After seeing the wonderful picture of Hopee's special Prayer Place, I was stirred to say something about how a place that is set aside just for prayer and meditation can change the whole complexion of our devotional life in working Step Eleven. I'd definitely have to say that it changed things for me. Over my years of sobriety, I've experienced that there is a lot of value in creating, what I'll call, "a sacred space" where we meet with God to talk to Him and hear Him speak to us....and just be quietly with Him in His presence. I noticed long ago that it greatly affected me when I set aside a special time and a special place to be with God. One day it dawned on me that, "If I'm going to get up early each morning and have coffee...why not invite God? We'll just have coffee together." So, I talk to Him as I drink my coffee and smoke cigarettes and try to listen for what He wants to say to me, and we always have a casual, comfortable time together.
It doesn't need to be an elaborate place. Maybe it's a room, or just a little corner of a room, with a table and a comfortable chair -- a lamp, a candle, a few devotional books, and a Big Book. We can arrange it how we like. All that really matters is that it's just for hanging out with God.
The funny thing is that, even though it might seem like such a small thing, it really does bring positive results....at least it did for me.
Thanks for sharing your special Prayer Place with us, Hopee. And, have a great day.
Amen, Mike. I especially like the part in chapter 11 where Bill Wilson talks about the real and eternal things in life. This is what he says: "When we get a glimpse of God's will for our lives, when we finally realize that love, truth and justice are the real and eternal things in life, we are no longer deeply disturbed by all the seeming evidence to the contrary that surrounds us in purely human affairs", or something to that effect. I couldn't agree more. Thanks again for reminding me.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Sunday 4th of May 2014 12:27:09 AM
After seeing the wonderful picture of Hopee's special Prayer Place, I was stirred to say something about how a place that is set aside just for prayer and meditation can change the whole complexion of our devotional life in working Step Eleven. I'd definitely have to say that it changed things for me. Over my years of sobriety, I've experienced that there is a lot of value in creating, what I'll call, "a sacred space" where we meet with God to talk to Him and hear Him speak to us....and just be quietly with Him in His presence. I noticed long ago that it greatly affected me when I set aside a special time and a special place to be with God. One day it dawned on me that, "If I'm going to get up early each morning and have coffee...why not invite God? We'll just have coffee together." So, I talk to Him as I drink my coffee and smoke cigarettes and try to listen for what He wants to say to me, and we always have a casual, comfortable time together.
It doesn't need to be an elaborate place. Maybe it's a room, or just a little corner of a room, with a table and a comfortable chair -- a lamp, a candle, a few devotional books, and a Big Book. We can arrange it how we like. All that really matters is that it's just for hanging out with God.
The funny thing is that, even though it might seem like such a small thing, it really does bring positive results....at least it did for me.
Thanks for sharing your special Prayer Place with us, Hopee. And, have a great day.
Mike D.
Oh man, after my 1st year, I found that the best 'place' for me every morning was having coffee and a cig in my garage as the sun rose ... with the radio 'off' and my thick little blanket close by, I'd finish my morning start-up, with my knees on this blanket and my head bowed in prayer ...
I always found it amazing how well I could meet the day when I did this ... and if by chance something disrupted my routine, I seemed to always 'struggle' through the day ... I hesitated to comment on this thread at first, cause I haven't quite found that magic combination here since moving ... there's been just so many 'adjustments' to make ... and privacy is what I need ... a time without interruption or distraction to make it work like it used to ...
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Thank you Mike