“If God took care of me before, and he’s piloting my life on the road ahead, maybe He can guide me right now?”

“We now clearly see that we have been making unreasonable demands upon ourselves, upon others, and upon God. The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear—primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore, no peace was to be had unless we could find a means of reducing these demands."

Adapted from Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions

“Prayers of petition aren't all bad, but they don't really lead to a new state of being or consciousness. The same old consciousness is self-centered: “How can I get God to do what I want God to do?” This kind of prayer allows you to remain an untransformed, egocentric person who is just trying to manipulate God. I think some form of contemplative practice is necessary to be able to detach from our own agenda, our own anger, our own ego, and our own fear. We need some practice that touches our unconscious conditioning where all our wounds and defense mechanisms lie. That's the only way we can be changed at any significant or lasting level.”

Adapted from Daily Meditation

Meditation for the Day “….If we live with God, our lives can flow as some calm river through the dry land of earth. It can cause the trees and flowers of the spiritual life - love and service - to spring forth and yield abundantly. Spiritual work may be done for eternity, not just for now. Even here on earth we can live as though our real lives were eternal. Prayer for the Day Today, I pray that I may try to make my life like a cool river in a thirsty land. I pray that I may give freely to all who ask my help.”

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