Carried By His Wings© -- Sexual Purity Recovery

Wings Devotional Recovery ... November 1^st, 2010

We are starting November month eleven,

Spiritual Disciplines of Prayer and Meditation …

We are starting the busiest season of the whole year …

Temptations will be at every turn …

How is your Recovery Journey coming along …

Open your prayer time and do NOT close the prayer until you go to bed  …

 A GROWING RELATIONSHIP

LISTENING TO GOD

STEP ELEVEN Involves the spiritual disciplines of prayer and meditation.

I seek to know Christ more intimately through prayer and meditation, praying only for knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry that out.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” -- Colossians 3:16a

Just For Today – Step Eleven -- Eleven Step Prayer

"Lord, make me a channel of thy peace

– That where there is hatred, I may bring love

– That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness

– That where there is discord, I may bring harmony

– That where there is error, I may bring truth

– That where there is doubt, I may bring faith

– That where there is despair, I may bring hope

– That where there are shadows, I may bring light

– That where there is sadness, I may bring joy. 

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted

– to understand, than to be understood

– to love, than to be loved. 

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.'"

(c) 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 99 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.  Just For Today is neither endorsed by,  approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

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When we realize that we can have a personal relationship with Jesus, and that He is our everything.  The Bible instructs us to put off the Old Self and Put in the New.  Exactly what the poem/song states above "where there is hatred i bring love" and so on.

In recovery and faith, our old man has to die and we have to empty ourselves of the old ways and behaviors and replace them with the positive things that our Lord brings to light as we work through the 12-step process.

The only way to make the change is to seek to know the will of God.  We do that through prayer, meditation, and study of His Word.  We CANNOT be driven by emotions and feelings, because as we have proven in the past, they get us into trouble.

Do not take this Step 11 lightly, seek earnestly with precision – to know God deeper, to study to understand the power we have in Him (this is explained in the Book of Ephesians as the resurrection power -- which is huge) and to empty ourselves of us -- and to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us more.

Think of a glass that is filled with water and we are instructed to take another glass that is full of milk and pour it into the first glass.  It will be impossible to do so until we empty the glass of water.

So too, our recovery and search for God will not be possible until we empty ourselves of us, and allow the fullness of the Holy Spirit to come in.  Seek God - Cling to Him.

Ephesians 4:17 – 4:32 -- 5:14

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord,
that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do,
in the futility of their thinking.

18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality
so as to indulge in every kind of impurity,
with a continual lust for more.

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.

21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth
that is in Jesus.

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,
to put off your old self,
which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24 and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully
to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

26 "In your anger do not sin":
Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer,
but must work, doing something useful with his own hands,
that he may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,
along with every form of malice.

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 5:1-14

1   Be imitators of God,
therefore, as dearly loved children

2   and live a life of love,
just as Christ loved us and gave himself up
for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3   But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,
or of any kind of impurity,
or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

4   Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,
which are out of place,
but rather thanksgiving.

5   For of this you can be sure:
No immoral, impure or greedy person
— such a man is an idolater
— has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6   Let no one deceive you with empty words,
for because of such things God's wrath
comes on those who are disobedient.

7   Therefore do not be partners with them.

8   For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light

9   (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,
righteousness and truth)

10 and find out what pleases the Lord.

11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,
but rather expose them.

12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,

14 for it is light that makes everything visible. 
This is why it is said: 
"Wake up, O sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you."  

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Step Eleven

Working Step Eleven

The first ten steps have set the stage for us to improve our conscious contact with GOD.  They give us the foundation to achieve our long sought, positive goals.  Having entered this phase of our spiritual program through practicing the previous ten steps, most of us welcome the exercise of prayer and meditation.  Our Spiritual condition is the basis for a successful recovery that offers unlimited growth. 

Many of us really begin to appreciate our recovery when we get to the Eleventh Step.  In the Eleventh Step, our lives take on a deeper meaning.  By surrendering control, we gain a far greater power.  The nature of our belief will determine the manner of our prayers and meditations.  We need only make sure that we have a system of belief that works for us.  Results count in recovery.  Our prayers seemed to work as soon as we entered the Christian Twelve Step Recovery program and surrendered to our disease.  The conscious contact described in this step is the direct result of living the steps.  We use this step to improve and maintain our spiritual condition.

Goals For Step Eleven

·        Identify the primary purpose of prayer.

·        Describe Christian Meditation.

·        Examine methods to help you work Step Eleven.

Eleven Step Prayer

"Lord, make me a channel of thy peace

– That where there is hatred, I may bring love

– That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness

– That where there is discord, I may bring harmony

– That where there is error, I may bring truth

– That where there is doubt, I may bring faith

– That where there is despair, I may bring hope

– That where there are shadows, I may bring light

– That where there is sadness, I may bring joy. 

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted

– to understand, than to be understood

– to love, than to be loved. 

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.'"
 

Tenth Step Bible Reading

*       John 4:13, 14

*       Romans 8:26-28

*       Galatians 2:20

*       Philippians 4:6-9

*       Titus 3:1-7

*       Psalm 84:5-12

*        Psalm 127:1,2

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When Things Are Tough

These times are hard but challenge and adversity can push people toward their own greatness.  It can launch you on a deeper personal journey toward happiness, fulfillment, and a life of meaning.  As you look at ways to gather strength and improve self-esteem, remember it is not so much about what you have, but who you are:

Broke Is Not Broken

Being broke is not the same thing as being broken, losing money is not the same as being lost, and finding your balance is not something you can do on a balance sheet.

Having Less Doesn’t Mean You Are Less

Don’t confuse having less with being less, having more with being more, or what you have with who you are.

Savor Life and Slow Down

          When you are in a hurry, go slowly.  The faster you go in life the sooner it is a blur.

Prayer Creates a New Path

          Prayer creates a path where there is none and turns your stumbling blocks into building blocks.

Courage Is Not Absence of Fear

Put your faith, and not your fears, in charge.  Courage isn’t the absence of fears but how you wrestle with them.

Embrace the Future

If you are busy hugging the past, you can’t embrace the future.  Don’t let the past kidnap your future.

Change Is the Only Constant

This too shall pass.  Change is the only constant.  In order to take a breath, you must release your breath.

Make a Difference

Do what you can, but never forget that letting go is very different from giving up.  Of all the things you can make in life, remember that you make all the difference in your life.

Embrace Happiness

Tough times do not require you to be tough on yourself.  Find the courage to embrace happiness.

You Are Great

          Things don’t have to be good for you to be great.

Prayer of commitment to GOD:

Dear Jesus,

Thank YOU for making me and loving me,

even when I ignored you and gone my own way. 

I realize I need You in my life

and I’m sorry for my past behavior. 

I ask You to forgive me. 

As much as I know how, I want to follow You from now on.

Please come into my life and

make me a new person inside. 

I accept Your gift of salvation. 

Please help me to grow now as a Christian.

Amen.

* As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

·        greater personal discipline,

·        worldwide persecuted Christians,

·        Hedge of protection to our children

·        Blessings to our spouses

·        Godly men in Government

·        Rest and Peace to our pastors

·        Your activities for the day.

Love One Another

Stand Together

Fight this war, no matter the cost

Pray for our children

Turn our hearts toward heaven

Seek to be one nation under God.

God Bless and Guide You in your Christian Walk Today

“The Lord bless you and keep you,
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
-- Numbers 6:24-27

You can help when no one else can."
  -- c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 89
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