Carried By His Wings© -- Sexual Purity Recovery

Wings Devotional Recovery ... November 8, 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 -- Basis

"There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer.  Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit.  But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for life."

(c) 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 98 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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All though there is a link to self-examination, mediation and prayer, we must be very careful of what we are meditating on.  Emptying the mind and not filling it with the things of God can be a dangerous position to place ourselves in.  It will be a field for Satan to enter and begin manipulating our thought patterns back to that 'stinkin' ‘thinkin'.

Always begin your Step work seeking God, the Lord Jesus Christ first.

He will never fail you or forsake anything you attempt to do as long as you have Him in the right position in your life.

Meditating on His healing Word as you get to know who He is.  The Word of God is the only truth there is, the entire Bible is His character.

A great way to get to know Him and to know His will for your life.

Study, with prayer and meditation on His word, will help you to determine His will in our lives and provides the strength to carry out that will.

Never mediate on nothing, never close your mind and empty it without God being your meditation focus – His word.

This will give you the ultimate deep rooted foundation for life.

Psalm 19

1   The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2   Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

3   There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

4   Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5   which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6   It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

7   The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8   The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9   The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

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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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