There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 98
If I do my self-examination first, then surely, I'll have enough humility to pray and meditate - because I'll see and feel my need for them. Some wish to begin and end with prayer, leaving the self-examination and meditation to take place in between, whereas others start with meditation, listening for advice from God about their still hidden or unacknowledged defects. Still others engage in written and verbal work on their defects, ending with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. These three--self-examination, meditation and prayer-- form a circle, without a beginning or an end. No matter where, or how, I start, I eventually arrive at my destination: a better life.
I have charity, another word for love. That right kind of love which is not selfish passion but an unselfish, outgoing desire to help other people. To do what is best for the other person, to put what is best for him or her above my own desires. To put God first, the other person second, and myself last. Charity is gentle, kind, understanding, long-suffering, and full of desire to serve. A.A. has given me this. What I do for myself is lost; what I do for others may be written somewhere in eternity. Have I charity?
Meditation For The Day
"Ask what you will and it shall be done unto you." God has unlimited power. There is no limit to what His power can do in human hearts. But we must will to have God's power and we must ask God for it. God's power is blocked off from us by our indifference to it. We can go along our own selfish way without calling on God's help and we get no power. But when we trust in God, we can will to have the power we need. When we sincerely ask God for it, we get it abundantly.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that I may will to have God's power. I pray that I may keep praying for the strength I need.
Hazelden
(Let it be a God or Higher Power of your own understanding)
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Ahhhhh, why do I love this little book so much???? It has helped me through so many tough times since I got my first one from my Dad around 1982/3? Again, the message "Just simply ask your HP for the help you need!" Its a shame people view this as "religious nuttyness" and flee sobriety. Speaking from an American point of view, its a shame that our new society would look down on this "Thought/Meditation/Prayer for the day". Its pretty "uncool" to believe this stuff and if you try and press the message, simply put it out there, the eyebrows come together, and a quick excuse to leave is in short order! Its almost like society has allowed popular culture to drown a message of goodness and light and it takes an act of courage to express yourself. I feel very sorry for "Popular Culture". I feel very fortunate to have found AA where this is the basis of a peaceful, productive life!
-- Edited by turninggrey on Tuesday 3rd of November 2009 10:56:07 AM
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"You're in the right place. That's the door right there. Turn around."
There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 98
If I do my self-examination first, then surely, I'll have enough humility to pray and meditate - because I'll see and feel my need for them. Some wish to begin and end with prayer, leaving the self-examination and meditation to take place in between, whereas others start with meditation, listening for advice from God about their still hidden or unacknowledged defects. Still others engage in written and verbal work on their defects, ending with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. These three--self-examination, meditation and prayer-- form a circle, without a beginning or an end. No matter where, or how, I start, I eventually arrive at my destination: a better life.
I love it that I can remember these readings from a year or a couple of years ago. I sometimes have to stop and think about where I was. (in Recovery). Sometimes my thinking has really changed. What was then is not now and that could change too.
The order that I have done self-examination, prayer and mediations has changed a couple of times too. I like the way this reading ended. "These three--self-examination, meditation and prayer-- form a circle, without a beginning or an end. No matter where, or how, I start, I eventually arrive at my destination: a better life."
Thanks "D"
-- Edited by Jane05 on Tuesday 3rd of November 2009 03:30:07 PM
