 1549, Approx. 18.0, September 2008 (Lehman), Approx. 1.92%, Approx. 1114, Approx. 39.0, October 2008, Approx. 0.98%, Approx. 968, Approx. 59.0 (Over 80 during the month), March 2009 (Bottom), Approx. 0.18%, Approx. 797, Approx. 44.0, December 2010, Approx. 0.18%, Approx. 1257, Approx. 17.0

6. Japan's Dilemma: Decades of Trials Regarding Niebuhr's Wisdom

The Japanese economy can be analyzed as a long-term, realistic laboratory for applying the principles of the Serenity Prayer to national strategy.

Unchangeable Constraints: Demographics

The core and 'unchangeable' reality facing Japan is the demographic trajectory of rapid aging and population decline 76. This reality continues to act as a structural and powerful downward pressure on potential GDP growth, labor supply, and domestic consumption. The total population continues to decline, and the proportion of the elderly population is projected to reach 35.3% by 2040 77. This is a structural reality that the nation must accept with 'serenity'.

The Courage to Change: Decades of Policy Responses

To counter these demographic headwinds, Japan has experimented with various policies over several decades. These can be evaluated as expressions of 'courage'.

• Fiscal Stimulus: Years of government spending have resulted in public debt at the highest level in the world relative to GDP (over 260%) 78. It has been pointed out that this may have been 'courage' lacking 'wisdom,' as it failed to generate sustainable growth.

• Monetary Policy: The Bank of Japan has continued to challenge the 'changeable' target of the deflationary mindset through unconventional monetary policies such as the Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP) and Quantitative Easing (QE) 79.

• Abenomics: This policy package was an attempt that demonstrated comprehensive 'courage' through its three arrows: 'bold monetary policy,' 'flexible fiscal policy,' and a 'growth strategy that stimulates private investment.' The third arrow, in particular, sought to change structural issues such as the labor market, corporate governance, and female labor participation 76.

Numerical Evaluation Axes and Future Projections

This analysis is based on long-term time-series data for Japan, including real GDP growth rate, labor productivity, public debt, inflation rate, and interest rates 78. Although Japan's real labor productivity growth rate per hour has been positive in recent years, its level remains problematic 85.

Japan's future ultimately depends on the 'wisdom' to discern between what can be changed and what cannot. Passively accepting economic stagnation is not an option. The only viable path is to change the 'quality' of economic production while the 'quantity' of labor input irreversibly declines; that is, to have the 'courage' to carry out radical structural reforms to dramatically improve productivity and innovation. Future policies must focus on areas that change the economic equation itself, such as automation, robotics, and the acceptance of highly skilled immigrants.

Part IV: Future Frontiers: Redefining 'What Can Be Changed'

In the final section, we explore new domains where humanity is actively pushing the boundaries of what was once considered 'unchangeable.' These developments pose fundamental questions to Niebuhr's framework.

7. Rewriting the Boundaries of Control

Biological Frontiers: CRISPR and Genetic Destiny

The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology is a direct challenge to our genetic code, the ultimate 'unchangeable' thing 86.

• A New "Courage": Humanity has now acquired the "courage" to rewrite the roots of hereditary diseases.

• A New "Wisdom": What is at stake here is ethical "wisdom." Where should the line be drawn? The debate surrounding the boundary between somatic cell editing, which is not inherited by the next generation, and germline editing, which is, as well as the distinction between therapy and enhancement, is a global quest for wisdom regarding what "should be changed" and what "should be accepted" as the natural diversity of humanity 88.

Earth System: The Paris Agreement and Climate Change

Climate change is a grand test case that puts the Serenity Prayer to the test on a global scale.

• Things that cannot be changed: The laws of physics themselves, which dictate that greenhouse gases raise the Earth's temperature.

• The courage to change: The Paris Agreement is an expression of humanity's collective "courage" to change the trajectory of global warming through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 89.

• Lack of wisdom: However, the greatest weakness of this agreement lies in the lack of a mechanism to enforce compliance. It relies on the voluntary commitments of each country. Even if all current national pledges are combined, they are insufficient to achieve the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C, and the necessary "wisdom"—that is, global political will—has not yet been fully formed 89. This can be cited as a case where we know what should be changed, but lack the collective "courage" to execute it.

Technological Horizon: Ray Kurzweil's "Singularity"

To conclude this discussion, we explore the speculative concept of the technological singularity predicted by futurist Ray Kurzweil.

• The end of discernment: Kurzweil predicts that due to the exponential growth of artificial intelligence, we will reach a "singularity" by 2045, where machine intelligence will exceed the sum total of all human intelligence 92. This event could lead to the fusion of humans and machines, potentially overcoming biological limitations such as aging and disease.

• Implications: In such a future, the very distinction between "things that can be changed" and "things that cannot be changed" might lose its meaning. If intelligence becomes the primary force shaping reality, the framework of the Serenity Prayer could become obsolete. This serves as a thought experiment regarding the ultimate limits of human agency.

Part V: Conclusion

8. Enduring Responsibility: The Wisdom to Discern

What has become clear through this essay is that the Serenity Prayer is not merely a source of religious comfort, but a universal and timeless algorithm applicable at every scale—from the individual psyche to state governance and global management—for navigating complexity and exercising effective agency.

The analysis demonstrated that the three elements of this prayer—serenity, courage, and wisdom—repeatedly appear in diverse contexts, ranging from ancient Stoic philosophy to modern psychotherapy, and even in the decision-making of political and business leaders. Bill Clinton utilized it as a political tool for promoting realistic ideals, while Kurt Vonnegut depicted it as an irony that illuminates the cruelty of a fatalistic world. In the realm of macroeconomics, this framework serves as a powerful lens for analyzing the rise and fall of nations. The 'Miracle on the Han River' in South Korea was a victory of 'courage' that challenged circumstances once thought unchangeable, while Norway's Government Pension Fund is a crystallization of 'wisdom' that avoided the resource curse. In contrast, the dot-com bubble and the global financial crisis were interpreted as failures of 'wisdom,' where the neglect of risks that could have been changed led to catastrophes that could not be undone. Furthermore, Japan's long-term economic challenges are, in themselves, a search for how to exercise effective 'courage' within the 'unchangeable' reality of demographics.

Ultimately, the most difficult and important element this prayer confronts us with is neither the passive state of 'serenity' nor the active exercise of 'courage.' It is the dynamic and often painful process of constantly trying to discern which is the appropriate response to the reality we face—that is, the endeavor of cultivating 'wisdom' itself.

New frontiers such as CRISPR gene editing, global responses to climate change, and the future brought about by AI are raising the demand for this 'wisdom' to an unprecedented level. What should be changed, and what should be accepted? The boundary between them is no longer self-evident.

This pursuit of 'wisdom' is the fundamental task imposed upon every intellectual system, from the individual spirit to our entire global civilization. As a concise yet profound guide that illuminates the path of that endless quest, the Serenity Prayer will likely never lose its value.