Carried By His Wings© -- Sexual Purity Recovery

Wings Devotional Recovery ... November 15, 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 -- Best of Intentions

Of course, it is reasonable and understandable that the question is often asked: "Why can't we take a specific and troubling dilemma straight to God, and in prayer secure from Him sure and definite answers to our requests?"

This can be done, but it has hazards.  We have seen Addicts ask with much earnestness and faith for God's explicit guidance on matters ranging all the way from a shattering domestic or financial crisis to correcting a minor personal fault, like tardiness. Quite often, however, the thoughts that seem to come from God are not answers at all.  They prove to be well-intentioned unconscious rationalizations.  The Addict, or indeed any man, who tries to run his life rigidly by this kind of prayer, by this self-serving demand of God for replies, is a particularly disconcerting individual.  To any questioning or criticism of his actions he instantly proffers his reliance upon prayer for guidance in all matters great or small.  He may have forgotten the possibility that his own wishful thinking and the human tendency to rationalize have distorted his so-called guidance.  With the best of intentions, he tends to force his own will into all sorts of situations and problems with the comfortable assurance that he is acting under God's specific direction.  Under such an illusion, he can of course create great havoc without in the least intending it.

© 1981, AAWS, Inc., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pages 103-104 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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Throughout all of history – we have seen mankind mold God into 'his' image, not Gods.  Prayer is our main communication with God – BUT we cannot always just go to Him with our requests for answers to our agenda.  This communication we have with God is important because most of the time it is to change something in us, not to expect God to answer in such away that would benefit our program. 

God will always answer - - but it will always be according to His ways and will.  So what can we do to be sure?  There is no pat answer except to medicate on His Word, the Bible, as He has given us everything pertaining to life and to Godliness.  What is true is the Word, what is under question would be our feelings, our emotions. 

So the warning is to pray and meditate on His Word, take our requests to God, and make sure the answer we acknowledge adheres to God's principles as measured in His Word.  Then go to your sponsor and discuss your findings to have another voice spoken into your life. 

The Word instructs us to pray without ceasing – which we are to do – and we should also be in study of His Word to get to know God's character before we proclaim that this is His will.  All of this to say that we should not rely on our own understanding -- but on God's understanding.  When we seek God's understanding then we will have the power to carry it on.

17 pray without ceasing;

18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit;

20 do not despise prophetic utterances.

21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, ^(J)without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- I Thessalonians 5:17-23

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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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