While assembling my 4th step resentment list I found that the best way to cope with the resentments was to first pray for and forgive those that were on my list. In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous in the chapter "How It Works" it states, "...we realize that the people who had wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick. Though we did not like their symptoms and the way they disturbed us they, like ourselves, were sick too. We ask God to help us grant them the same tolerance, pity and patience we would grant a sick friend. When a person offended we said to ourselves, 'Perhaps this is a sick person, how can I be helpful to them? God save me from being angry, Thy will be done.' God will show us how to take a kind and tolerant view of each and everyone." As I drew closer to God this began to happen naturally, as it can as well for you.
As an alcoholic I do find that resentment is the number one malfeasance to a serene and peaceful life. If we are to have a clear state of consciousness that is free of conflict; if we are to lead an addiction-free life - a life in which resentment doesn't cause such conflict in our mind then manifest in our behavior - then we must let go of all of our human resentments. There is often no way possible to do this without the aid of the Highest Power. "That One is God may you find Him now."
Written by Armand
Written by Armand
Armand,
ReplyDeleteLets contemplate the "The Lords Prayer," specifically, how many times our hearts have stumbled over those words " as we forgive others" and the glorious freedom contained within, not only for my own life but the lives of those still living in the bondage of self. The Author of this prayer has called each of us to the awesome opportunity of intercessory prayer. And so I pray, Dear God today I want to pray for all those You have placed on my heart who are in distress because of the guilt and shame of unforgiven sin in their lives. I know from my own life the pain and anguish my sins have caused me and most regrettably those around me. Now, out of gratitude and praise for Your forgiveness I want to pray for those people whom have harmed me and that I need to learn to love just as You have loved me.
Lord, I desire that I become a willing instrument of Your love and yet I confess it's difficult to love others as You have loved me. As I continue my prayer my mind is flooded by people I have used for my own purposes with little or no thought of what was best for them yet I am eternally comforted that You have completely forgiven me. Please, help me also to forgive them. Lord, open their hearts to Your love through me. Show me how I can be a partaker of your pursuit of them. Enable me to fully apprehend that to truly love my enemies is to will the ultimate good of another by my every thought act and deed so that I may be able to "comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes all understanding and be filled with the fullness of God."
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
Amen Brother...Thank you...Armand
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ReplyDeleteIt has been my experience that one of the greatest gifts I can give myself is to take advantage of whatever is available in the program of recovery in order to unchoke myself from the spiritually deafening grip of resentments. That grip is so pervasive that it has earned the dubious status of number one offender in our alcoholic temperament. Prayer, as you’ve delineated, provides not only immediate relief but deep insight into my own psyche and its absolute need for change. If peace of mind is the ultimate reward of sobriety, nothing and no one can stand in my way. I must incorporate all Twelve Steps into my life that I may affect the psyche change through The grace of The Power Within me. For me, that has been the path through the barbed wire of resentments to the freedom of recovery.
Michael C
Michael when our thought process is propelled by the will of God our hearts soften and with that a complete change in our response to life...Thank you...Armand
DeleteAs I went through my resentment list in Step 4, it was my lack of humility that was the central theme running through all the people and places I listed. As an alcoholic, I can no longer place myself before God's will or service to others before myself. Humility in all my affairs was needed if I was to mitigate resentments in my life. I have come across a prayer, the Litany of Humility, that I recite daily in the morning. This prayer shows or describes to me all the ways I need to embrace humility in my life. The prayer leaves no stone unturned on exactly how to be humble. And once I am on the road to humility my ego goes from being my master to being my servant. Resentments then cease to exist. But this IS ONLY POSSIBLE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD. I recommend the Litany of Humility prayer to all alcoholics who understand their lack of humility and self centered nature is the source of their resentments. Thank you Armand for your continued dedication to this blog.
ReplyDeleteJim you are welcome and it is truly my pleasure.
DeleteHumility is the key that unlocks the door to the grace of God...Thank you...Armand