~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Release

"
Who can render an account of all the miseries that have once been ours, and who can estimate the release

and joy that the later years have brought to us? Who could possibly tell the vast consequences of what God's

work through AA had already set in motion?

"Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pp. 44-5
As Bill Sees It, p. 163


Thought to Consider . . .

"I have been given a quiet place in bright sunshine.

"Bill W., Box 1980:  The AA Grapevine, Jan. 1958.
The Language of the Heart, p. 238


*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
PUSH
P
ray Until Something Happens

 

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Power

From "Listening to the Wind":

"Alcohol was only a symptom of much deeper problems of dishonesty and denial. Now it was a matter of coming to grips with a Power greater than myself. That was very hard for me. How could all these white people even begin to think they could understand me? So they brought a sober Indian woman up to work with me for a day. That was a very powerful day. That Indian woman cut me no slack at all. I will never forget her. She convinced me I was not unique. She said these white folks were the best thing that ever happened to me. "Where would you be without them?" she asked. "What are the alternatives? You got any better ideas for yourself? How many Indians do you know who are going to help you sober up?" At the time, I couldn't think of any. I surrendered behind the tears of no answers and decided to do it their way. I found the Power greater than myself to be the magic above the heads of the people in the meetings. I chose to call that magic Great Spirit."

(c) 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 467 


*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
PRAYER: IT WORKS

It has been well said that "almost the only scoffers at prayer are those who never tried it enough."

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 97

Having grown up in an agnostic household, I felt somewhat foolish when I first tried praying.  I knew there was a Higher Power working in my life -- how else was I staying sober? -- but I certainly wasn't convinced he/she/it wanted to hear my prayers.  People who had what I wanted said prayer was an important part of practicing the program, so I persevered.  With a commitment to daily prayer, I was amazed to find myself becoming more serene and comfortable with my place in the world.  In other words, life became easier and less of a struggle.  I'm still not sure who, or what, listens to my prayers, but I'd never stop saying them for the simple reason that they work.

 

(c)Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.(c)
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~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Clearing a Channel

During the day, we can pause where situations must be met and decisions made, and renew the simple request

"Thy will, not mine, be done." If at these points our emotional disturbances happens to be great, we will more surely

 keep our balance provided we remember, and repeat to ourselves, a particular prayer or phrase that has appealed to

us in our reading or meditations. Just saying it over and over will often enable us to clear a channel choked up with anger,

 fear, frustration, or misunderstanding, and permit us to return to the surest help of all -- our search for God's will, not

 our own, in the moment of stress.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 102-103
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to
find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and
direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 79~

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

When we were drinking, we used to be ashamed of the past. Remorse is terrible mental punishment: ashamed of ourselves for the things we've said and done, afraid to face people because of what they might think of us, afraid of the consequences of what we did when we were drunk. In A.A. we forget about the past. Do I believe that God has forgiven me for everything I've done in the past, no matter how black it was, provided I'm honestly trying to do the right thing today?

Meditation for the Day

God's spirit is all about you all day long. You have no thoughts, no plans, no impulses, no emotions, that He does not know about. You can hide nothing from Him. Do not make your conduct conform only to that of the world and do not depend on the approval or disapproval of others. God sees in secret, but He rewards openly. If you are in harmony with the Divine Spirit, doing your best to live the way you believe God wants you to live, you will be at peace.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may always feel God's presence.

I pray that I may realize this Presence constantly all through the day.