Our destined path to success, happiness, and peace of mind.

Through prayer and meditation, we not only become aware of our Higher Power, but we also become alert to reality, to ourselves, and to others.

Why is God's will so vague sometimes? Well, God's will is life and truth, and He tends to show us the direction through steps. We show our obedience to Him by succeeding with the small tests that are always given to us. We comply with, and respect the knowledge that is given to us. We then will be led to great triumph. We recognize God's will for our lives by His voice from within, by the events in our lives, and by the experiences of others who succeed.

For many who come into the rooms of recovery, the concept of spirituality is an unfamiliar one. Let's face it, many of those who make it into the program come in from bars, jails, broken marriages, and a life in turmoil. Even those who have a background in church find that their experience has been more "religious" rather than spiritual.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake".

They come to believe there is a Higher Power, and the God of their understanding has a plan for their lives. Through prayer and meditation members attempt to raise their consciousness of that power and draw on it to continue their personal journey of recovery.

"Prayer is talking to God. Meditation is listening!"

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.12X12

There is the spot check inventory where we stop during the day to take a deep breath and redirect our thoughts. Then there is the inventory at the end of the day where we total up the positive and the negative. We not only do this at the end of the day, we ask each morning upon rising that God direct our thoughts & actions. Lastly, there is the whole life inventory where we go back through our lives. This we do only once a year or so.

The main thing in meditating is that I be in a state of mind and body that I am completely at ease. I do not try to direct my thoughts, or even to think. I just lie there with a blank mind to see what comes in asking for attention.

By praying for knowledge and guidance, our Higher Power will reveal to us the way we should go. We will acquire direction, ability, understanding, and strength through increased conscious contact.

Conscious contact means being aware, mindful, and awake to align ourselves with God, as we understand Him.

We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it.

We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done."

Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We have begun to develop this vital sixth sense. But we must go further and that means more action.

Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn't be shy on this matter of prayer.

When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life?

After making our review we ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken.

On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.

In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while. What used to be the hunch or the occasional inspiration gradually becomes a working part of the mind.

We usually conclude the period of meditation with a prayer that we be shown all through the day what our next step is to be, that we be given whatever we need to take care of such problems. We ask especially for freedom from self-will, and are careful to make no request for ourselves only. We may ask for ourselves, however, if others will be helped. We are careful never to pray for our own selfish ends.

As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action. We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day "Thy will be done."

We alcoholics are undisciplined.

"Faith without works is dead."