Just some thoughts on prayer.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Just some thoughts on prayer.

BLUESMAN · Senior Member

I too live with alot pain

and i used the AA program to Help and it does with the help of Doctors and Meds

I did not want to hear all that God talk wen i first sober up ,i think i needed to hear how you came to have faith

, What it Was Like What Happen and what it is like Now.

If i did what you did will i get this ? As a result of Taking the Steps ?

Everbody is on there own Journey.

I have to Remember The 3 Tradition we only have to Have a Desire to stop Drinking

Does not say you have to be Alcoholic , or belive in God

I need GOD in my Life Today that is the only that is going to help me stay sane and free ,,just my Opinion

Thanks Gonee ,,Q , Pappy

-- Edited by BLUESMAN on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 12:21:36 PM

gonee · MIP Old Timer

Last night I was unable to sleep no matter how hard I tried. My mind would not switch off. I tried breathing exercises, physical exercise to no avail. Eventually I just got into bed and asked God to clear all memory. When I got up this morning, I felt like I had a blackout sleep. I cannot recall what time I slept or how I slept, but it most certainly was restful and refreshing.

What happened was, I was praying instead of thinking and God just turned the thought switch off while I was talking to Him. My Heavenly Father just sang a lullaby for me to sleep, just like how we do for our little one's.

Senior Member

I'm glad you were able to sleep, gonee. God is good!

I recently experienced problems with insomnia. They arose from taking too much time between steps 4 and 5. I had completed a fairly thorough step 4 more than a year ago: a list of resentments in three columns, fears, and relationship misconduct - as outlined in the Big Book. It took me about six weeks, adding items as they occurred to me.

I scheduled a meeting with my sponsor to complete step 5, but he fell ill, and at the same time, I was hired at a new job some distance away. That began a period of long commutes, and eventually a move across the state to be closer to work.

Well, the excitement of this new position and home buoyed me up for a time, but eventually all the resentment, fear, and remorse started chewing away at my psyche, to the point that I became physically ill. I suffered a great deal of insomnia and all the related effects: physical pain, lethargy, anxiety, etc.

The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with me despite a number of tests, but I had only gone to see him as a precaution. I knew I had to get to step 5, and God graciously opened a door for that. I had lost my sponsor of years past, but I had become very good friends with the pastor of my new church, and asked him if he would be willing to take this step with me.

I had read in both the Big Book and the 12&12 that step 5 brought about a sense of release and relief, and that's exactly the effect that it had on me. In fact, I had no idea what a large burden of guilt and shame I had been wielding until it was lifted from me.

Since then I've been able to sleep restfully, and my physical pain has diminished significantly. I still suffer occasional pangs of remorse, but it's much easier to turn those over to God in prayer and rest in His grace, as you did last night.

Senior Member

That's a powerful testament, Pappy. Thank you for sharing it!

I don't care much about scaring off newcomers with God-talk. If somebody is ready for the AA message, you won't be able to say anything wrong, IF you stick to the message of AA. If they're not ready, if they haven't yet reached the point of mental anguish that we have, you won't be able to say anything right. They're just not done drinking.

So the question is: do we have the courage to communicate the message, or not? I haven't counted, but I know the words "God" and "Higher Power" occur many, many times in the Big Book and 12&12.

I've been to thousands of AA meetings by now, and I've heard a lot of crazy talk. I'm sure I was guilty of it as well, in my early days. So if I have to endure somebody else's crazy talk for a bit, they can listen to my God-talk when it's my turn.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Right there with ya Q ... thanks

gonee · MIP Old Timer

Thanks Pappy & Q. But in all things through prayer and supplication make known your requests to Him.

Mike B. · MIP Old Timer

Great tread! Thank you all for your insight into a subject that has many perspectives. I enjoyed reading through it.

Fyne Spirit · MIP Old Timer

I came in an agnostic and was fairly anti God, for no good reason that I can think of. But the book tell us that belief in a higher power is not a prerequsite for recovery, but that willingness to believe in a power greater than yourself (not actual belief, just willingness to try) a God of your own personal choosing, is all that is required to make a start. It was enough for me.

The third tradition has little relavence in this context as it is about membership in the fellowship, not success in recovery. It is also woth noting that the short version is for convenience, so that the trads can be hung on the wall or printed in the same format as the steps. The long version ' Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism ... and the 5th tradition, each group has but one primary purpose, to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers" and the Big Books statements about our common problem (singular) make it a bit of a stretch to conclude that AA is intended for anyone other than alcoholics.

Back to the subjct. It is said that if God scares someone away from this program, the booze will scare them right back. I now have a strong faith in a power I choose to call God, because it seems like the best name. I use prayers written by christians and others because they say the things I want to say in a way that is much better than I could come up with myself. And as I look back on my journey I can see that it closely parallels the Big Book. At the start it told me AA has a spiritual solution which will mean we talk about God, and it has never been anything else. The crucial thing for me is that faith and belief developed naturally as the direct result of working through the program.

Almost forgot...Like Q I had my first good nights sleep after step 5. And like Gonee, if sleeping is difficult now, the cause is spiritual in nature, and prayer is the best solution I know.

God bless,
MikeH

-- Edited by Fyne Spirit on Thursday 20th of June 2013 11:24:20 PM

Fyne Spirit · MIP Old Timer

Pythonpappy wrote:
Most of you will probably not believe me (that's why I didn't post this before, til Gonee brought it up), but my pain left me this particular morning in about 5 minutes ... I was pain free the rest of the day ... WOW - WOW -WOW ... ... ... I know without doubt, God was listening to my plea for help ...

-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 10:41:05 AM

I believe it Pappy, based on my own experience. And I thank you for doing what the book asks us to do in the third step prayer_

"Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of they power, they love and thy way of life....

Thanks for bearing witness Pappy.

God bless,

MikeH.

vixen · MIP Old Timer

I had to smile at this post mentioning both God and sleep. Since the passing of my husband, I have had the deepest, most healing sleep. I have been warned that during times of grief that sleep can be an issue but it hasn't been and in my prayers, morning and night, I thank God for the rest and comfort of peaceful nights. It's been a rough time and I have to go through this pain, but I am not alone in it. God provides me with what I need to move forward. His blessings never cease to amaze me.

Senior Member

vixen wrote:
I had to smile at this post mentioning both God and sleep. Since the passing of my husband, I have had the deepest, most healing sleep. I have been warned that during times of grief that sleep can be an issue but it hasn't been and in my prayers, morning and night, I thank God for the rest and comfort of peaceful nights. It's been a rough time and I have to go through this pain, but I am not alone in it. God provides me with what I need to move forward. His blessings never cease to amaze me.

Vixen, I don't know what I'd do if I lost my wife - I'd go out of my mind, that much is certain. I can only hope to have your strength and commitment to God, when I eventually get assailed by the death of loved ones. Thank you for sharing your courage and faith.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Thanks Vixen, ... I just wanted to second what Q said ... ... ...