"The 11th Step mentions "knowledge of His will for us..."; how does this "knowledge" come to you? Or do you seek it out?"
Well, when I was first introduced to the program, and to the concept of making life decisions based on G_D's will, I was baffled. If I had a direct line to G_D, if I knew what G_D wanted from me, I didn't need the program! If G_D would only let me know what is expected of me, then I will surely follow His direction in every area of my life. I would lead a "perfect" spiritual lifestyle.
The truth is, that in many areas I do know G_D's will, and I can't manage to follow through... I know G_D doesn't want me to lie. I know G_D wants me to be kind to every human. I have the whole Bible, the whole Talmud, the whole Code of Jewish Law telling me precisely what G_D's will is, and I can assure you that I don't follow all of it.
I came to the conclusion that G_D's will for us is what happens to us when we have the willingness to follow through when G_D's will is known to us. Here is an example: I have a tough choice to make today: should I accept the job at this prestigious firm, or should I stay with my current employer. I pray to G_D to guide me to the right decision. I want to know G_D's will for me. But do I really want to know G_D's will? Will I really follow through if I find out?
Here is the litmus test: If I just got a phone call from G_D, and He said to me, "quit your job, but don't join the prestigious firm, I rather you be unemployed for a few years", or "I would like you to become a janitor at a public school". Now my initial reaction is to hang up and pretend I never heard any of it...
But really if I am able to accept G_D's will for me, no matter what it is, no matter if it wasn't on the menu, no matter if it wasn't one of the options that I was willing to go with, then I know that I have the willingness to follow through on G_D's will for me. Then I don't need to worry what the will is, I just need to truck along and know that G_D's will will happen in my life. Because I am ready for it.
12.12.2007
12.09.2007
A journey seeking, surrendering, embracing God's will in my life.
The 11th Step mentions "knowledge of His will for us..."
How does this "knowledge" come to you? Or do you seek it out?
How does this "knowledge" come to you? Or do you seek it out?
This is a journey for me, as I continue to let go of old ideas and try out new ones, allowing myself the freedom to grow in my personal relationship with God. I am grateful that God is patient with our journey, as it takes some of us much practice and effort to grow in this area. The simple effort of practicing prayer and meditation allows me to seek a clearer understanding or knowledge of God's will in my daily life. To pray is to seek; to uncover and discover my clearest of intentions and continue to surrender my will to His. After that I get up and take the next right action or pause.
The process of surrendering my will to God's care allows my will to be aligned with God's through His power, not mine. When this occurs, a sense of peace and serenity is produced, leaving stress, worry and concern behind and I am better able to think clearly and recognize God's participation in guiding and providing me with the power to carry out His will. As I surrender over and over again a specific request, desire or need, until it is in harmony with the will of God, I can then clearly discern and seek to know what God would have me do or be. When I am not struggling with making my will happen, no longer convincing myself 'it' is God's will, as I continue to surrender my cares and concerns to His direction, I become aware that my will has come into alignment with God's. I can then relax and trust that I will be guided by His Spirit and He will supply what ever is needed to bring forth His Divine will, leaving behind the need to manage again by trying to figure out 'how to make it happen.'
I no longer have to worry about doing the 'right' thing, as long as I am applying spiritual principles and trust God to lead the way, confident my job is to follow as I recognize His guidance, being present to the moments of each day. I am willing to take the course of action I discern needs to be taken, using all of my senses, relaxing in the knowledge that everything needed to fulfill God's will, even courage and willingness, is supplied by God, I just have to surrender and trust. Remembering that He meets me where I am and that whatever He calls me to do, whether it is to start a new career, or make specific changes in my daily life, He provides what I need to fulfill His will with joy.
Once my will is aligned with His will, confident by practicing self-examination as I recognize that I am applying the principles in my life, and then I can seek with greater ease the knowledge of His will for me. I do this through several ways. Some of these are; being aware during prayer and meditation if I have a sense of 'knowing' what the next right thing is for me to do, or not do. I am willing to listen to my intuition, knowing that I will make mistakes and that my reliance on intuition grows as I listen to Spirit's still voice within. Sometimes, I seek by reading Scripture and then meditate on the words I read or discuss this with another person.
I am expected to use my God-given brain and common sense as I think about those things that I surrender to God, trusting that as I do so, He will guide me at every turn as I discover what His will is and what course of action to take. I also trust that He will provide the necessary power, ability and every need I have to carry out His will. Sometimes I need to discuss the issue with my spiritual director, spouse or trusted friend. If I am still uncertain what His will is, regarding a specific issue, then I simply take the next right action, trusting that the way will unfold one step at a time. Also, I will most often not know what the whole picture looks like or what every step is in advance, so I take one step at a time. Faith in action, even with fear, is often called courage.
Since, I have surrendered my will to God's management I am reminded that my decision to seek His will has already been made. I also need to take the time to be aware, listen and pay attention, by living in the present, to recognize God's guidance and act accordingly. Sometimes I may get a phone call from someone who brings up the very issue I am 'seeking' and other times a 'coincidence' or a chance meeting will reveal God's will or my next right action will be clear. I am called to seek His will and trust that He will reveal this and provide the power to carry this out. No matter how small the issue may seem to be, it all matters to God, as every area of our life matters to Him.
If I am still doubtful about what action to take, or if I am to take any action, then I need to 'pause' and this can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days or longer, until I no longer have the intense sense of doubt. This is an opportunity to learn how to live in harmony with the Spirit of the Universe and this can be an exciting part of our journey, if we leave unrealistic expectations of ourselves and of God, behind. Sometimes we go off in the opposite direction of God's will, confident we are on the right path to fulfill His will, only to find out during self-examination that we were in fact trying to make God's will fit into our own. How do we know this when it happens? Our actions usually do not produce peace, harmony or positive results.
This is an opportunity to learn and grow in our relationship with God and to surrender at a deeper level our will to His, knowing that God truly wants us to be happy, joyous and free. One old idea that interferes with my seeking His will is that God does not want me to be happy. Happiness truly comes when I have aligned my will, my mind and heart to whatever God has in store for my life, with the confidence that this will create the wholeness, peace and harmony in life that I want.
So, yes I seek, using all at my disposal, knowing that this is a process of surrendering my will to God's will until the two are in harmony in all areas of my life. I am expected to use my God-given gifts as a human spiritual being to seek the knowledge and fulfillment of His will. Sometimes, I have to be still and know that God has His part to do, and trust His will as it unfolds in my daily life.
I listen with my 'spiritual' ears and look with my 'spiritual' eyes and walk confidently into each day, knowing that God and I are partners in life.
I can be assured that He will disclose His will for me and this will become clearer with each opportunity to live in harmony with His will for my life. He will continue to disclose more to me as I serve Him well and I do this best by trusting His love for humanity.
My purpose in life has become my deepest desire and this is to serve Him and to help my fellows to the fullest and best that I can do. Trusting His plans for every area of my life are for my highest good, trusting Spirit to guide and provide for me to live as He calls me. Even when I may not fully know what His will is, I must always remember that I am to serve God and help others and all roads in my life lead to this simple purpose. This purpose fills my soul with such satisfaction and joy that no other purpose can compete. Sometimes the awareness of God's will with specific concerns comes in hindsight, after I have walked in faith, trusting my journey with Spirit, a journey with principles as my guideline, and the Spirit of Love as the voice I recognize and follow.
Many Blessings,
Carol Ann
Carol Ann Preston ©2007
12.01.2007
Decembers Question
The 11th Step mentions "knowledge of His will for us..." How does this "knowledge" come to you? Or do you seek it out?
The answer to this is twofold; simply put, it comes to us as a result of searching, studying, and practicing the spiritual principles of love. There is no great mystery here. No hidden path reserved only for the mystics or holy ones. Note that i stated the principles of love (plural), not the principle of love.
Throughout human history there have been many powerful spiritual teachers. When we study their teachings, we find common threads interwoven into the fabric of each. Like a circle they always come back to the universal truth of love. Examples of just a few are:
A Course in miracles:
“Teach only love for that is what you are.”
The Dalai Lama:
1.“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message; that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”
2.“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”
The five precepts of Buddhism:
All religions have some basic rules that define what is good conduct and what kind of conduct should be avoided. In Buddhism, the most important rules are the Five Precepts. These have been passed down from the Buddha himself.
1. No killing Respect for life
2. No stealing Respect for others' property
3. No sexual misconduct Respect for our pure nature
4. No lying Respect for honesty
5. No intoxicants Respect for a clear mind
The teachings of Jesus:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
The Bible:
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” I John 4:12
“I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17
The Principles of love: (From, The Message)
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
After meditating on just these few teachings it becomes easy to discern that God’s will for us is to love one another. All things begin and end there. Everything that follows for each of us as individuals flows from this universal truth; love one another. When we practice this in our daily lives it becomes clear that everything else we do, when done in love follows and fulfills the divine will. There is of course much, much more, that validates the statement; God’s will for us is to love one another. However, time and space prohibit full discussion here. Let it suffice to say that mastering the principles of love is a lifetime’s work. We are such self-aware, self-centered creatures that developing the practice of selflessness, which is an integral part of love, is painstakingly difficult.
The divine will is that we be happy, content, prosperous, and in harmony with the spiritual energy that emanates in and through each of us. We accomplish this by loving. Much of this is confirmed in the “Big Book.” Chapter four, “We Agnostics” which discusses the matter of faith at length. The third step prayer; “asks that we be relieved of the bondage of self.” Page 84 (3rd edition) states, “The spiritual life is not a theory. We must live it.” Again, by taking an honest look at the principles of love we are able to see that it is not an emotion, but rather a way of life, a way of doing things quite opposite of our natural instincts. We are reminded time and again of the importance of service to our fellows. Service that is done without thought of reward or recognition.
All of these things and all of these teaching come full circle to complete God’s will for all of us through the process of loving.
The answer to this is twofold; simply put, it comes to us as a result of searching, studying, and practicing the spiritual principles of love. There is no great mystery here. No hidden path reserved only for the mystics or holy ones. Note that i stated the principles of love (plural), not the principle of love.
Throughout human history there have been many powerful spiritual teachers. When we study their teachings, we find common threads interwoven into the fabric of each. Like a circle they always come back to the universal truth of love. Examples of just a few are:
A Course in miracles:
“Teach only love for that is what you are.”
The Dalai Lama:
1.“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message; that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”
2.“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”
The five precepts of Buddhism:
All religions have some basic rules that define what is good conduct and what kind of conduct should be avoided. In Buddhism, the most important rules are the Five Precepts. These have been passed down from the Buddha himself.
1. No killing Respect for life
2. No stealing Respect for others' property
3. No sexual misconduct Respect for our pure nature
4. No lying Respect for honesty
5. No intoxicants Respect for a clear mind
The teachings of Jesus:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
The Bible:
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” I John 4:12
“I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17
The Principles of love: (From, The Message)
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
After meditating on just these few teachings it becomes easy to discern that God’s will for us is to love one another. All things begin and end there. Everything that follows for each of us as individuals flows from this universal truth; love one another. When we practice this in our daily lives it becomes clear that everything else we do, when done in love follows and fulfills the divine will. There is of course much, much more, that validates the statement; God’s will for us is to love one another. However, time and space prohibit full discussion here. Let it suffice to say that mastering the principles of love is a lifetime’s work. We are such self-aware, self-centered creatures that developing the practice of selflessness, which is an integral part of love, is painstakingly difficult.
The divine will is that we be happy, content, prosperous, and in harmony with the spiritual energy that emanates in and through each of us. We accomplish this by loving. Much of this is confirmed in the “Big Book.” Chapter four, “We Agnostics” which discusses the matter of faith at length. The third step prayer; “asks that we be relieved of the bondage of self.” Page 84 (3rd edition) states, “The spiritual life is not a theory. We must live it.” Again, by taking an honest look at the principles of love we are able to see that it is not an emotion, but rather a way of life, a way of doing things quite opposite of our natural instincts. We are reminded time and again of the importance of service to our fellows. Service that is done without thought of reward or recognition.
All of these things and all of these teaching come full circle to complete God’s will for all of us through the process of loving.
Response By Gail DeWitt
The 11th Step mentions "knowledge of His will for us..."; how does this "knowledge" come to you? Or do you seek it out?
It is my experience that spiritual knowledge or ”His will for us” comes to us and we can seek it within. Be aware that I said within and not seek it out. The nature of addiction is that a person seeks outside him/herself to feel better or to alter their reality. It may seem like only semantics but it is not when I say to continue looking out in this manner is due to a belief that we are separate from God, Life, Universal Wisdom, or Higher Power, whatever you choose to call it.
But, I began to feel my life really soar in recovery when I began to understand that the same Creative Intelligence that moves the planets and keeps the earth tilted on its axis is the same intelligence that indwells me.
I find the knowledge of God’s will through spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, taking classes, by doing service work and through creative expression.
When I am deeply in service in some manner Creative Intelligence comes to me. When I have questions, I turn within in one of the above ways and listen. From that listening I am guided to wonderful resources that not only move me forward, but supports all I am in contact with in an affirmative way.
That is how I know it is divine wisdom – the good it imparts uplifts many. The good seems to radiate outward. Another sign that it is God’s will is whatever idea comes to me, it comes replete with everything for its fulfillment in ease and grace.
Early in recovery, I checked these spiritual insights out with my sponsor or a person in long time recovery. Over time, I have come to trust the ideas, thoughts, values, beliefs and feelings that come from all the ways God’s knowledge is imparted. This knowledge is in the ethers, it is the connective membrane of life, simply waiting for us to say yes, we are receptive to it and willing to serve. When we seek in this manner be ready for the wonderful shift that will happen to you, through you and all around you. God is generous with Infinite Supply and loves to see us succeed.
Gail DeWitt http://www.conscious-contact.com/
It is my experience that spiritual knowledge or ”His will for us” comes to us and we can seek it within. Be aware that I said within and not seek it out. The nature of addiction is that a person seeks outside him/herself to feel better or to alter their reality. It may seem like only semantics but it is not when I say to continue looking out in this manner is due to a belief that we are separate from God, Life, Universal Wisdom, or Higher Power, whatever you choose to call it.
But, I began to feel my life really soar in recovery when I began to understand that the same Creative Intelligence that moves the planets and keeps the earth tilted on its axis is the same intelligence that indwells me.
I find the knowledge of God’s will through spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, taking classes, by doing service work and through creative expression.
When I am deeply in service in some manner Creative Intelligence comes to me. When I have questions, I turn within in one of the above ways and listen. From that listening I am guided to wonderful resources that not only move me forward, but supports all I am in contact with in an affirmative way.
That is how I know it is divine wisdom – the good it imparts uplifts many. The good seems to radiate outward. Another sign that it is God’s will is whatever idea comes to me, it comes replete with everything for its fulfillment in ease and grace.
Early in recovery, I checked these spiritual insights out with my sponsor or a person in long time recovery. Over time, I have come to trust the ideas, thoughts, values, beliefs and feelings that come from all the ways God’s knowledge is imparted. This knowledge is in the ethers, it is the connective membrane of life, simply waiting for us to say yes, we are receptive to it and willing to serve. When we seek in this manner be ready for the wonderful shift that will happen to you, through you and all around you. God is generous with Infinite Supply and loves to see us succeed.
Gail DeWitt http://www.conscious-contact.com/
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