Our immediate temptation will be to ask for specific solutions to specific problems, and for the ability to help other people as we have already thought they should be helped. In that case, we are asking God to do it our way. ~~Bill W.
As much as we say we want God's will to be done, we often find ourselves asking God to do what we think is best. Always, of course, with the best intentions. Who would not want a sick friend to get well, a spouse to earn a raise in pay? And what about our own needs? What's the harm in a specific request? Surely we all do this. But isn't it a bit presumptuous of us to decide what is best for ourselves or anyone else?
Love and compassion may motivate our prayers, but only God knows what each or us needs to experience and learn. If we insist on seeing things happen our way we're not trusting God's plan for us. A loving God will see that our needs are supplied without instructions from us.
Instead of asking for what I want, I will pray to be open to God's will.
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Wonderful share. It is such an appropriate share for me right now. I am awaiting for God's will in my life, especially directives to run my company. You have hit the nail on the head.
Thanks for that pappy. Its amazing how many of us if not all of us looked to God to answer prayer like he is some kind of Santa clause. So many times I would come to Him with a list of almost demands, 911 I'll never do it again , or complaining how He didn't help me. What Crap. Like our book says, God is either everything or He is nothing. If he is nothing, what's the use in praying. If He is everything he already knows. My choice is that God is everything. My problem is that my default position is that I go about my life at times like He's not there. In step 11 it says we constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show. Did you ever wonder why? Its because we are always trying to run the show. Its hard to be the actor and not the director, the employee and not the employer. Only by doing my best to live in these steps can I shed some of the self centered selfish fear that keeps me on bondage to me. And then my prays can be those of a humble servant. And I know my needs and some of my wants will be met. Thank you for your post.
__________________
Since it cost a lot to win, and even more to loose, you and me gotta spend some time just wondering what to choose.
Page 87. We usually conclude the period of meditation with a prayer that we be shown all through the day what our next step is to be, that we be given whatever we need to take care of such problems. We ask especially for freedom from self-will, and are careful to make no request for ourselves only. We may ask for ourselves, however, if others will be helped. We are careful never to pray for our own selfish ends. Many of us have wasted a lot of time doing that and it doesn't work. You can easily see why.
This is one of the concepts that made sense to me in regards to God and spirtuality and attracted me to AA.
Step 11 Pray only for a knowlege of his will and the power to carry it out, spend the rest of the time listening and fiting ourselves to be of maximum service to God and others.
Thanks,
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
What a great quote Pappy. Here's another quote I remember: "Happiness is appreciating what you have, not getting what you want". That's so true, isn't it? I happy to be alive and sober today, and for me it can't get any better than that. Thanks again Pappy. Great thread everyone.
