Daily Recovery Readings
July 28, 2018

Daily Reflection

THOSE WHO STILL SUFFER

Let us resist the proud assumption that since God has enabled us to do well in one area we are destined to be a channel of saving grace for everybody.

A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 232

A.A. groups exist to help alcoholics achieve sobriety. Large or small, firmly established or brand-new, speaker, discussion or study group has but one reason for being: to carry the message to the still-suffering alcoholic. The group exists so that the alcoholic can find a new way of life, a life abundant in happiness, joy, and freedom. To recover, most alcoholics need the support of a group of other
alcoholics who share their experience, strength and hope. Thus my sobriety, and our program’s survival, depend on my determination to put first things first.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“I had always believed in a Power greater that myself. I had often pondered these things. I was not an atheist. Few people really are, for that means blind faith in the strange proposition that this universe originated in a cipher and aimlessly rushes no where.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill’s Story, pg. 10~

Keep It Simple

The best leaders are those who know how to follow. —Anonymous

Am I a leader or a follower? The fact is, I am responsible for where I end up. If I choose to be a follower, I’d better follow leaders who know where they are going. And I had better know where they’re going.

If I choose to be leader, I’d better know that I’m responsible for getting myself on the right path. I also must be honest with my followers, so they can make good choices. I’m not responsible for my followers choices, but I must give them the truth. Being a leader doesn’t always mean that I know where I’ll end up. But it can mean that I know I’m on the right path, following the lead from my Higher Power—one step at a time.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, give me the faith and courage to choose good leaders to follow. When it is Your will, help me be a good leader.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll list my leaders. They might be a Higher Power, a sponsor, or a friend. I’ll think of why I choose to follow these leaders.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Go deep or go home. You hunger for passion and real talk with someone who sees your heart; shallow silliness just won’t cut it. You might feel extra sensitive to your partner’s needs or desire more of an intense emotional connection. Money conflicts create tension and misunderstandings may be exaggerated. Let your secrets out and reveal the deeper parts of your heart. The cosmic retrograde traffic jam appears to be stopping progress in its tracks, but trust that detox precedes purification.

Daily Recovery Readings
July 23, 2018

Daily Reflection

I ASK GOD TO DECIDE

“I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows.”

— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76

Having admitted my powerlessness and made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God, as I understand Him, I don’t decide which defects get removed, or the order in which defects get removed, or the time frame in which they get removed. I ask God to decide which defects stand in the way of my usefulness to Him and to others, and then I humbly ask Him to remove them.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“How dark it is before the dawn! In reality that was the beginning of my last debauch. I was soon to be catapulted into what I like to call the fourth dimension of existence. I was to know happiness, peace, and usefulness, in a way of life that is incredibly more wonderful as time passes.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill’s Story, pg. 8

Keep It Simple

Don’t talk unless you can improve the silence.—Laurence Couglin

“Do I talk to much?” Most of us wonder this sometimes. There are some ways to find out.

Asked yourself these questions: “How much do I know about people in my life?”

“What do they think and feel?” “Do I listen to them?” “Do I often feel that I say too much?”

Then ask a few trusted friends these questions: “Do you think I talk to much?” “How well do you think I listen to you?”

Silence help us listen—to ourselves, to others, and to our Higher Power.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me enjoy the silent moments in my day.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll think before I speak. what do I really want to say.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Sometimes you care more about caring than being effective. The resistance to being pigeonholed can manifest as rebellion against what people say they actually want. Insisting on your position will only create antagonism today, derailing any potential progress. Being of service often requires adhering to some sort of protocol. It’s not your way or the highway. Do your best to honor what is actually requested of you instead of thinking you know what’s best.

Daily Recovery Readings
July 21, 2018

Daily Reflection

A PRICELESS GIFT

By this time in all probability we have gained some measure of release from our more devastating handicaps. We enjoy moments in which there is something like real peace of mind. To those of us who have hitherto known only excitement, depression, or anxiety – in other words, to all of us – this newfound peace is a priceless gift.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 74

I am learning to let go and let God, to have a mind that is open and a heart that is willing to receive God’s grace in all my affairs; in this way I can experience the peace and freedom that come as a result of surrender. It has been proven that an act of surrender, originating in desperation and defeat, can grow into an ongoing act of faith, and that faith means freedom and victory.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“For the type of alcoholic who is able and willing get well, little charity, in the ordinary sense of the word, is need or wanted. The men who cry for money and shelter before conquering alcohol, are on the wrong track.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 97

Keep It Simple

There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise.
—Gore Vidal

Many of us used a “know it all” act to keep people away. We kept everyone around us on edge. They were afraid of our judgments, just we were secretly afraid of theirs. Why were we so busy with everyone else’s life? So we didn’t have to look at our own! We were afraid of what was happening to us. But we didn’t want to see how sick we were becoming. Now we’re not afraid. We don’t need to keep people away. We don’t need to run their lives. We have our life to live. And we’re enjoying it.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, You are the expert, not me. Teach me. I am Your student.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll list the ways I chased away those who cared about me.. I’ll work on the Steps on these items for the next week.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

The more you push for anything, the more you encounter resistance. Love is on your mind, and it’s tough to think about anything else now. Unfortunately, you may run into a wall or two when it comes to getting what you want today. A winning strategy includes releasing attachment to any particular outcome and avoiding any ultimatums. Remain open to attracting the actual experience which will benefit you the most. Others want to give to you, but not out of pressure or obligation. William Shakespeare wrote, “Expectation is the root of all heartache.”

Daily Recovery Readings
July 20, 2018

Daily Reflection

SHORTCOMINGS REMOVED

But now the words “Of myself I am nothing, the Father doeth the works” began to carry bright promise and meaning.

12 & 12, p. 75

When I put the Seventh Step into action I must remember that there are no blanks to fill in. It doesn’t say, “Humbly asked Him to (fill in the blank) remove our shortcomings.” For years I filled in the imaginary blank with “Help me!” “Give me the courage to,” and “Give me the strength,” etc. The Step says simply that God will remove my shortcomings. The only footwork I must do is “humbly ask,” which for me means asking with the knowledge that of myself I am nothing, the Father within “doeth the works.”

I thank my Higher Power for letting me know that He works through other people, and I thank Him for our trusted servants in the Fellowship who aid new members to reject their false ideals and to adopt those which lead to a life of compassion and trust. The elders in A.A. challenge the newcomers to “Come To”–so that they can “Come to Believe.” I ask my Higher Power to help my unbelief.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“The age of miracles is still with us. Our own recovery proves that!”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 153~

Keep It Simple

Living so fully. I can’t image what any drug would do for me.-–Joan Baez

When we were using alcohol and other drugs, our lives kept getting emptier. We tired to keep new things out of our lives. We were scared and tired. We saw feelings as bad. So we got high instead of feeling them.

Now we can live fully every day. We don’t want to block our feelings. We aren’t afraid to opening up to new things and people.

And the more we open up, the happier we are. Our feelings are free. They bounce around. They don’t get stuck. We feel alive. Sure, we feel pain and fear sometimes. But we feel joy, love, and laughter too. And, more and more often, we feel alive.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, please help me live fully today. Help me notice my feelings.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll list five things I’ve enjoyed in the last twenty-four hours.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

The more you push for anything, the more you encounter resistance. Love is on your mind, and it’s tough to think about anything else now. Unfortunately, you may run into a wall or two when it comes to getting what you want today. A winning strategy includes releasing attachment to any particular outcome and avoiding any ultimatums. Remain open to attracting the actual experience which will benefit you the most. Others want to give to you, but not out of pressure or obligation. William Shakespeare wrote, “Expectation is the root of all heartache.”

Daily Recovery Readings
July 19, 2018

<b><u>Daily Reflection</b></u>

FALSE PRIDE

Many of us who had thought ourselves religious awoke to the limitations of this attitude. Refusing to place God first, we had deprived ourselves of His help.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 75

Many false notions operate in false pride. The need for direction to live a decent life is satisfied by the hope experienced in the A.A. Fellowship. Those who have walked the way for years – a day at a time – say that a God-centered life has limitless possibilities for personal growth. This being so, much hope is transmitted by the elder A.A.s.

I thank my Higher Power for letting me know that He works through other people, and I thank Him for our trusted servants in the Fellowship who aid new members to reject their false ideals and to adopt those which lead to a life of compassion and trust. The elders in A.A. challenge the newcomers to “Come To” – so that they can “Come to Believe.” I ask my Higher Power to help my unbelief.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

<b><u>Big Book Quote</b></u>

“Perhaps there is a better way–we think so. For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 68~

<b><u>Keep It Simple</b></u>

We grow small trying to be great.

We dreamed of being great. Trying to be great is about control. We’ve caused a lot of trouble trying to control things. We’ve been afraid to just let things happen, We’re not very trusting. Many of us have good reasons not to trust. Whatever the reasons, we had put our trust in getting drunk or high. We thought that was one thing we could control. What really happened? We got sick.

Recovery is based on trust. We must learn to trust that it’s best for us to give up control. It will seem strange at first. But letting go and trusting can become a way of life. The Steps, our groups, our sponsor, and our Higher Power—here, we find love and caring. We can trust them.

Prayer for the Day:
I pray that day by day, I’ll put more trust in my program and in my Higher Power.

Action for the Day:
I’ll list five reasons why I can trust my Twelve Step program.

<b><u>Daily Horoscope – Cancer</b></u>

It’s healthy to give from a place of freedom and acceptance in relationships. Your care for others is noble and beautiful in theory. However, it’s prudent to be objective today to see if your caretaking urge comes from a lack of inner security or fear of abandonment. Reexamine your intentions so your offerings don’t turn into a form of subconscious control. Check your possessiveness and lose your jealous streak. Come out of your shell and allow yourself to be seen.