Higher Power

Cmay · Member

Higher Power

betterthanyesterday52 · MIP Old Timer

"The main benefit of using the words higher power is that it cannot be easily defined. This means that members of 12 Step groups can interpret the concept as they wish. It makes it possible for a Christian to follow the steps alongside a Buddhist or even an atheist. Most people interpret higher power as meaning a god, but it does not have to be interpreted this way. It is left up to the individual to decide how they wish to define it. There are no rules except that this power has to be greater than the individual."

http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/higher-power-in-aa/

I hope this helps.

BTY

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Great question Cmay, ... and BTY did a good job explaining it ...

Step 2 ... We must come to believe that there is a 'power' greater than ourselves ... so as to place trust and faith in something or someone that we can communicate with through prayer that can and will restore us to sanity ... it's up to you to make the choice of how you see that ... many, at 1st, chose the AA group, or AA as a whole, as their Higher Power to start with ... until they work the program a little more in depth ...

I'm not sure, but I think it was Dr. Bob that said that of the many people that have worked the program of AA, after a time, have begun to 'talk/speak of God' ... meaning that this is closer to the 'spiritual' concept for most of us than anything else (in this part of the world) ... and it means that this reality has proved miraculous in taking the 'desire to drink' away from us ... It's truly powerful ... (I didn't believe it at 1st, but I sure do now, years later ...)

2granddaughters · Senior Member

Cmay wrote:
I am confused on the "Higher Power" thing. What does that mean? What is the "Higher Power" as they understand it meaning? This part has thrown me off before. I know people do not share their Higher Power, but I am confused on what my Higher Power should be. I hope I am making sense. This part really confuses me.

I was confused too for a long time.

It says "God, as we understood Him" and I didn't/don't understand Him well at all. "God could and would if he were sought"

My real problem was that I didn't have the ambition to go look. I am far too lazy and would rather have YOU look for me and tell me what you found.

Also, I get to blame you if the answers don't suit me ......

I have spent the last few years reading everything I could get my hands on about God .. spirituality .

I read dozens & dozens of books on Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, meditation, self-awareness, psychology etc and talked to all the oldtimers about the subject that I could find .. instead of becoming totally confused (as I thought I would) I am becoming more at peace (As The Promises state) .

The answers to our problem .. The Solution ... is right in HOW IT WORKS. Hidden in plain sight !! smile

Just keep doing what it says and "you will be amazed before you are halfway through".

All the best.

Bob R

Mike B. · MIP Old Timer

Great question Cmay! Lack of power was my dilemma. The power to recover must come from somewhere else. I tried with all my will to do it on my own and still drank and my life was unmanagable. The 12 Steps is a design for living that provides a guide to acquiring a higher power of your own. One who does the 12 Steps as laid out in the text of the Big Book has a Spiritual Awakening. It's this awakening where we start to see a power greater than ourselves can do for us what we were unable to do for ourselves. Remove the obession to drink, new freedom and new happiness etc........ (Step 9 promises).

Despite me and my prejudices, it still worked. My Sponsor was my Higher Power at first. Then the group was my Higher Power, then the 12 Steps as being more powerful than me. Then a High Power of my own. Like Pappy stated, we need something/someone to have faith and trust in. Left to our own devices and we're screwed. I don't fully understand the whole higher power thing, but I've seen enough proof to know one exists. It took time though......... I'm not sure we're even suppose to understand a higher power. It's hard to understand an infinite power with a finite mind.

tomsteve · Senior Member

an excerpt from the BB:
Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power?

Well, that's exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem....

We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. "Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?" As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.

all I did is say to myself,"yup, there is a power greater than me that can help me with y problems." then got busy with the steps. that's how I was enabled to find that higher power.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Zoomtopz · MIP Old Timer

My HP Priscilla "Is a Power that understands Me"

from where I came from , I Should be dead Many times over.

I suppose it is a bit like th old "windjammer captain" , he could not

explain what the wind was , but he knew how to adjust his sails to get

the most out of the wind . I am an Interstate Trucker , I can't explain

what Electricity is , or how they make it . I Know how to turn on The switch .

We use cliché's like - Let go ,let God & Turn it over to your HP .

Yes Priscilla , this Is a God of Your Understanding . Mine has worked for me

for Over 27yrs & I still don't understand my concept of a HP . But -

If it ain't broke , why fix it . Works for me .

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

Hi Priscilla - nice to see you today, glad you're sticking to this and not giving up on yourself. xxxxx

mikef · MIP Old Timer

Morning and blessing of this day!

WE remember our 2nd STEP tells us WE CAME TO BELIEVE,,stipulating a journey and progression for some..A Power greater than yourself,with important guidelines that it be LOVING(These practical folk then read Tradition Two, and learn that the sole authority in A.A. is a LOVING

Godas He may express Himself in the group conscience. And CARING .STEP 3 WE made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the CARE of..Working the STEPS(the program and application in all areas of our lives) helps us to improve our conscious contact(STEP 11) and guided by that Power More is continually revealed..Great work,keep working WE take this journey together... smile smile