"Praying is talking to God, Meditation is listening for the answer."
In step 11 we "sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with a power greater than ourselves..." For a long time I wondered what the difference between prayer and meditation was, and then I heard this quote. While it immediately made sense, there were important distinctions I soon had to learn.
In the beginning my prayers were all about what I wanted to see happen for me and other people. I was busy telling God what to do. "Please let me get that job"; "Help my friend get better"; "Don't let me lose it/her/that." It took me many years to realize that God's will for my life and others far exceeded my limited vision and best intentions.
After years of developing faith through experience, I finally saw the wisdom in the second part of step 11: "praying only for the knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out." That knowledge is the answer I listen for in meditation, and my faith today comes from the understanding that God's will is always the best for myself and others. And what a load off my shoulders that is.
Today I sincerely pray for the knowledge of God's will, and I listen for the best ways to carry that out.
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Copyright @ 2015 Michael Z
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
