Step 11 : "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."

Hi everyone, looks like Dot might be busy so I thought I'd put up the topic. Al-Anon contains many readings on meditation, for both believers and atheists. Topics like thinking too much or too little, and many different styles of working this step, peoples experiences and how it helped them. Some people like to focus on an object or an idea, while others need to just sit quietly or whatever works for them. I like this quote because it illustrates the sort of gentle self care that the programme recommends. Look forward to reading you all again soon,


From: Courage to Change pg. 173 (copyright 1992, by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc Limited use by express written permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.)

"I will take time to clear my mind and focus on what is essential for today. I will release any unimportant thoughts. I will then allow myself to be guided toward the best action I can take for today. Regardless of how simple the answers may seem, I will listen without judgment. I will not take my thoughts for granted, for they may be my only guide."


llol Vickyr x

Hi Vicky and all to follow.

Thank you for posting and getting us started on this step.

Improving my contact and relationship with God is really a positive way to make progress in my recovery. For many years I silently begged for love and support from relatives, friends, and loved ones because I felt that I was alone and needy. Many of the people in my life were wrapped up in their own challenges and resentments. Others did not have any love or support to give me. It was not until Al-Anon that I realized that begging for love and support from people was not the way to go. 

It is only by accepting that I am a child of God and knowing that my HP is taking care of me that I realize that I had all the love and acceptance I needed all along. To feel that I am no better or worse than anyone else helps me to cope with the difficulties in front of me. Being humble and staying in constant contact with my HP is helping me to focus on myself.

Prayer and meditation are ways of revealing God's plan for me. Whatever God's will for me is, the pain and suffering I encounter can be lessened with spiritual development. With spritual growth, hopefully I will be able to live life with hope and serenity.     

Hello 12 Steppers,

Step 11 Sought through prayer and Meditation to improve our Concious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for his knowledge and his will for us and the power to carry it out.

I Love this Step. Today, because of this Step God has placed me with the special Gift of Prayer/intercession for others. What that means is that prayers come to me via the Church and I pray for those on the list. As well as other places and so on. We also have our/mine prayed over as well.

My prayer life has grown tremendously in 14 years. With my husband each day we pray for one another before our days begin. I have a girlfriend/prayer partner I pray with then I have my alone Devotional prayer time.

The Bible is The Living Word. Without knowing it and reading it I wouldn't grow, I would siink.

Prayer is simply talking to GOd. Meditation is listening. Some may have a different view, that's mine. That can be done anywhere. But there are times that God want's our Devotion, our reverence, and awe of him. Those times are so profound and powerful. The get on my face times that tears stream down my face in ADORATION AT WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME. How Powerful he is and how finite I am. HE LOVES us so much. I can't hardly imagine that almost 14 years ago I was drinking, smoking, and messing around with other things that were either immoral or bad for my health.

It is my prayer to continue to improve my relationship with God by being Obedient to His Word. Repenting of things in my life that I have to get rid of behaviors that are unbecoming because they block my growth, hurt GOD, myself, and family or friends. They Block my relationship with GOD.
 
To listen to HIS Beautiful Voice instructing me which way to go by HIS Holy Spirit.

Thanks for letting me Post,
Blessed


-- Edited by Blessed at 12:29, 2007-12-07

-- Edited by Blessed at 12:34, 2007-12-07

hi Baffled and Blessed, thanks for the shares. To validate what I read we try to spread out our emotional needs throughout the recovery communities/whichever ones are appropriate for us. And with the help of friends/HP of choice if you have one, and that's what helps to turn around this particular type of sickness as I understand it. That is how I was taught the Al-Anon programme, and then to re-work it over again as our recovery progresses watching out for the 'slips' dusting ourselves down etc.

Merry Christmas ! llol Vickyr x

Merry Christmas , Step 11 what a beautiful step. This week was a 11th step prayer and meditation meeting. Where we actually stopped for 10 minutes and sat in silence and prayed. I love to pray. it was a small meeting and one woman there wasn't fond of my relationship with my higher power. She as a matter of fact had to make a cutting remark about it. Bringing in the entire group of A.A. as not being Holy Rollers. That is just not true. Because of my growth and my relationship with God because of my Sobriety. If someone wants to call me a Holy Roller. Whatever floats your boat. As long as they know that God doesn't just LOVE me, he LOVES you too. Thanks, Blessed

Step 11 : "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out." sweetness -- step eleven.. we all go to heaven in a lil row boat lol This is such an awesome find, to wander into the stepworks link and find this step here waiting 4 me -- yay! Here, the step we r on now is so valuable.. a key to here is the count from one to ten before I reply -- evaluate my reply before letting it flow across my lips meaning to heal myself and to the other then with the words I speak. We r blessed to have such an inspirational belief system. Oceans of love 2 all -- including even me with that thought lol geetoverit

Step 11 : "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out." sweetness -- step eleven.. we all go to heaven in a lil row boat lol This is such an awesome find, to wander into the stepworks link and find this step here waiting 4 me -- yay! Here, the step we r on now is so valuable.. a key to here is the count from one to ten before I reply -- evaluate my reply before letting it flow across my lips meaning to heal myself and to the other then with the words I speak. We r blessed to have such an inspirational belief system. Oceans of love 2 all -- including even me with that thought lol geetoverit

Hello Getoverit, Vickie, and Baffled, Getoverit, you make me laugh with your ...we all go to heaven in a lil row boat. Im sorry I just busted a laugh that was deep and I needed it so bad. You have a cute sense of humor that without it this Woman in Recovery would be sunk. Vickie you have very sweet and helpful readings from Courage to change. Thanks I have a Son that's out there. Facing a Trial coming up on JANUARY 7TH. God's will be done. But I may not like it! Baffled you also have Wisdom when you share just like the others do. We all can continue to ask for God's Wisdom I certainly could use it daily, more and more. Thanks all, Blessed

Hi everyone thanks for all the posts. It's joyful to find such enthusiasm for studying the programme on this board ! Looking forward to reading more,

llol Vickyr x