I just thought I'd start a post for people to share their favorite prayers/meditations, or ones that they are focusing on currently. I'm in a bit of a rut and would like a little inspiration, something new to spark that god-thing. So tell all - set prayers, things that you do to quiet your brain, whatever!
I will start by sharing a few random ones that have worked for me.
"Thank you for this beautiful day. Thank you for this beautiful life" - I like this one because it is so simple, and put the current moment in perspective of my entire life.
"Thy will, not mine, be done" - Yeah, its old and everyone knows it but I still say it all the time.
One of my favorite things to do at the end of a prayer is to add, "and help me mean it". I use it when I am struggling and am praying more from requirement than from sincerity.
I had noticed the set-aside prayer on someone's post and remembered how much I used to like that, too, so here it is:
God, Please help me set aside Everything I think I know About myself, my disease, These steps, and especially You; For an open mind And a new experience With myself, my disease, These steps and especially You.
As far as meditations, I have done some "set" ones that have been really helpful but more than anything I need quiet time in any form. Sometimes it is just sitting still and quiet for 5-15 minutes. I used to do a guided meditation tape by Pema Chodron and I should get it out, it rocked. It had you pray for people, and I like how it started with a complete stranger, a loved one, an acquaintance and an "enemy". Doing it over and over helped me to see all people as one.
Okay, enough of my rambling, I'm dying to see your responses!
I try to keep my prayers simple but sometimes that's difficult for me. It goes along with the old saying, I can complicate the hell out of a Bologna sandwich....
In the AM- I turn my will and my life over to the care of god. Asking he guide me through the day with his plan for me and the power to carrying that plan out. I ask him to keep me sober and remove the obession to drink, drug or any other obession that may keep me from his spirit. I then ask him to replace fear with faith and thank him. Then on most days I spend a few minutes trying to clear my head so I can start my day being able to see and hear gods will for me in action.
Mid day- Step 10 work: taking inventory and righting any new wrongs as they crop up. Looking for selfishness, resentments, dishonest and fear. Ask god to remove them if there's any present and then talk to another alcoholic about them. Most of the time my sponsor.
In the PM- Thank god for another day of sobriety and for the gifts and lessons from the day. I also ask him for the willingness to continue to seek a spiritual life. Then spend a few minutes reviewing my day. ____________________________
When I'm in a rut I get the best results by throwing the program at it and talking to other alcoholics about my situation. My sponsor recently had me do a gratitude list that helped a get deal. It put on paper just how lucky I am and how good my life is today.
Hi Jen! My day is kind a like this .I open my eyes,Praise the God of my understanding first,ask for forgiveness for my shortcomings,fallen nature ,character defects etc,then forgive myself and pray for ability to forgive others.Next I always recite and meditate briefly on our 3rd and 11th step before I get out of bed.Then the work begins.I try and use and live spiritual principles through out the day in all areas of whats going on(some days definitely harder than others.I constantly stay in touch with my HP through out the day as the relationaship I have is one of communication by regualr conversation and not venerated prayer(that comes later)I also read my spiritual readings everyday and try to incorporate that into my life.(the armour of God I put on daily)Depends on the day (like Wednesday night is prayer service at my house of worship and also Sunday)those days I may get even more involved in on my knees prayer.Before falling off to sleep I try and look back at the day ,see how I did and pray to strive even harder topmorrow with thanks for another day of life,sober ,free and clean and in service to my HP.My format of prayer follows:praise to my God/thanksgiving/confession of my faults/petitions for others needs,intercessory prayer/and petitions for my own needs.I love to pray and truly believe in the power of prayer.I do not usually have any rote prayers(I did as a Catholic child,like hail marys,our fathers etc)but I will recite our serenity prayer as it covers an immense amount of areas we live in our lives not only in recovery but just as human beings..Have a blessed day.! tALK ABOUT RAMBLIN HUH!! :)
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
"God, whatever I may desire in life, if You don't want me to have it, I don't want it. If You do want me to have it, I ask You for it and believe You will give it to me, in Your time, in Your way, according to Your divine plan."
I was led to and taught to meditate 24/7 no matter what was going on inside outside and around me. I am doing it now. My sponsor worked with me to arrive at the simplest spiritual truth that I could hold on to best and stay focused on no matter anything else. I arrived at "God is". Its about 20 years now and I haven't found one better and then I haven't tried. Prayers for me are two way communications. My HP also desires "simple" so we keep it that way...no fluff!! I ask to be of service...God listens. I get to be directed...I listen. In between I get my needs met without crying or whining for them. Simple.
I like this thread a lot.
-- Edited by Jerry F on Tuesday 13th of April 2010 02:48:39 PM
His take on it was it's not his job to keep himself sober, or really anything, he was here to do God's work, and it was God's job to take care of him, take care of his needs, and keep him sober, he tried to stay out of God's job, and didn't worry about God doing his job
Keeps it simple for me, since in 11 it specifically states "praying only for the knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out"
There is quite a bit more to it then that, but that is what I do
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Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a night, light a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life
Think I might have over complicated your simple question, Simple...
Favorite Prayer: The Serenity Prayer.........some days a montra, 24/7 meditation mode.
Favorite Meditation: A Healing Journey, Emmitt Miller, MD. Stanford University, CA, he has a website at Stanford, but the above tape/ now CD was his first. Guarateed to clear the head every time, to allow some for Step 11 Stillness. Awesome CD.
Great Thread, Thank you!
Toni
-- Edited by Just Toni on Wednesday 14th of April 2010 10:42:17 AM
Thanks for all the replies, ideas and inspiration. I love that Thomas Merton quote/prayer. I live not far from Gesthemene (sp?), and when I moved here I was excited to visit and then life happened and I haven't gotten there. Maybe a small road trip is in order - thanks for reminding me of that desire!!
I'm going to come back to this post more than once to get some more inspiration.
It is refreshing to think of all of you practicing these prayers. Somehow that fact alone is uplifting. Thanks!
It goes along with the old saying, I can complicate the hell out of a Bologna sandwich....
