“Thank God for the gifts of letting go, slowly learning to wear the world as a loose garment, instead of the straitjacket I came in wearing!”

“In self-surrender, cravings for alcohol are transformed into cravings for deliverance. The early founders of AA quickly realized that self-reliance was a big liability in recovery: Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives can be built. “[For] there is no such thing as the personal conquest of this compulsion [for alcohol] by the unaided will.” Indeed, “self-confidence was a . . . total liability.” (Twelve & Twelve, pp. 21–22)

Adapted from Cravings for Deliverance

“Our lives can be like a battle between darkness and light. The darkness might be in our moods when we wake in the morning with feelings of despair. Then we can turn to the light of a prayer for openness: "God help me feel your love and acceptance." Then the light comes as we remember that our recovery program demands rigorous honesty. Each choice for honesty promotes our growth. Today, I can take a leap of faith by choosing an action and accepting that one small choice for the Light makes a difference - even in the darkness.”

Adapted from Touchstones

Meditation for the Day “Fear no evil, because the power of God can conquer evil. Evil has power to seriously hurt only those who do not place themselves under the protection of the Higher Power. This is not a question of feeling; it is an assured fact of our experience. Say to yourself with assurance that whatever it is, no evil can seriously harm you as long as you depend on the Higher Power. Be sure of the protection of God's grace. Prayer for the Day I pray that fear of evil will not get me down. I pray that I may try to place myself today under the protection of God's grace.”

Adapted from Twenty-Four Hours a Day© 1975, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved.