"In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for INSPIRATION, an intuitive thought or decision. We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while.
What used to be the hunch or the occasional INSPIRATION gradually becomes a working part of the mind. Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. Nevertheless, we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of INSPIRATION. We come to rely upon it."
It is in conscious contact with God that INSPIRATION may be received. It is where a recovered alcoholic lives.
INSPIRATION is defined in the dictionary as, "the thoughts of God implanted in the mind and soul of man." When the thoughts of God are received in our souls we don't need to run them by our intellect, as we know immediately that they are the Truth. The question becomes, has our human nature surrendered to the will of God in this moment so that we are capable of receiving God's thoughts OR are our thought processes propelled by our human instinct? A recovered alcoholic lives in and through INSPIRATION as their thought process is propelled by the will of God.
Written by Armand
Armand,
ReplyDelete"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our "conscious" contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out... Although many of us in the rooms of AA fail to recognize it at first, the introduction to Step 11 is encountered in all of it's fullness at the end of every AA meeting when we recite The Lords Prayer. Even the most cursory attempt at contemplation upon these divinely delivered words begins to reveal the true mind, heart and will of an eternal God who's greatest desire is for our complete redemption. For many of us, for the first time in our lives, we humbly acknowledge in a corporate way God's position, present our petition and acknowledge His plan.
It is no coincidence that when we join hands and pray in that way that an indescribable peace seems to wash over the room. In that moment, all of our challenges, doubts and fears fade to the background as His Spirit walks amongst us and for that brief moment all of the clamor and clutter that inhabits and inhibits our lives looses its steely grip as minds are focused solely on the Master. He continues to gently beckon us to seek out His inspiration through prayerful meditation on His Person and His Word. He delights and grows a constant prayerful conversation that, if we are willing, ever so subtly eventually begins to posses every waking moment. Until, one day at a time, we eventually discover our very lives have become not our prayer, but His...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholi
A Gratefully recovering Alcoholic love when you wrote 'discover our very lives have become not our prayer but His."...Thank you...Armand
DeleteI believe that Inspiration is instinctive as opposed to knowledge-based. As you point out, it is implanted in us as we travel our daily paths in the presence of The Power Within us. It seems to be true that even in the program of recovery, inspiration follows perspiration to a realistic degree. The Promises elicit the word "painstaking" about our spiritual growth and development - that sounds like work. For me, the work was and is to integrate all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that my life is transmuted into the life I was born to live. In that process, I have come to know me, and to be open to The Power that is within me and within all of us. Thus, I can feel (as opposed to know) inspiration and live an inspired life. As with all else I have learned, I must give it away in order to keep it. The Greatest Gift of all.
ReplyDeleteMichael a day at a time, an hour at a time, aminute at a timr, in this moment...Thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful message.
If done properly and in order, with the help of a sponsor and/or a spiritual advisor, doing the first 9 steps will get anyone sober. For by this time I have surrendered and I have quit fighting. That is only my experience of course, but something I truly believe in.
It points out to us in our Book, that we are still inexperienced and that we will probably not be inspired at all times.
In my evening prayers I must remember to ask myself if I was kind and loving toward all. And there are still many days when I probably could have done just a little better. That little shout at someone when they are driving reckless or the lack of patience when I am put on hold for an extended period of time while on the phone. I ask myself, "Where the hell am I going that's so important." I have to admit that I am not perfect. So I need to ask God to forgive me for any harm I may have caused others. Remembering that God is Love.
Prayer is asking for God's help.
I need always remember that I am only "One drink away from a drunk, and one Prayer away from God."
Thank you
Sid P
Sid all those little things that you, I and everyone experience everyday is evidence that there is more to surrender...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDelete