We admitted complete defeat; we put our absolute trust in God; we made a decision for our thought process to be propelled by the will of God and not by our human instinct; we asked God to remove anything and everything objectionable from us; we made our amends; we learned through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous and through our life experiences that we must pray and meditate daily. Now, through the grace of God, we are living in this moment in His will and are the very living example of the power of the program of AA. This has and will occur for all of us in whom the Spirit has been awakened. Once the Spirit has been awakened we are then given the power to help others, not only through our words but more importantly, through our behavior. We are acutely aware that in our quest to help others we cannot possibly give away that which we don't have.
As a result of integrating into our lives the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are given the power to help others. It is a wondrous event to see others live AN AWAKENED LIFE. We experience a fulfillment in our own lives as we watch them recover into loving and giving human beings.
Written by Armand
Written by Armand
In this post you have clearly delineated the "awakening" process. The direct modality of that awakening is The Twelve Steps. And the methodology is the integration of The Steps into our lives in such a way that we are awakened to our own lives through The Power Within us. After years of searching, I have found that this process is salvific, and that it is available just as you've iterated. For me this is the way. There is no other.
ReplyDeleteMichael surrender of our human nature to the will of God is the purpose of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThe Holy Spirit is fully alive when working with other alcoholics. The challenge I have when I am alone. Step 11 is a matter of life or death for me, otherwise I begin to spiral into alcoholic thinking. Meetings help. Sponsor helps. But only God can help me. God speaks to me through prayer and meditation, and I can only hear when I am completely still and quiet.
ReplyDeleteArmand, I am grateful for your strength and wisdom in this world. Thank you for all your help.
Jim comments like yours make the work worthwhile on a human level...Thank you...Armand
DeleteAs I've written before, the discovery that I no longer fear the loss of the life once lived, now cast, like so much refuse into the pail of sinful actions forgiven and forgotten, is due to the incredible love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is and was and evermore will be.... It was He alone, who had been walking beside me, even during the most depraved events of my prodigal journey. It was He alone, who initiated this inexplicable shift in paradigm. It is He Alone, who continues to remind me that base animal appetites need no longer be sated. It is He alone, who has caused my fleshly desires to loose their allure. It is He alone, who is causing my obsession for all things harmful to be removed. And, it is He alone, who has placed within me a steadily growing all consuming fire and unquenchable desire to drink at the Masters well with frequent visits to the mercy seat of the One who refines in the fire of His love.
ReplyDeleteIt is a miracle... For no other word is sufficient to describe this unspeakably holy and undeserved gift, entirely unwrapped by His hand and placed in the hearts of all who receive Him in the freedom and joy of His Presence. None of this has directly occurred as a result of anything I brought to the table. In fact, it occurred despite what I brought in my previously destitute stupefied state.
My spirit has not been awakened but revived; for I was stone cold dead, in every way a scattered pile of bleached and brittle bones. Only to be revived by His Holy Spirit who now incredibly resides within me. I have gratefully discovered that the One who pursues with a love beyond telling and a determination that never wavers, came for one purpose, "To seek and to save those who are lost."
In the 34 years I've been in the program I've witnessed many misguided movements attempt to alter the pages of the 12 Steps of AA. All are based on some form of mere human pedagogy that seeks to place the student on the Throne and the Teacher at their feet. All in order to avoid the simple program directly taken from the greatest story ever told, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I too was one such malignant meanderer; until the disastrous consequences of self worship and false pride finally brought me to my knees before the One true and Eternal Provider of true love, joy and peace.
His prayer, as always, is that all who hunger and thirst will find Him. It is true that He loves us all just the way we are, but thankfully, far to much to allow us to remain that way. He waits patiently at the door of our heart. He's as close as the mention of His name. Jesus, The Consolation Of Israel, The Desire of All Nations, The Author And Finisher Of Our Faith, The Alpha And Omega, The Lamb Who Was Slain, The Lion Who Reigns, The Anointed One, The Bread Of Life, The Everlasting Father, The Cornerstone, The Capstone, The Holy One, The King Of Kings, Lord Of Lords, The Christ! May you find Him now. Amen..
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic a life lived with God is the only life that can redeem us...Thank you...Armand
DeleteAhh yes. An awakened life! Well, try as I may, I only get brief glimpses of it. Even though my very life breath comes from strict adherence to the 3rd and 11th steps, I fear that my eyes will not completely be opened until the moment that I close them for the very last time
ReplyDeleteMike thanks for sharing your experience...armand
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