June 30, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step
Friday, June 30, 2023

“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.” — Step Eleven

“As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action. We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day, ‘Thy will be done.’ We are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-pity, or foolish decisions. We become much more efficient.” — Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 6 (“Into Action”), pp 87-8.

Today, the 11th Step, the logical extension of Step Three — “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.” In handing off to my Higher Power my self-will, it is proper that I begin each day and take on any problem by asking through prayer and meditation what His will is for me instead of plunging into the habit of doing it my way. My way generated anger, fear, worry and self-pity, and a host of other destructive feelings and actions. Today, I can do without them, and an “easier, softer way” is to let a Higher Power who is stronger and greater than me call the shots. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2023