In the Step Book it tells us that a
continuous look back at our liabilities and a real desire to grow by
those means are necessities for us. We alcoholics have learned this the
hard way. More experienced people, in all times and places,
have practiced unsparing self-survey and criticism. The wise have
always known that no human being can make much of their life until self-searching becomes a regular habit - until one is able to ADMIT AND ACCEPT
what is found.
Through my daily inventory I can
now admit and accept that my character defects are a part of my human
nature, a part of my nature that cannot manifest itself if I am living
in the will of God. I have come to understand that my human nature is
defected and I must accept this about myself.
In
the program of Alcoholics Anonymous it is often said "let go and let
God." The "let go" part is turning from the incessant prompts of our human
nature and the "let God" part is living in and thereby manifesting the will of
God. In the will of God, the raw nature of God, our character defects
cannot be manifested in our behavior and it is here that our nature can be perfected as we become the human being that God created us to
be.
Self-survey is a most powerful tool of recovery.
I have made a connection with a higher power this. My willingness to surrender and the constant tradition of praying through out the say, has made this connection stronger than it's ever been in this program. I have come to the conclusion in order to build it even stronger, I must continue to surrender my will daily. I don't feel I lose the connection anymore if for a moment I am in my will. I do believe it gets clog very easily, God and I at times are playing hide and seek and I must keep using my tools in the program to find him.
ReplyDeleteLiving in my human nature and reacting to its incessant prompts prevented me from true happiness and peace of mind. I just didn't know what to do to turn off the noise. The Steps of AA told me that my ego had to be shattered and my fears abated as they were the twin killers of my thinking and, therefore, my behavior. But I had to be willing to do far more than not drink. I had to actually go through the process of developing a personal working relationship with a Higher Power which had always resided deep within me. Once I became aware of that divine assurance, I began to trust in His Will for me far more than in my will for me. It no longer became a matter of how I would live but where I would live - which would always take care of the how.
ReplyDeletePaul great to hear from you again. Commit your very life to the 12 Steps of A.A. and you will have a life, a real life...Thanks...Armand
ReplyDeleteMichael love reading the line "It no longer became a matter of how I would live but where I would live - which would always take care of the how." Living in the will of God will bring an genuineness to our life which will allow others to trust in us. There we can be of maximum service to them in helping them discover the will of God.
ReplyDeleteThis comment is from A Grateful Recovering Alcoholic
ReplyDelete"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 I find this simple prayer is the key that opens the floodgates of grace contained within Step 10. I thank my gracious Father for showing me that the heart of the matter is always the heart. He has opened His heart to me and blessed me with His lovingkindness and tender mercy and in grateful response I can unreservedly offer my heart to Him in a renewed commitment to care about what concerns Him so that His love might overflow from me into the lives of others. It is His eternal blessing now gratefully experienced, one day at a time, every day of my life, until I met the Master face to face. To that miraculous journey I say, Amen...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
Emil If I continue to use my human intellect in an attempt to overcome my problems, then I am trying to solve the problem with the problem. The Step Book says and this is paraphrased - God gave us human intelligence to use but first we must be in the will of God. If I am willing to inventory and pray and meditate daily then the surrender of my nature through God's grace can occur...Thank you so much...Armand
ReplyDeleteI toil with this often, the self "analysis" of sorts because I often lose focus. Dread overcomes me as I become more and more aware of the defects I have. My defects have been costly and in turn my loved ones have suffered dearly. When I survey those parts of me, that is, my human nature, I become trapped by sorrow and a remorse for the behavior and trauma created out of the recognized flaws. These flaws are deformities of my spirit, cragged and self-willed to the point of ruination and heartache. My human nature will always be there to swallow my spirit, because it is tempered that way as an alcoholic; I have a choice but to let it. My only aide in overcoming the ever-ready disaster in me (my nature) is God. He has a will for me. He always has had it, my scores of flaws are what blinded me from seeing it. Once I accept they are a part of me, not as a stain but as a stone I desperately need to step upon in order to see what is beyond, I can let go - as what I see just beyond is God's path awaiting me. The life in the path is Divine and on it I trust Him and pray for Him to help me never to go back down again. I want to stay where I once never knew existed, and want for nothing more than to take passage.
ReplyDeleteCaitlin There lies within us self will and God's will, our human nature and our spiritual nature. The defects of our human nature are encoded within us and trying to manage or control them is a complete and utter waste of time. It is only through abandoning ourselves to God and living His will is recovery possible from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body...Thank you so much...Armand
ReplyDelete