God and Pain Spiritual Awakenings Hard Times & Suffering
How do we begin dealing with God? We start,
typically, in the program with a Higher Power. How Do I Find My Higher
Power? Check These Suggestions Out.
Are you
comfortable with your Higher Power? It is kind of hard to improve upon a
relationship that you don't feel comfortable in. There are a couple of
things that really helped me to improve my relationship with my Higher Power.
One is Am I worthy?,
and the other is
Spiritual Awakenings (one of my own first spiritual experience). There are
also some links at the top of the page that may aide you in becoming more
comfortable with your Higher Power, or God. Check them out, if necessary,
and then return to this page later.
If you have found your Higher Power, and need to start building a relationship, or a better relationship...talk to Him - Her - Or It. I was taught to pray every morning and night, and to meditate in the morning to start out my day right. My sponsor said that Praying was talking to God and Meditation was listening to God. Meditation can take on many different forms! I started out with my meditation being the daily morning readings. I learned after that to do Diaphragm breathing, and turn it over...being silent and open to God. We do offer many tips on meditation HERE.
Honesty is so important! It is important for me to be honest with myself and my Higher Power, or my God, because we both know the real truth anyway! I can go nowhere on a lie! I can move mountains with the help of a Higher Power. Being honest isn't always easy - but it is very effective when dealing with God.
Talking the talk is a beginning, but eventually I had to start walking the walk. This, too, is not an easy task. I believe that is why they say in the program to "Do The Next Right Thing." It is sort of an out: If I screw up, I have another opportunity to do it over the right way. God understands and knows temptation. Jesus himself was tempted by the devil. He prayed so hard in the Garden for God to remove this cup from Him that he sweat blood. If God Himself can come to earth and be tempted, Why would I expect it to be different for me? I need to know that God wants and looks for improvement in me. God knows that we are not perfect! He wants us to change, and turn from the things that are wrong and bad. God wants to help us improve - and offers His assistance over and over and over again in doing that. Changing...
Why do you have to get cleaned up to take a bath? Dedicate your life to God and then Christ will fill your empty spot that’s not satisfied. Then, you won’t need, or feel you need, whatever it is that distracts you from Him.
It’s not quitting the bad things (Do’s and Don’ts) to become closer to God. It’s quitting things when God says and then it’s, “I do this in serving you, Lord.”
"The only suggested guidelines are that this Power be loving, caring, and greater than ourselves. We don't have to be religious to accept this idea. The point is that we open our minds to believe." Basic Text, p.24
~Remember: Input - Output~
Our spirit is much like our bodies: We get out, what we put in. Be careful how you handle yourself and how you spend your spare time.
Biblical Stuff:
No one has all the answers but God does. So, read His word and you will find your answers.
We’re all parts of Christ’s body and it takes all of us to make him complete. We belong to each other and all need each other. Romans 12. 4 & 5
Be Glad for what God has given you, patient in trouble, prayerful always. Romans 12. 2
Don’t pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that people can see you are honest clear through. Romans 12. 17
Learning to Turn Over Control: It is Very important for us to Turn it over, and over and over, if we have to! I have no control over people, places and things. I need to know this! I need to know that God is in Charge. God gave me my current job, and only God or my irresponsible behaviors can take it away! Only God can give people the Desires of their heart (Psalm 37.4) and not me. I can pray for them, and/or counsel them...that is all. God is in control. I think of God's control this way: God's Inside.
God, Your Chisel Hurts! Someone’s Statement
Faith Based Treatment - This Doctor has some good stuff to say about spirituality! Check him out!
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. We do
not tire so easily, for we are not burning up energy foolishly as we
did when we were trying to arrange life to suit ourselves."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 87~
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This Website was last updated on:
June 17, 2008
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