Wings Devotional Recovery

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... February 25, 2008

JUST FOR TODAY! – Open Mind

STEP TWO: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could
restore us to sanity.

"Take it easy. The hoop you have to jump through is a lot wider than
you think ... First, Alcoholics Anonymous does not demand that you
believe anything. All of its Twelve Steps are but suggestions.
Second, to get sober and to stay sober, you don't have to swallow all
of Step Two right now ... Third, all you really need is a truly open
mind."

© 1952, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 26
Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation
is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©
Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional
**********************************
We all have to admit that up to the point in our lives that we were
active in addiction, we were not doing things that produced positive
results. We find AA and the steps -- and most of all God. Although
the tenets of AA say "higher power" - the truth is that it is all
about God. He is the one that makes it all come together and He is
the one that restores us to our rightful place in the kingdom. To
succeed in the program, requires a relationship with the true God and
living by the power of Jesus, trusting in His name.

"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was
made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him
that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see." --
Acts 3:16

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... February 26, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! – Alternative



from: "We Agnostics"



"If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer."



© 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 44
Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

God has defined life for us in His word. It boils down to choices - obedience brings life -- disobedience brings consequences -- we have been living in those consequences as we were active in our addiction.



True success only comes our way when we realize that we need God – we need the spiritual to give us the power, wisdom and desire to conquer the demon addiction.



I love you, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. -- Psalm 18: 1-2

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... February 27, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Certainty



From "There Is a Solution:"



"The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 25

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

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Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The solution has always been before us -- God’s will in our lives. The certainty is that He has the best plan for us. We can have trust in God, because He is never changing, He is perfect, He is just and He is merciful. All it takes is faith – that is certain!



Ask God into your heart today and ask Him to direct your life -- He is waiting to bestow the miracle of recovery on you. We can never do it ourselves -- trust Him today.



For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." -- Jeremiah 29:13-14

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... February 28, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Others



From "Into Action:"



"Love and tolerance of others is our code."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************
We know love by the experiences we have through our friends in the recovery group. They are tolerant of us, but not compromising of their values of recovery and faith.



We show love by serving our fellow humankind, by showing them what God and recovery have done for us and how our code is love and service.



“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. -- I John 3:16-20

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... February 29, 2008



Just For Today -- Illness



Step Two: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.



"Few indeed are the practicing addicts who have any idea how irrational they are, or seeing their irrationality, can bear to face it. Some will be willing to term themselves 'problem users', but cannot endure the suggestion that they are in fact mentally ill.



They are abetted in this blindness by a world which does not understand the difference between sane drinking and abusing. 'Sanity' is defined as 'soundness of mind.'



Yet no addict, soberly analyzing his destructive behavior, whether the destruction fell on the dining-room furniture or his own moral fiber, can claim 'soundness of mind' for himself."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 32-33 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation
is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©
Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

When we are practicing or active in our addiction then we do not see anything clearly because we are altering our minds and the only focus we have is to get our drug of choice and to keep getting it, so we do not suffer. To our insane thinking, that is a normal day.



We are not so blinded that we cannot see that we are a little more excessive in this drinking/drugging behavior than others but we surely cannot think that we are 'mentally ill'. That term is not something we would ever be willing to accept. When confronted with the truth of our problem and our insanity, we react rather poorly and are appalled at someone suggesting such a thing.



What it takes is coming to believe in Jesus who has a greater, or the greatest power to remove this demon of addiction that clouds our mind and our very being. This is something we did not realize we had to do and is something we cannot begin to do without God performing the change.



With that realization that Jesus is greater than we and that He can restore us to sanity, we are allowing Him to begin a good work in us to restore is to a sound mind. We lose our mind because we now have the mind of Christ.



12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. -- I Corinthians 2:12-16

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 3, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Fortunate



STEP THREE: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.



"We who are alcoholics can consider ourselves fortunate indeed. Each of us has had his own near-fatal encounter with the juggernaut of self-will, and has suffered enough under its weight to be willing to look for something better. So it is by circumstance rather than by any virtue that we have been driven to AA, have admitted defeat, have acquired the rudiments of faith, and now want to make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to a Higher Power."



c. 1952, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pages 37-38

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

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Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Circumstance - that is exactly how we happen into the AA meeting. Most of us went the first time either by force from a loved one, by edict from an employer or for some of us by court order from a judge’s decision.



The facts are that in our self-will – we have willed ourselves into suffering and are slaves in our addiction. God never intended man to chose death – he wants us to choose life. He wants us to live in abundance – but that requires us to turn our lives over to Him. We waste much time in our recovery fighting this third step – making it harder on ourselves – as we struggle to let go – we then realize that once we do -- then God can do. God has provided a way for us to walk in His ways – the Holy Spirit – when we allow the Spirit’s direction we will be seeking the Will of God.



“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. -- Romans 8:26-27

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 4, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- It Works!



From "Bill W's last major talk, 1969:"



"The Twelve Steps of AA were written in 1938. We soon found that unless we, as individuals, conformed fairly well and voluntarily to our Twelve Steps, as individuals we got drunk. A group shattered, and those individuals who did follow the Steps went out and formed still more groups. So underneath AA structure lay the dreadful imperative of John Barleycorn, who, in effect, was promising death or insanity as the price of not conforming. After a while, we began to see that these simple Steps were right because they worked."



c. 1975, The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous
(A.A. Pamphlet P-53), page 28

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

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Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

God has designed His word to give us instructions on how to live a fulfilling life on this earth. If we abide by those instructions, then we will live an abundant life – it does work. He has also led us to the 12-steps of recovery. Some people are fearful of the steps, saying they are steeped in paganism, and not Godly. Well, your addiction is steeped in paganism and it’s head guy is Satan, so why are you drinking.



The steps work, each step can be found in a Biblical precept on how a believer walks out their faith. The steps work -- the key is for you to work them.



“I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.

I have considered my ways
and have turned my steps to your statutes.

I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands. -- Psalm 119:58-60

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 5, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Pathway



From "The Missing Link:"



"Following this spiritual path made a major difference in my life. It seemed to fill that lonely hole that I used to fill with alcohol. My self-esteem improved dramatically, and I knew happiness and serenity as I had never known it before. I started to see the beauty and usefulness in my own existence, and tried to express my gratitude through helping others in whatever ways I could."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 287-288

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

We are all born with that “God” spot. We spend our lifetimes trying to fill that spot with every drug/alcohol toy, etc that we can. Nothing works until we fill it with Jesus. Then we begin to feel the dramatic change in our lives. After we grow and depend on Him more and seek to see if we are working in His will for our lives, we begin to experience something called happiness and then we are at peace. The outflow of all that goodness is gratitude and then we take it and turn it towards helping others see the light. That is our path

of recovery.



I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD;
do not let me be put to shame.

I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free.

Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;
then I will keep them to the end. -- Psalm 119:31-33

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 6, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Grace



From "An Act of Providence:"



"I experienced the total bankruptcy of active alcoholism -- everything meaningful in my life was gone. I telephoned Alcoholics Anonymous and, from that instant, my life has never been the same. When I reflect on that very special moment, I know that God was working in my life long before I was able to acknowledge and accept spiritual concepts."



c. 1990, Daily Reflections, page 17

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Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************
The Bible is full of statements and examples, that God has a perfect plan for each one of us. He has been with us – guiding our paths that lead straight to Him, even as undeserving as we are. He loves us and is working with us, to cause us to acknowledge Him and rely on Him. That is grace, bestowing on us the plan of salvation – even when we don’t deserve it.



It is by His grace that I am freed from addiction and it is by His direction, that I walk out my life being obedient to His precepts and the steps of recovery.



With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. -- Acts 4:33-35

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 7, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Persuasion



From "We Agnostics:"



"Besides a seeming inability to accept much on faith, we often found ourselves handicapped by obstinacy, sensitiveness, and unreasoning prejudice. Many of us have been so touchy that even casual reference to spiritual things made us bristle with antagonism. This sort of thinking had to be abandoned ... Faced with alcoholic destruction, we soon became as open minded on spiritual matters as we had tried to be on other questions. In this respect alcohol was a great persuader."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 47-48

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

It is not persuasion – it is acceptance. In this world we live in today, there is not much tolerance for those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. It is a name that prompts reaction!



We can see that recovery with Jesus is by far more successful because when we accept Him as our LORD, we are saying – I will be obedient to all He directs. The Bible is the instruction book that we use to steer our recovery journey – and the 12 steps are one of the tools that is used to give us more detailed helps to provide for us success.



God is the God for all people – He is the God that does not remain in the grave – a true and living God – loving merciful, abounding in grace. Don’t let your stinking thinking – be guiding you on spiritual matters – open your mind and heart to God’s truth.



“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” -- Romans 14:13-18

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 10, 2008


Just For Today -- Willingness



Step Three: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.



"To every worldly and practical-minded beginner, this Step looks hard, even impossible. No matter how much one wishes to try, exactly how can he turn his own will and his own life over to the care of whatever God he thinks there is? Fortunately, we who have tried it, and with equal misgivings, can testify that anyone, anyone at all, can begin to do it. We can further add that a beginning, even the smallest, is all that is needed. Once we have placed the key of willingness in the lock and have the door ever so slightly open, we find that we can always open it some more."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 35 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Putting your foot into the water as they say. All throughout the Bible stories, we see our patriarchal fathers being called by God and I am sure they had some concern about turning their lives and their will over to God. But as soon as the put their foot in the water, like Moses did, God immediately sent a flood of protection, strength, and the means to tackle the problems that were coming their way.



We too, just have to show a hint of desire, a willingness to put our toe into the water and God will begin to grow us in abundance through this step. At the beginning of our recovery, what we are really doing is responding to the little glimpse of light that God has allowed, and because we respond positively, He will make sure we have sufficient light to see our way to Him.



There is a famous picture of Jesus standing outside a door and knocking. If you look closely at the picture, you will see there is no door handle/knob on the door. The painter’s reason is that WE must open the door and allow Him in – He is waiting.



14 “That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.

15 Then the LORD said to Joshua, 16 "Command the priests carrying the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan."

17 So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."

18 And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.” -- Joshua 4:14-18

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 11, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Modesty



From "Assuring the future:"



"Bill's own behavior, with regard to reaping the recognition, fame, and prizes that were offered him for his AA work, was a model of modesty ... He himself said he turned down six honorary degrees. "Perhaps the most significant of these was his refusal [during February 1954] of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Yale University ... [He wrote,] "If, over the years ahead, we practice anonymity absolutely, it will guarantee our effectiveness and unity by heavily restraining those to whom public honors and distinctions are but the natural stepping- stones to dominance and personal power.'"



c. 1984, 'PASS IT ON'...The story of Bill Wilson and
how the A.A. message reached the world, pages 311-312

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

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Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The above statement speaks of total humility – putting aside selfish desires when by so doing, it would benefit the greater cause. That is exactly what God’s plan was for this world. Jesus suffering on the cross, although He was perfect in everyway, to take on our sins, to provide for us an everlasting life. That is love and that is the most assuring future any of us could ever want.



In active addiction, we selfishly wanted our drug of choice more than life itself. Me, Me, Me was a tune that we sung almost every moment of everyday. As we learn recovery, we learn to put ourselves aside and allow God to direct and provide, to love others and serve God’s kingdom and the good of our recovery group.



Be modest and humble in every step you take.



“You are the most excellent of men

and your lips have been anointed with grace,

since God has blessed you forever.



Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one;

clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.

In your majesty ride forth victoriously

in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;

let your right hand display awesome deeds. -- Psalm 45: 2-4

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March 12, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Open-Minded



From "The Missing Link:"



"The idea that religion and spirituality were not one and the same was a new notion. My sponsor asked that I merely remain open-minded to the possibility that there was a Power greater than myself, one of my own understanding ... Reluctantly; I opened my mind to the fact that maybe, just maybe, there was something to this spiritual lifestyle. Slowly but surely, I realized there was indeed a Power greater than myself."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 287
Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

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Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The hardest lesson I learned in recovery is that Religion is not what others are talking about. Many of us have had extremely bad experiences in religion, because it is man’s way and many times so far from God’s way – we can’t recognize God in it.



Once we understand that we were made in God’s image and for His purpose -- we can begin to learn how to be open ourselves to that instruction. We hear the testimonies of others and see the way that God works in and through them as we study the Bible and learn the steps, we see that it is nothing like the “religion” of our childhood.



We can see God clearly -- without the masking of man’s agenda and molding. We are free and in a personal wonderful and loving relationship with God.



Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.



"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far -- Acts 17:22-27

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 13, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- It Works!!!



From "'I love my life today; I love this second chance:'"



"At the beginning of my sobriety, I used to think that there's got to be more to staying sober than just 'one day at a time.' Yet that's exactly how I grew. "Every morning I pray and ask God to please give me sobriety for just this one day. And at night, I thank Him and tell Him that if it weren't for Him, I would never make it. It works. It must, because I'm still sober!"



c. 1989, A.A. for the Native North American
(A.A. Pamphlet P-21) - page 41

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The best Biblical example of one day at a time, Is the gathering of the manna. God told the Israelites That He would send the manna – enough for each day. They were not to gather more than one day’s worth For their families. If they attempted to gather too much For storing up -- then the manna would rot and decay. The exception was for collecting for the Sabbath – two day’s portion was allowed – so they could cease from work on that day, as God commands.


What that means to us is that we need to seek God every day -- was He making these rules for us to make it difficult? Absolutely not – when we seek God in all that we do -- then we become more aware of His presence in our lives -- we get to know Him a bit better and definitely more intimately. What we find is a merciful loving God that wants only the best in life for us – sobriety works when we walk in His shadow.



That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: `Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' "The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning." However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much--two omers for each person--and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: `Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' "

So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."

Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out." So the people rested on the seventh day. The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. -- Exodus 16: 13-31

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 14, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Something



From "'The Belief Will Come:'"



"Something lets the sun rise in the morning and set at night, make the leaves come out in the spring and drop off in the fall, and gives the birds song. Why not let this Something be God?"



c. 1973, Came to Believe..., page 48

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

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Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

It has been reported that cultures exist that are remote, untouched by the modern world – and they contain stories of faith in a higher being that can only point to the true God. The Bible is clear that there is no excuse – the evidence of God – the creator of this universe – is in the creation. Our bodies, our air, our earth, if they were off just one tiny part – wouldn’t be able to exist. Even those who believe in the big bang theory – must admit that the thing that exploded ultimately had to be created.



Our lives most of the times do not mirror the existence of God – but even in the bad things of our lives – the way we measure God is on the hope – of a new life – of recovery from addition -- of seeing and hearing others in our groups that are making it -- all by the Power of Jesus. Let Him into your life today -- He will carry the burden for you.



“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. -- Romans 1:18-20

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 17, 2008



Step Three: Just For Today -- Powerlessness



Step Three: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.



"Isn’t it true that in all matters touching upon alcohol, each of them has decided to turn his or her life over to the care, protection, and guidance of Alcoholics Anonymous? Already a willingness has been achieved to cast out one’s own will and one’s own ideas about the alcohol problem in favor of those suggested by AA. A willing newcomer feels sure AA is the only safe harbor for the foundering vessel he has become. Now if this is not turning one’s will and life over to a newfound Providence, then what is it?"



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 35 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The only true safe harbor is our Lord. People, all humans, even those in AA will ALWAYS disappoint. We will meet some of the kindest people we have every known in this recovery journey, but the truth is that Jesus is the only consistent power we can turn our will and care over. Perhaps we can say that the example we see in our groups of the people relying on God, living according to His strength, precepts and will, will help us to reach up to Him, but the thing that makes us begin this faith journey is our responding to the truth He has revealed to us at the beginning of working this step. Once we respond to Him, He then begins to reveal more and more of His truths. He molds us into His image each day, and we get stronger in our faith, our recovery and our walk.



12 “You gave me life and showed me kindness,
and in your providence watched over my spirit.” -- Job 10:12

[admin]

March 18, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- First Things First



From "When AA Came of Age:"



"After six months of failure on my [Bill W.'s ] part to dry up any drunks, he [Dr. Silkworth] reminded me of Professor William James's observation that truly transforming spiritual experiences are nearly always founded on calamity and collapse. 'Stop preaching at them,' Dr. Silkworth had said, 'and give them the hard medical facts first. This may soften them up at depth so that they will be willing TO DO ANYTHING to get well. Then they may accept those spiritual ideas of yours, and even a higher Power.'"



c. 1957, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, page 13

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Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

First things first -- should mean, meet others on their level. How many times have we heard it said “don’t hit them over the head with the Bible.” Our Messiah, Jesus, always met the people on their level, at the place they were, both mentally and physically. He would start conversation and give them the truth of their lives and the things that could help them in their lives.



It was Jesus’ life example and His willingness to state the hard cold facts that led people into deeper truths.



He is our example, we should live our lives according To what we say – “walk the walk.” By doing so, we will show others hope and that may place the desire in their hearts, to want what we have -- sobriety!



When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. )

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."

"I have no husband," she replied.

Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" They came out of the town and made their way toward him. -- John 4:7-28

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 19, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Insurance



From "March 1941 SATURDAY EVENING POST:"



"In discussing their work, the AAs spoke of their drunk-rescuing as 'insurance' for themselves. Experience within the group has shown, they said, that once a recovered drinker slows up in this work he is likely to go back to drinking himself. There is, they agreed, no such thing as an ex-alcoholic. If one is an alcoholic -- that is, a person who is unable to drink normally -- one remains an alcoholic until he dies, just as a diabetic remains a diabetic."



c. The Jack Alexander Article about AA (AA Pamphlet P-12), pages 13-14

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

*******************************

I don’t like to compare addiction to diabetes because addiction boils down to a choice or not using. We will always be sick because of this problem with have with saying NO to whatever addiction has grabbed us. But the insurance that can come in our lives – is God’s will first, working the steps, loving our fellow humans and serving others.



When we stop “working” that program then we will likely go back to our old ways and methods -- Stay focused on God and the program he has set you in.



If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land -- your grain, new wine and oil -- the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you. You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor any of your livestock without young. The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you. You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you. -- Deuteronomy 7: 12-16

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 20, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Zest



From "Going to AA meetings:"



"It may surprise you that you will almost never hear an AA speaker sound self-pitying about being deprived of alcohol. "The speaker usually has found, or is reaching for, some contentment, peace of mind, solutions to problems, zest for living, and a kind of health of the spirit which you, too, want. If so, hang around. Those qualities are contagious in AA"



c. 1975, Living Sober, page 79

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************
We are all seeking contentment – normalcy in living some may say. When we first enter into recovery, we can’t imagine life without our drug/alcohol, etc. We grieve an old friend. But when we listen to the speaker, when we see their enthusiasm, their peace – and see what worked for them – our appetite for that happiness and contentment grows. The more we hear it – the more we become like it.



When we look deep inside these cheerful folks, we find that true happiness comes from the Lord. Without God, we would have never made it – to have this zest for living.



“He makes them listen to correction
and commands them to repent of their evil.

If they obey and serve him,
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
and their years in contentment.” -- Job 36:10-11

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 21, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Belief



From "Promoted to Chronic:"



"I feel that I have been restored to health and sanity these past years not through my own efforts nor as a result of anything I may have done, but because I've come to believe -- to really believe -- that alone I can do nothing ... I have come to believe that my illness is spiritual as well as physical and mental, and I know that for help in the spiritual sphere I have to turn to a Higher Power."



c. 2003, Experience, Strength and Hope - Stories from the First Three Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous, page 392

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Spiritual illness – that is exactly where we are – we are chronic – if don’t find healing – we will be dead. Once we find the truth – that we can’t do this without Help – then we call on God and begin the process to spiritual wellness. In the Hebrew language, people use the word “Shalom” to greet one another – it means “Peace” to western thinking. But to say Shalom implies that we are wishing that your being is one with yourself, with the world and most of all with God. It is a completeness that only happens when we turn to God and proclaim Him as Lord in our lives – turning from our old ways and living in His light.



“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” -- II Peter 1: 2-4

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 24, 2008



Step Three -- Just For Today - Independence



Step Three: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.



"If I keep on turning my life and my will over to the care of Something or Somebody else, what will become of me? I’ll look like the hole in the doughnut.' This, of course, is the process by which instinct and logic always seek to bolster egotism, and so frustrate spiritual development. The trouble is that this kind of thinking takes no real account of the facts. And the facts seem to be these: The more we become willing to depend upon a Higher Power, the more independent we actually are. Therefore dependence, as AA practices it, is really a means to gaining true independence of the spirit."



©1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 36 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

We all struggle with the "pride" issue. We think we are super human and invincible. Our pride is the thing that causes us to wonder about 'losing ourselves' if we all Jesus to be Lord in our lives. The truth is that it takes a strong person to turn over our lives to Him. We must come to realize that up until now, we have not done very well in controlling our lives, which we have not done. At this point in our recovery, we probably are still completely out of control, the exact opposite of what we sometimes think and feel.



Once we become humble, pride will not be our downfall. Humility will allow us to 'Let go and Let God'. Once we begin practicing this step and allowing Him to work in us, we will find a new confidence, a new inner strength, a new will that will allow us to conquer the impossible things in recover and in live that we were never able to do before. Each step we walk with God, we walk with assurance of the faith we have in Him based on His greatness and kindness.



He will enable us to face every challenge that comes our way. So step out - and begin a new journey with this wonderful Savior God who loved us so much He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, was buried and resurrected to give us eternal life. The only requirement is to believe on these things, believe on Him. We really have nothing to lose and everything to gain.



I Corinthians 15:1-8 –

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.


I John 3:1-3 --

1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 25, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Aid



From "How It Works:"



"So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 62

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

God has promised us, that He will make all things possible, when we are willing to die to our selfish desires and seek His aid. Even in our worst, God was guiding us through our path -- even when we faced the pit of destruction, we see from the verse below – that God kept us from falling all of the way in. That is a love that reaches beyond our comprehension.



The rest of the story is in the remainder of the verse … it says the God put our sins behind His back. Jesus Christ came to this earth as the perfect sin offering, to die for our sins, to save us from the condemnation of the disobedience – He died in our place. But it doesn’t stop there – Jesus was raised from the dead, with a promise of life everlasting beyond the grave.



That is how we rid ourselves of “self” By entering into a covenant/agreement with Jesus to call Him Lord, to allow His will to be done through us. This brings new meaning to “let go and let God!”



“I cried like a swift or thrush,

I moaned like a mourning dove.

My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens.

I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!

But what can I say?

He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.

I will walk humbly all my years

because of this anguish of my soul.

Lord, by such things men live;

and my spirit finds life in them too.

You restored me to health

and let me live. Surely it was for my benefit

that I suffered such anguish.

In your love you kept me

from the pit of destruction;

you have put all my sins

behind your back.” -- Isaiah 38:14-17

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 26, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Clarity



From "Alcoholics Anonymous:"



"Of all the plans Bill and Dr. Bob had discussed in 1937, the proposal to publish a book about the program was the most realistic. Even to many of those who opposed hospitals and paid missionaries, the book made sense (although the plan had been passed by only a bare majority). By setting forth a clear statement of the recovery program, a book could prevent distortion of the message. It could be sent or carried to alcoholics in distant cities."



c. 1984, 'PASS IT ON'...The story of Bill Wilson and how the AA message reached the world, page 190

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The Book – what is that? – it is the Word of God. Coupled with the AA Big Book, we have the perfect tools of instruction to walk a recovery path. God has also placed a sponsor in our path – to be our earthly guide. Those three things with the willingness on our part to work out of faith/recovery will always equal success.



God’s instructions that are spelled out in the Big Book and in the Bible -- give us everything that we need to make it – not trouble free – but in peace and harmony. Don’t waste precious time -- turn your will over to God, get a sponsor, use your sponsor, work the program – get free!



The LORD looks down from heaven

on the sons of men

to see if there are any who understand,

any who seek God. -- Psalm 14:2

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 27, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Commonality



From "There Is a Solution:"



"We are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful ... The feeling of having shared in a common peril is one element in the powerful cement which binds us. "The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 17

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The incredible mystery of recovery is that we are all coming form the same page, although the details do vary, essentially, we are addicts seeking healing and recovery. We have a common purpose – sobriety and we discover a common solution - 12 step program with God in control.



Addiction knows no prejudice -- it affects man, woman, children, black, white, Indian, Hispanic – all equally. We have a solution – it only requires our participation individually – seeking God, working the steps, attending meetings, sharing and serving.



"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do -- living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit." -- I Peter 4:1-6

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 28, 2008



Step Three: Just For Today -- Willing



Step Three: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.



"Therefore, we who are alcoholics can consider ourselves fortunate indeed. Each of us has had his own near-fatal encounter with the juggernaut of self-will, and has suffered enough under its weight to be willing to look for something better. So it is by circumstance rather than by any virtue that we have been driven to AA, have admitted defeat, have acquired the rudiments of faith, and now want to make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to a Higher Power."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 37-38 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Self Will – the key word in that phrase is ‘self’. That has been the downfall of mankind since the beginning of the world, to please ‘self’. It started in the garden of Eden and has perhaps changed locations, but is still prevalent today, satisfying self.



In addiction everything we do is to satisfy our desire to ‘use the drug of our choice’ to make us feel good (so we think). Our entire being is built around that goal. When we have suffered enough in our self-gratification seeking and using, we realize that we are in a defeated state and in need of someone else to take control. That someone is Jesus, our Lord, our God. We cannot trust a person, a group, ourselves, or the latest greatest book on taking care of ourselves. We can only trust the one, powerful God who is the same today, tomorrow and days to come.



God has our best interest at heart. He loves us and wants the best for us and is willing to help us if we would only turn our lives over to Him. Say this simple prayer and mean it and you will see the changes beginning in your life by allowing God to work through you in all things.


Matthew 6:9-11 (King James Version)

9 which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

14 For if ye forgive men

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... March 31, 2008



Step Three: JUST FOR TODAY! -- Could and Would



Step Three: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.



From "How It Works:"



"Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:

(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.

(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.

(c) That God could and would if He were sought."



c. 1976, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 60

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Reprinted from Today’s Gift - One of the greatest decisions any of us ever made concerned our Third Step. This decision seemed to go against everything we wanted to do. We all know so well that every time we tried to manage our own lives, we produced misery and heartache. Human beings seem created to fight the decision to give up control. Yet this decision in Step Three, very hard for us to make, was one of the greatest decisions we ever made.



When we did our Third Step, we merely embraced the truth. When we decided to let God be God, we were able to participate in the plan. Whenever we let go and let God, we become a player on a team that will always win.

WILL POWER = Our WILL-ingness to use a Higher POWER.

-- Anonymous



He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. -- Psalm 40:3-4

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 1st, 2008



Step Four -- Just For Today -- Deception



Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.



“If, however, our natural disposition is inclined to self-righteousness or grandiosity, our reaction will be just the opposite … We shall claim that our serious character defects, if we think we have any at all, have been caused chiefly by excessive drinking. This being so, we think it logically follows that sobriety -- first, last, and all the time -- is the only thing we need to work for. We believe that our one-time good characters will be revived the moment we quit alcohol. If we were pretty nice people all along, except for our drinking, what need is there for a moral inventory now that we are sober?”



© 2005, AAWS, Inc.; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 45

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Blaming our character defects on the alcohol and thinking that staying sober makes restores our "loving" character is a lie from the pit of hell. Even those who are not addicts are those in need of change. When we come into truth - that we need God to make our lives make sense - we have to begin a change from the inside.



As addicts our character is what got us into addiction in the first place. Getting to a point of not drinking/not using is a temporary fix and if we don't change from the inside out beginning with little steps under God's direction, they we are constantly vulnerable to the threat of taking that first drink!


Don't think that you can't change, or that you don't need to change you do - we all do - because God wants us to grow ever closer to the image of Him who made us - that requires change -



16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. -- I Corinthians 5: 16-18

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 2nd, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Healing



From "A Lifetime Process:"



"When I began working the Steps of the AA program ... the most broken places of my life straightened out. One day at a time, almost imperceptibly, I healed. Like a thermostat being turned down, my fears diminished. I began to experience moments of contentment. My emotions became less volatile. I am now once again a part of the human family."



c. 1990, Daily Reflections, page 105

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

It is a lifetime process -- not much different than our addiction being a life time process as well. Although I knew with my first high – this was something very powerful and attractive to me – it took awhile before I became totally out of control and fully addicted.



It stands to reason then that recovery will be something I will be working for the rest of my life. God really does intend our lives to be a growing and learning process. Jesus came to this earth as a baby – to show us the example of life. He grew – so we too, will grow -- in the beginning we grew negatively, with recovery, we grow sober, sane, and productive, once again being “part of the human family.” Grow today, it is never too late -- keep coming back!



“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit,
hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,
so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. -- I Peter 2:1-3

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 3, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Release



From "He Lived Only to Drink:"



"I genuinely believed that I was different until much later, when I had what I now know to be my first spiritual awakening: that I was an alcoholic and I didn't have to drink! I also learned that alcoholism, as an equal opportunity illness, does not discriminate -- is not restricted to race, creed, or geography. At last I was released from the bondage of my uniqueness."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 450

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

I remember that after I went to my first AA meeting, I came home and proclaimed to my father “I am not like those people, I am not going back.” He replied “that is correct, you are not like those people, because they are getting help and you aren’t.” That struck a nerve, but it was the thing that got me back to a meeting.



I discovered that we are all the same, we all lived to Drink/drug, no restrictions. Only then could I release my selfishness and ask God to come and help me, because I knew I was not equipped to make even the simplest of decisions. I was no longer in bondage, I was beginning to walk the steps – I was on the road to recovery.



“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” -- I Peter 5: 6-11

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 4, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Communication



From "The Language of the Heart:"



"From the beginning, communication in AA has been no ordinary transmission of helpful ideas and attitudes. Because of our kinship in suffering, and because our common means of deliverance are effective for ourselves only when constantly carried to others, our channels of contact have always been charged with the language of the heart."



c. 1967, As Bill Sees It, page 195

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

We can attend meetings, work the steps as our sponsor’s guide us, but if we don’t have that heart change -- we will always struggle in our recovery.



In our meetings, we have seen people that have been through rehab – multiple times – they know what they are supposed to do -- and some even walk through the steps and do what is expected to be done to recovery, but if it is never in their heart, if they don’t have a language that comes from the heart and if we don’t love God and want Him to do a work in us -- the struggle is inevitable – we will continually walk in the vicious cycle of addiction.



Work on the language of your hears today, invite God in.



Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." -- Matthew 22:37-40

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 7, 2008


Step Four -- Just For Today -- Instinct



Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.



"Every time a person imposes his instincts unreasonably upon others, unhappiness follows… Demands made upon other people for too much attention, protection, and love can only invite domination or revulsion in the protectors themselves -- two emotions quite as unhealthy as the demands which evoked them … Other people often suffer and revolt … In these ways we are set in conflict not only with ourselves, but with other people who have instincts, too.



“Alcoholics especially should be able to see that instinct run wild in themselves is the underlying cause of their destructive drinking.”



© 2005, AAWS, Inc.; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 44

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Instinct - is defined as a characteristic of a species and is often response to specific environmental stimuli -- exactly why instinct in an addict should be immediately suspicious -- it is our instinct to drink/use and we have run wild with it.



We can only trust that which is always the same, never changes, true and powerful and that is God. We don't need to rely on our instinct, He has given us His word, His will and His power to work all things out - - that is what we should trust and that is what we should show to others - - nothing less.


Jude 1:17-19 (New International Version)

17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.

18 They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires."

19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 9, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Experiencing Life


From "A Teen-Ager's Decision:"



"My sponsor used to say to me, 'If I could only paint you a picture of how beautiful life can be without booze ...' Well, now I'm living it and trying to paint it for others. AA has become a way of life and living for me. It has brought about a revelation of self, the discovery of an inner being, an awareness of God. "And the only one who can take it away from me is me -- by taking that first drink."



c. 2003, Experience, Strength and Hope - Stories from the First Three Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous, page 315

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Experience -- the thing that makes this program successful. Seeing the success of people who have come from addiction -- who have struggled – who have painted that picture of sobriety. We hear them tell of their past – many times very similar to our own. When we see that those like us can make it, we want to know more about it and we want to experience success as well.



We know that we have been told by doctors, our loved ones, professional workers all the things we need to be doing, in the back of our minds, we think, “what do you know?” but the truth of a fellow addict that really understands our pain, impacts us to the point that we make the decision to walk in their shoes for a time



I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. -- John 13:15-17

[admin]

4/11

Morning


In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise.

My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.--[He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.--In many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.--By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.--Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously.--Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Pr 10:19 Jas 1:19 Pr 16:32 Jas 3:2 Mt 12:37 Ps 141:3 1Pe 2:21-23 Heb 12:3 Re 14:5

Evening

Teach me thy way, O LORD.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.--Good and upright [is] the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.--Having. . . boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and [having] an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD.--All the paths of the LORD [are] mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Ps 27:11 32:8 25:8,9 Joh 10:9 14:6 Heb 10:19-22 Ho 6:3 Ps 25:10

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 11, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Enduring



From "'Alcoholics Anonymous:'"



"By March 1939, pages [of the Big Book] were coming off the presses ... For all the stumbling blocks in its preparation, 'Alcoholics Anonymous' turned out to be both attractive and appealing, worthy of its role as the basic 'textbook' of this new Fellowship. It had been completed in a single year, and it presented AA's experience with alcoholism, plus the Twelve Steps program, in simple, direct language ... Significantly, almost everything the book had to say about addicts' problems and their recovery is still applicable today."



c. 1984, 'PASS IT ON' ... The story of Bill Wilson and
how the AA message reached the world, pages 206-7

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************
It is no mystery -- it is not a surprise -- the reason that the programs endures is because when it is dissected we see that it is an ancient plan, that God has intended all along. Everything written in the Big Book and be traced back to Biblical precepts -- the way a believer should live -- the way an addict can recover. Jewish people call it Torah, Christians who adhere to it are called “Bible based” -- we just call it truth. The Big Book points us to the Lord and He points us to His Word -- these make up the battle plan to fight the evil sin of addiction. Take up your armor today.



Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

-- Ephesians 6:11-18

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 14, 2008



Step Four -- Just For Today-- Objectivity



Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.



"They comfort the melancholy one by first showing him that his case is not strange or different, that his character defects are probably not more numerous or worse than those of anyone else in AA. This the sponsor promptly proves by talking freely and easily, and without exhibitionism, about his own defects, past and present. This calm, yet realistic, stocktaking is immensely reassuring. The sponsor probably points out that the newcomer has some assets which can be noted along with his liabilities. This tends to clear away morbidity and encourage balance. As soon as he begins to be more objective, the newcomer can fearlessly, rather than fearfully, look at his own defects."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 46 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

What makes us so shocked or sad to see our flaws? I think it is that we are not willing or humble enough to admit that we are not perfect. The world pressure makes us think we have to be the smartest, the slimmest, the fastest, etc., and when we don't measure up to the perfect standards we become sad. We are inundated with messages of being the best, and none of us can measure up to that.



So the beauty of performing Step Four is that we are not alone. In our recovery group, we are hearing of the imperfections of people who are sharing their character flaws freely without guilt or shame, and they are making it.



Step Four should be worked with your sponsor, so you can see the reality of yourself and that you are not alone in your defects, be they from the past or the ones today. A sponsor will also remind you that in your character there are many good things, it is just at the point in our addiction when we become hopeless and turn our lives over to God that the defects seem prominent.



Remember to work your Step Four in humility, honesty and most of all in listing those great things that you have to offer as well. And if you really struggle with find good things remember that God knows exactly how you are and He loves you right where you are that way. He will continue to grow you and help you change each day


Psalm 139:1-3
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 15, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Communication



From "The Language of the Heart:"



"From the beginning, communication in AA has been no ordinary transmission of helpful ideas and attitudes. Because of our kinship in suffering, and because our common means of deliverance are effective for ourselves only when constantly carried to others, our channels of contact have always been charged with the language of the heart."



c. 1967, As Bill Sees It, page 195

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

We can attend meetings, work the steps as our sponsor’s guide us, but if we don’t have that heart change -- we will always struggle in our recovery.



In our meetings, we have seen people that have been through rehab – multiple times – they know what they are supposed to do -- and some even walk through the steps and do what is expected to be done to recovery, but if it is never in their heart, if they don’t have a language that comes from the heart and if we don’t love God and want Him to do a work in us -- the struggle is inevitable – we will continually walk in the vicious cycle of addiction.



Work on the language of your hears today, invite God in.



Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." -- Matthew 22:37-39

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 16, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Irresistible


From "A Vision for You:"



"Many a man, yet dazed from his hospital experience, has stepped over the threshold of that home into freedom ... Impressed by those who visited him at the hospital, he capitulated entirely when, later, in an upper room of this house, he heard the story of some man whose experience closely tallied with his own. "The very practical approach to his problems, the absence of intolerance of any kind, the informality, the genuine democracy, the uncanny understanding which these people had were irresistible."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 160

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

It is really only one step that gets you started -- the first step over that threshold of denial and admitting that you are an addict and that you can’t do it alone -- your way any longer.



Then we are led to a meeting and see the informal, everyday kind of place where understanding is abounding and they give practical guidelines to live life sober -- we do find this irresistible. The moment we walk in and can see clearly, we know that we have discovered the safest place we have been in a long time. It is irresistible in deed.



Catch the vision --



For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the LORD. -- Psalm 27:5-6

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 17, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Principles



From "CONCEPT I:"



"The life of each individual and of each group is built around our Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. We very well know that the penalty for extensive disobedience to these principles is death for the individual and dissolution for the group. An even greater force for AA's unity is in the compelling love that we have for our fellow members and for the principles upon which our lives today are founded."



c. 1962, Twelve Concepts for World Service by Bill W., page 8

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The success of recovery is love -- and obedience. That is life in general. In the Bible, God laid out the plan of the best way to live on this earth and promised blessings for that obedience. It was a matter of choice, blessings for obedience; curses for disobedience.



Same in recovery -- we can obey and walk the steps And our blessing is recovery and living a “normal and productive” life. We can disobey and go back to the craziness from whence we came. The strength is our accountability in our group, the love and unity of people with like sickness -- encouraging and loving us where we are -- our glue -- a desire to get sober.



See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. -- Colossians 2:8-12

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 18, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Bond



From "Brothers in Our Defects:"



"The identification that one alcoholic has with another is mysterious, spiritual -- almost incomprehensible. But it is there. I 'feel' it. Today I feel that I can help people and that they can help me."



c. 1990, Daily Reflections, page 118
Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

What continues to amaze me is when I go to some public function or business meeting, it seems that I am drawn to people with my sickness. It seems we send a silent radar out and we meet someone who is in the program or who is a family/friend of an addict working on recovery. We have an immediate bond -- although it is like circumstances I believe it is the Holy Spirit that draws us together.



With our brothers and sisters -- we are bond for eternal life -- helping one another function in this earthly realm -- in preparation for the Heavenlies.



Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. -- Ephesians 4: 3-6

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 21, 2008



Just For Today -- Step Four -- Depression



Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.



"If temperamentally we are on the depressive side, we are apt to be swamped with guilt and self-loathing. We wallow in this messy bog, often getting a misshapen and painful pleasure out of it. As we morbidly pursue this melancholy activity, we may sink to such a point of despair that nothing but oblivion looks possible as a solution. Here, of course, we have lost all perspective, and therefore all genuine humility. For this is pride in reverse. This is not a moral inventory at all; it is the very process by which the depressive has so often been led to the bottle and extinction."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 45 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.
Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The key word to Step Four is FEARLESS. Entering into Step Four, we realize that we have just turned our recovery and will over to our Lord. He is omnipotent – meaning He has unlimited power. He enables us to face Step Four.



Many things in our lives will be causing us much guilt and sorrow. Without God in the lead in this step, we can sink into despair and great sadness, which would lead to the relapse we can’t afford to have.



We must not allow depression to consume us, we have God in control and when He is invited into the process of humbly working Step Four, He will provide the strength and the insight to make this step work in a positive means for our recovery.



Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his inaugural address “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.



The word ring true to a recovering addict, if we face this step with fear we will retreat to the bottle/drug again. If we face it with Jesus, then we will advance in recovery.



14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,

15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. -- Ephesians 3:14-21

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 22, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Unconditional



From "Getting out of the 'if' trap:"



"Alcoholism respects no ifs. It does not go away, not for a week, for a day, or even for an hour, leaving us nonalcoholic and able to drink again on some special occasion or for some extraordinary reason -- not even if it is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, or if a big sorrow hits us, or if it rains in Spain or the stars fall on Alabama. Alcoholism is for us unconditional, with no dispensations available at any price."



c. 1975, Living Sober, page 63

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

When an “if” statement comes into our world -- it likely means excuse. Nothing can happen in our lives that would be any condition for us to use/drink.



The base of the program is complete abstinence from drugs and alcohol -- and no room for the if’s. The good thing about unconditional is that it also applies to the love and acceptance of God and the group we are recovering with. Two fine precepts –- unconditional love and unconditional abstinence. Practicing these precepts assures our success.



Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. -- Jude 1: 21-23

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 23, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Focus



From "Working with Others:"



"Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house ... He should concentrate on his own spiritual demonstration. Argument and fault-finding are to be avoided like the plague."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 98

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Focus – redirecting our focus is the crux of the matter -- before recovery our focus was on our drug of choice -- how we could get our next drink/use.



With recovery our focus is on God -- His will for us and working with our sponsor to work the steps. Any other focus in our lives spells disaster -- relapse.



Daily we must align ourselves with God -- prayer time study time, daily reflection and Bible study. Daily work the steps and contact our sponsor for accountability. If we don’t do these simple things then Satan is around the corner waiting for just the right moment to tempt us in our weakness. When tempted when our cup is full with God things and working the steps, we have all the weapons we need to fight him.



Stay focused -- keep looking to God!



Station yourselves around the king, each man with his weapon in his hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes." -- II Kings 11:8 OUR KING IS KING JESUS!

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 24, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Same Road


From "Flooded with Feeling:"



"When I first came to AA, I thought everyone had drunk more than I had, that everybody had gotten into more trouble. But I kept coming to meetings, and after a while, I began to realize that I was on the same road. I just hadn't gone as far -- yet."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 369

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The trough is there are some cases that seem worse then ours -- but the truth is we are all traveling down that same destructive path. My daughter when she first began attending AA, would always come home and say “I am not like those people.” I would respond, you are correct, you are not like those people -- because they are acknowledging their condition and are seeking healing -- you aren’t. Until she realized that truth, she was on the same destructive road – is when she woke up -- she was thankful, and now has over seven years of sobriety.



They will come with weeping;

they will pray as I bring them back.

I will lead them beside streams of water

on a level path where they will not stumble,

because I am Israel's father,

and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations;

proclaim it in distant coastlands: -- Jeremiah 31:9-10

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 25, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! – Step Four -- Taking Stock



STEP FOUR: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.



"We took stock honestly ... Being convinced that self, manifested in various ways, was what had defeated us, we considered its common manifestations. "Resentment is the 'number one' offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 64

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Searching ourselves -- honestly -- a very hard step, but the more we do it the easier it gets. Yes sometimes God’s discipline and lessons are hard, but when we obey, we find that we are better off not only spiritually but physically as well. In all honesty, we know that our way stinks -- it has defeated us before, we were ill and made decisions with very sick minds.



Searching with God’s lead can only make ourselves better, cleaner, newer and sober.



My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,

because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in. -- Proverbs 3: 11-12

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 28, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! – Step Four -- Examination



STEP FOUR: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.



"Step Four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what these liabilities in each of us have been, and are. We want to find exactly how, when, and where our natural desires have warped us. We wish to look squarely at the unhappiness this has caused others and ourselves. By discovering what our emotional deformities are, we can move toward their correction."



c. 1952, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pages 42-43

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Step Four -- it is painstaking and it is a place that many of us stop at. Many of us maintain sobriety even by not completing honestly this step -- but we are never really healed until we can face this step with an honest moral inventory. We must remember that God has made us perfect and He sees us as righteous and holy, once we enter into the covenant with Him and allow Him to guide our steps.



He will expose those deformities in our lives that are an hindrance to us -- so we can

1) correct them

2) move forward

3) grow more in His image.

A beautiful process indeed – don’t avoid this step in fear - step out in boldness knowing the past will be left behind and the new beings will be emerging.



You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. -- Psalm 73: 24-26

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 29, 2008



Step Four – Self-Examination



STEP FOUR: -- Involves Self-Examination.

MADE A SEARCHING AND FEARLESS MORAL INVENTORY OF OURSELVES

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” -- Lamentations 3:40

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious heart. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” -- Psalm 139:23-24

Are you experiencing some form of apprehension as you approach Step 4? This is not only understandable, but it is also the reason why it needs to be "searching and fearless”. This step has a specific place in the great plan that God has for each of our lives and as Christians we need to move into and through this step with faith, believing and expecting. Hebrews 12:11 tells us that -- “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

God really does love us and He urges us in Isaiah 1:18 to -- "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

He then begins to unfold the inventory plan He has for us in Ezekiel 36: 26,27 and 31 --“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My Laws. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.”

We need to ask ourselves at this point, why would God, after doing all these good things in us and for us, want us to remember (look at) our "evil ways" and to loathe ourselves for our "sins and detestable practices?" Does this seem like it's pretty drastic? Let's look at what God says in Psalm 36:1 and 2 -- “Concerning the sinfulness of the wicked. There is no fear of God before his eyes, for in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detest or hate his sin.”

This is confirmed by what He says to us as Christians in I John 1:8 and 10 -- “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in us.”

In essence, God is telling us that He associates refusal to identify sin with wickedness. When we deceive ourselves by refusing to identify these things in our lives, then our understanding of His Word is blocked (has no place in us).

Praise God that His plan continues to unfold for us as He tells us in I John 1:9 -- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

This is our guarantee, this is our green light, this is the encouragement we need to proceed as God would have us, "searching and fearless." Jesus said in John 15:1 and 2 -- "I am the true vine and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful.”

If, after considering what has been said, we believe that the inventory step does have a definite place in God's plan for us, we are now ready to involve ourselves in a practical way. Since to confess means to identify and acknowledge, we can begin the process of doing this by first asking the Holy Spirit to guide us identifying to what extent the strengths and weaknesses (personality traits) in our lives manifest themselves. We will get some idea of this as we check the appropriate columns in the listings below.

REMEMBER, God is with us and He wants this to be "searching and fearless."

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 30, 2008



Just For Today – Step Four -- Resentment



Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.



"But in AA we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride. We had to see that every time we played the big shot, we turned people against us. We had to see that when we harbored grudges and planned revenge for such defeats, we were really beating ourselves with the club of anger we had intended to use on others. We learned that if we were seriously disturbed, our first need was to quiet that disturbance, regardless of who or what we thought caused it."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 47 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

If we think about the way we used to be, being the ‘big cheese’ spending time planning revenge, being angry and resentful, then feeling sorry for ourselves because of the need to always be on top, we soon realize that we are expending a lot of energy on negative things with results that cause us to continue acting in this disturbed way.



Yes, we do need to “quite the disturbance”, regardless of the cause. We must begin the practice of measuring on the “Kingdom value”. Is it a Kingdom issue, meaning does it really matter in the Spiritual realm of things? Can I let go of this need and not try to be proven right, and still be OK with God? In most cases the answer is yes, let it go, forgive and begin to love the person again. This will help us to see our part in the conflict and then to inventory in us what needs to be changed.



If you are serious about changing yourself into a positive person and pursuing peace with your brothers, then you will never be concerned over which one was the offending party.



23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. -- Matthew 5:23-26

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 1st, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! – Step Five -- Kinship



STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.



"What are we likely to receive from Step Five? For one thing, we shall get rid of that terrible sense of isolation we've always had. Almost without exception, alcoholics are tortured by loneliness ...



Step Five was the answer. It was the beginning of true kinship with man and God."



c. 1952, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 57
Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Isolation is exactly where we stay most of the time when we are addicts.



Step 5 certainly removes the problem of isolation -- because it brings us face to face with a human and requires that we trust in God first and that person He has led us to for sharing.



Confession is healing -- the Bible says for us to confess our Sins and we be healed.



When working step 5 -- do so first in prayer for God to guide you to the person you should share with -- and when we are obedient to God’s direction we will begin to develop the kinship He intended with us –



Our Step 5 counselor will be the human extension of God’s arms – that means we have nothing to fear.



Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.

Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. -- James 5: 13-16

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 2nd, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Inventory



From "How It Works:"



"Where were we to blame? The inventory was ours, not the other man's. When we saw our faults we listed them. We placed them before us in black and white. We admitted our wrongs honestly and were willing to set these matters straight."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 67

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Where were we to blame? Our response to this new life of recovery should be obedience to the steps and first and foremost to God.



Our sins, our faults are all of our choices. We have to be willing to acknowledge them we must admit our mistakes and we must walk in faith -- to set the wrongs back to rights.



Everything we have done in our lives -- was all orchestrated for the glory of God – yes even the things we measure as bad. It was all done so that the work of God could be displayed in our lives.



As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"



"Jesus answered, "{It was} neither {that} this man sinned, nor his parents; but {it was} so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." -- John 9: 1-5

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 5, 2008



Just For Today – Step Five -- Actors



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



"There was always that mysterious barrier we could neither surmount nor understand. It was as if we were actors on a stage, suddenly realizing that we did not know a single line of our parts. That's one reason we loved alcohol too well. It did let us act extemporaneously. But even Bacchus boomeranged on us; we were finally struck down and left in terrified loneliness."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 57 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Sobriety for many of us, brings a startling reality called - life without medication/drugs/alcohol, you name it.



Step Five begins the process of change from within - it is the first step to admitting our shortcomings -- out loud -- to God -- and to another human. A frightening process because as it says above, we were actors on a stage.



Sobriety does bring a reality as it breaks down the facade we have been wearing and causes us to "live" without advance warning. A frightening place for those of us that have been performing for so long. Lonley, yes but more important it is as if God has "exposed" us to show us who we are, and how we need to replace the old baggage with new and positive emotions. It will take time and work, but Step Five is the beginning of this process -- TO ADMIT - another phase of admitting ... we are an addict, we are powerless, we cannot do this recovery process by our own will. We are now admitting there are some "wrongs" in our lives and we are in need of admitting them to God first then to a trusted confidant. Just by doing that we are no longer alone.



14 “The secret counsel of the LORD
is for those who fear Him,
and He reveals His covenant to them.

15 My eyes are always on the LORD,
for He will pull my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am alone and afflicted.

17 The distresses of my heart increase;
bring me out of my sufferings.

18 Consider my affliction and trouble,
and take away all my sins.” -- Psalm 25:14-18

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 6, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Ideas



From "Trying the Twelve Steps:"



"If you really listen to (not just hear) what is being said, you may find the person talking has quietly slipped inside your head and seems to be describing the landscape there --the shifting shapes of nameless fears, the color and chill of impending doom -- if not the actual events and words stored in your brain.



"And whether this happens or not, you will surely have a good laugh or two in the company of AA's, and you'll probably pick up a couple of ideas on living sober."



c. 1975, Living Sober, page 85

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Sharing and seeing the “sameness” of our fellow recovering folks, often brings us into deep friendships. Having women and men we trust enough to share our deepest secrets with is one of the many gifts of the program. While it's true that most of us already had friends, we seldom told them everything about ourselves.



We held back the most intimate details to protect ourselves.

We thought if they really knew us, they'd never want to be our friends.

Our understanding of friendship has changed since being introduced to the Twelve Steps.

How we act as friends has changed too. Now we know that friends don't judge, they don't try to control, they accept how other people are, and they never betray a confidence.

They listen, they love, and they offer hope. And they don't run away when they don't like what they hear.



It is the perfect love and acceptance that God shows to us every day of our lives. He demonstrated this love by sending Jesus to die in our place for our sins, because God wants us to be near Him.



“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” -- I John 3:16-20

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 7, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Provenance (Origin)



From "'Alcoholics Anonymous:'"



"By April 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous was a fellowship with its own basic text and program ... With all the chapters completed and edited, Hank and Bill went to Edward Blackwell at Cornwall Press and said they were ready for printing to begin. But there was one problem -- they were almost broke ... Blackwell helped them in two ways. First, he agreed to print the book and accept $500 -- all they could afford -- as a down payment. Then he suggested an initial printing of 5,000 copies instead of the unrealistically high numbers Bill and Hank were thinking of."



c. 1984, 'PASS IT ON'...The story of Bill Wilson and how
the A.A. message reached the world, pages 204-205

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

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Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Beginnings -- for all of us -- recovery is that – a beginning. It begins a new way of thinking, walking, talking and dependence. Depending on God and the recovery group He has placed us in. One small step at a time -- is what it takes relying on God in our everyday comings and goings.



Realizing that up to the point of recovery -- we were making the worst decisions we have every experience and realizing that we now have a God that can get us back on the “life road” the productive life -- the life God had designed for us in the first place. Beginnings – it is never to late for your new beginning!



Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him. -- Deuteronomy 8: 2-6

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 8, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Gyroscopic



From "Using the Serenity Prayer:"



"That word 'serenity' looked like an impossible goal when we first saw the prayer. In fact, if serenity meant apathy, bitter resignation, or stolid endurance, then we didn't even want to aim at it. But we found that serenity meant no such thing. When it comes to us now, it is more as plain recognition -- a clear-eyed, realistic way of seeing the world, accompanied by inner peace and strength. Serenity is like a gyroscope that lets us keep our balance no matter what turbulence swirls around us. And that IS a state of mind worth aiming for."



c. 1975, Living Sober, page 19

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The base of serenity is God. Without knowing who God is in our lives, peace will always be an impossible goal we keep trying to achieve.



When we view the world from our eyes we are bitter and we miss the reason -- we really are trying to make the search through rose colored glasses.



When we seek God – we find this wonderful Power that keeps us on a straight and narrow road. We grow to know that He is the same, always, that He is the power and the wisdom we always need -- because He is just – because He is holy. We can rest in His presence knowing His peace. Yes it is a gyroscope to us -- teetering at times but when we get to the base -- God – it keeps us balanced.



Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.



To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. -- Revelation 1: 4-6

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 9, 2008



Just For Today – Step Five -- Essential



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



“AA experience has taught us we cannot live alone with our pressing problems and the character defects which cause or aggravate them. If we have swept the searchlight of Step Four back and forth over our careers, and it has revealed in stark relief those experiences we’d rather not remember, if we have come to know how wrong thinking and action have hurt us and others, then the need to quit living by ourselves with those tormenting ghosts of yesterday gets more urgent than ever. We have to talk to somebody about them.”


© 2005, AAWS, Inc.; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 55
Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

If we do not share what is inside us - we can never really heal from the past and let it go. It will always be there consuming us. Yes, it is human nature to suppress what hurts and those things we would rather not remember - but unless we begin the healing process by sharing with another individual these things, then we will forever be haunted by those ghosts and never successfully recover.



Working Step 5 is a freeing step and essential for the success of our recovery. The thing that makes this step easier is God. He has planned for us this very process of recovery and healing that will bring us back to the road on which He had intended for us all along. He is our hope. The Hebrew word for hope the first time it is used in the Bible is tiqvah and one of the root meanings of this word is the English word cord - - which means God is the hope the cord that we can grasp onto to keep us from sinking into the pit of our addiction. Grasp your cord - Jesus today and face Step 5 with hope and confidence.



Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!

For You are the God of my strength; why have You rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places.

Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. -- Psalm 43:1-5

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 12, 2008



Just For Today – Step Five -- Affirmation



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



"At this stage, the difficulties of trying to deal rightly with God by ourselves are twofold. Though we may at first be startled to realize that God knows all about us, we are apt to get used to that quite quickly. Somehow, being alone with God doesn't seem as embarrassing as facing up to another person. Until we actually sit down and talk aloud about what we have so long hidden, our willingness to clean house is still largely theoretical. When we are honest with another person, it confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and with God."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 59-60 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.
Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

In God's plan, He walks with us and shows us things about ourselves as we work Step Five that help us to heal and grow and recover. We do soon find, that there is abundant grace from God and the confession of our shortcomings restores our fellowship with Him. It is in our obedience that our faith will increase and as time goes on, it does get easier with Him.



The test comes, we are ready to share - face to face with a human, a face we watch as we unload what ugliness we feel about ourselves. There is an old Hebrew adage that says something like this: If we say we are sorry for something and confess our sin to God, He will always later in our lives put us through the same circumstance to see if we are truly repentant.



Perhaps, this is our circumstance to test our true repentance in working Step Five. We confess to God, then we see if we can confess to a Person. If we can, then we are well on our way to true recovery, we are getting closer and closer to God. Look at confession and repentance in Step 5 as restoring the fellowship with God and restoring fellowship with our earthly friends and family.



And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. -- I Peter 5:10

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 13, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Haven



From "A Vision for You:"



"Some day we hope that every alcoholic who journeys will find a Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous at his destination. To some extent this is already true [in 1939]. Some of us are salesmen and go about. Little clusters of twos and threes and fives of us have sprung up in other communities ... Those of us who travel drop in as often as we can. This practice enables us to lend a hand, at the same time avoiding certain alluring distractions of the road."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 162

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

A safe Haven – yes – it has always amazed me that no matter where I am, if there is a Recovery group meeting, then I can walk in and at once find the acceptance, friendliness and fellowship, I am longing for from home. Satan wants us to be isolated and keep us from the support and strength we need at times in our lives. But the beauty is that when we step out in faith and practice the steps and meeting attendance, no matter what detours Satan places on the road -- we will have the station that we need to by-pass them and stay on the straight and narrow. It does require our foot to step out in faith - - but once we do God does the rest.



When you are struggling -- don’t let it get to the point of no return, get to your haven -- a strong tower.



“The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

the righteous run to it and are safe.” -- Proverbs 18:10

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 14, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Honesty



From "Rum, Rebellion and Radio:"



"I had to tell my friends that I wasn't one year old in AA that evening, but only a 'nine month baby.' With that utterance I again made a wonderful discovery. I had thrown off a big lie that had been burdening me down for months. What a wonderful new feeling, what a wonderful relief!...



"If I were asked what in my opinion was the most important factor in being successful in this program, besides following the Twelve Steps, I would say Honesty. And the most important person to be honest with is Yourself."



c. 2003, Experience, Strength and Hope - Stories from
the First Three Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous,
pages 325-327

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Honesty -- key to our success in recovery. At times It is very hard – our entire active addiction life was steeped in dishonesty -- but when we can finally rid ourselves of the fear of truth -- then and only then can God work through us to set us free. When we are dishonest, we are living a lie that gets harder and harder to maintain – when we discover that being honest -- brings freedom -- we are at that point on the true road to recovering.



The Bible places liars with the most heinous types of sins, so remember that even a little white lie -- is a lie -- blatant brutal honesty --



“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this,

Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” -- Ephesians 6:14-17

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 15, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Meetings



From "A Vision for You:"



"In addition to these casual get-togethers [beginning in 1935], it became customary to set apart one night a week for a meeting to be attended by anyone or everyone interested in a spiritual way of life. Aside from fellowship and sociability, the prime object was to provide a time and place where new people might bring their problems."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 159-160

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

I have heard many people say in their recovery walks that they get to a point that they don’t need as many meetings. Well I usually always disagree because we always need support as long as we live in this world.



But the other side of meetings is that you may be there for someone else. Remember it is not about you, it is about loving God, and helping others. Jesus gave us the two greatest commandments – to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.



You prime objective is to be the light that shines in someone else’s life to show them the truth of God and The beauty of the Christian 12 step recovery.



We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.



This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. -- I John 1:3-7

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 16, 2008


Just For Today – Step Five -- Crucial



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



“Certain distressing or humiliating memories, we tell ourselves, ought not be shared with anyone. These will remain our secret. Not a soul must ever know. We hope they’ll go to the grave with us.



“Yet if AA’s experience means anything at all, this is not only unwise, but is actually a perilous resolve. Few muddled attitudes have caused us more trouble than holding back on Step Five.”


© 2005, AAWS, Inc.; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 56
Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

If we still feel a need to conceal and hide our experiences and keep them "secret" then we are being a bit double-minded. We should not be ashamed of who we are -- maybe regret our decisions -- but the choices we made were our choices and no sin that was committed was too large for Jesus to atone for. The atonement covering for that sin comes when we acknowledge the sin and the need for the atonement and ask for forgiveness -- Jesus will then restore us.


Holding things back means we must wear a mask again and we are not really being truthful with ourselves - which is always an endanger to our sobriety.



“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” -- Acts 2:38

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 19, 2008


Just For Today – Step Five -- Self-Awareness



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



“All of us saw, for example, that we lacked honesty and tolerance, that we were beset at times by attacks of self-pity or delusions of personal grandeur. But while this was a humiliating experience, it didn't necessarily mean that we had yet acquired much actual humility. Though now recognized, our defects were still there.



Something had to be done about them. And we soon found that we could not wish or will them away by ourselves."



© 2005, AAWS, Inc.; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 58

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Coming to the point of desperation and to the need of recovery is humiliating but it does not mean we are humble. Yes we must recognize that we are self-centered creatures that must learn to acquire a humble spirit. Not an easy process after many years of satisfying our every need.



It is a choice to recover and it is a choice to become a humble Spirit. If the desire is there then the process begins and if we continue to practice and choose humility then we will walk in the footsteps of Jesus and reflect His humility.



5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.

6 The LORD sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music to our God on the harp -- Psalm 14:5-7

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 20, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Change



From "Essence of Growth:"



"Let us never fear needed change. Certainly we have to discriminate between changes for worse and changes for better. But once a need becomes clearly apparent in an individual, in a group, or in AA as a whole, it has long since been found out that we cannot stand still and look the other way.



"The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails."



c. 1967, As Bill Sees It, page 115

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Coming to the truth of recovery and the truth of Jesus, is such a beautiful place to be - - but we are not meant to become stagnant in that position. We must continue to evolve into the creation God intended for us to be, always growing in grace and knowledge. Grace so we can be merciful to others that are just beginning and knowledge so we can know how to live abundantly on this earth -- being responsible to God -- being responsible to others -- and being true to ourselves.



Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. – II Peter 3:17-18

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 21, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Sharing



From "The Opening to the Spiritual World:" "This is the crux of the program and the crux of living: acceptance and action ... There is no materialism in AA -- just spirituality. If we take care of our inner needs, our other needs will be provided for. "I have come to believe that the gift of sobriety is what gives value and dignity to my life. It is this that I have to share, and it grows as it is shared."



c. 1973, Came to Believe..., page 4

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Our “spiritual need”, is that God spot in our being that we try to fill with every drug imaginable -- but we really need for the Holy Spirit of this mighty God to occupy that space. The trouble up to the point of our spiritual awakening -- is that nothing we tried to fill that space with every made sense, never lasted and always led us deeper on our path of destruction.



When we open that Spiritual World, God can change us to the perfect creation He wants us to be -- and we are so happy and peaceful and eager to share this gift of sobriety He has so abundantly bestowed on us with that complete unconditional “agape” type love.



My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies. –Psalm 57: 7-10

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 22, 2008


Just For Today – Step Five – Re-Join



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



“What are we likely to receive from Step Five? For one thing, we shall get rid of that terrible sense of isolation we’ve always had. Almost without exception, alcoholics are tortured by loneliness. Even before our drinking got bad and people began to cut us off, nearly all of us suffered the feeling that we didn’t quite belong.”



© 2005, AAWS, Inc.; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 57

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Isolation – a dangerous place we have traveled to. A place where we have no accountability – we have no authority to answer to – a place we have traveled to and have learned to be safe there. It is a place that Satan wants us in – so we can stay sick in addiction. It is a place from which we emerge when we realize the need for recovering and in sharing with Step 5 to God first then to others – our wrongs. We soon see we are still loved by God and we are free of self-condemnation – even when sharing the truth – we are free – we no longer have a need for isolation.



8 and,"A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. -- I Peter 2:8-10

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 23, 2008



Just For Today – Step Five -- Relief



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



"Few muddled attitudes have caused us more trouble than holding back on Step Five. Some people are unable to stay sober at all; others will relapse periodically until they really clean house. Even AA old timers, sober for years, often pay dearly for skimping this Step ... They always discovered that relief never came by confessing the sins of other people. Everybody had to confess his own."



c. 1952, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 56

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

That is right after step 4 comes step 5. It is one thing to search our very souls in the safe seclusion of ourselves but to take those items and talk to another human is the cause of stumbling in working with these steps.



Many times we see in our recovery groups, that there is a tendancy to focus on other people’s problems, which helps us avoid our issues. We can give the other person a check list of their wrongs, but that doesn’t heal us that only causes our insanity to increase. What is really healing is to be able to confess with total honesty and find that the person hearing that confession still loves us, isn’t judging us and is truly concerned about telling us what worked for them.



But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. -- Job 16:5

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 26, 2008



Just For Today – Step Five -- Candor



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



"When we reached AA, and for the first time in our lives stood among people who seemed to understand, the sense of belonging was tremendously exciting. We thought the isolation problem had been solved. But we soon discovered that while we weren’t alone any more in a social sense we still suffered many of the old pangs of anxious apartness. Until we had talked with complete candor of our conflicts, and had listened to someone else do the same thing, we still didn’t belong. Step Five was the answer. It was the beginning of true kinship with man and God."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 57 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Being in active addiction brings us to such a point of isolation that we sometimes forget what it means to belong. We have to isolate because we are in fear of ‘being discovered’. When we enter into recovery and walk into a recovery group, we quickly learn that there are others just like us and those people immediately embrace us and care for us. Yes, we do have an incredible sense of belonging that we have not felt for a very long time.



But we still where several masks because there are things in our lives that are not so “pretty” and things we feel we still want to hide from. But at some point we see others in our group begin to expose things that are wrong in their characters, and we begin to see that those that are sharing are still loved as they are – the difference between them and me is that they are sharing in humility and have a desire to change these wrongs.



Beginning to be honest with God, ourselves and another person is the start of a deep cleansing process we HAVE to go through in order to recover. We see as we practice this Step and as others do the step that we are 1) still loved by God; 2) still loved by those in the group; and 3) on the way to removing those traits and wrongs to a healthy recovery.



By confessing we are acknowledging our sins and with God are asking forgiveness thereby restoring our fellowship with Him, then all things are possible.



13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out."

14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 (One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"

16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.

19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. -- Acts 19:13-20

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 27, 2008


Just For Today – Step Five -- Fear



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



"So intense, though, is our fear and reluctance to do this that many AA's at first try to bypass Step Five. We search for an easier way—which usually consists of the general and fairly painless admission that when drinking we were sometimes bad actors. Then, for good measure, we add dramatic descriptions of that part of our drinking behavior which our friends probably know about anyhow. "But of the things which really bother and burn us, we say nothing."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 55-56 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

No truer words have been written. Step 5 is hard because for many of us the reason we were "medicating ourselves" in the first place was to escape from or to avoid facing the reality of who we are.



Now in recovery, you are asking me to verbalize and face these short comings SOBER - - a place we naturally flee. So we do choose to pick the obvious flaws as it says above, and most of those around us already know about it. And with each slip we say the same thing again and again, we talk about our unworthiness the words are often repeated too many times to even give us credibility anymore.



When we stop avoiding Step 5 and really work on the things deep down that are bothering us, the things we keep suppressing, the things we don't want to look at or give up, then we will begin a true step of recovery. But you will see with the right person and the proper timing as God directs, it is something that we can do, that will not kill us, that will actually help us to grow.



“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” -- Hebrews 10:22

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 28, 2008


Just For Today – Step Five -- Growth



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



"Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted. We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly.



We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 75

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

What we are usually afraid of in Step 5 is the fear of rejection from others. We know we have done such horrible things in our addiction that surely we are the worst of the worst and deserve the most severest rejection. Not true, once we begin step 5 – we find that others do understand what we did, they don’t judge, they actually take our arms and guide us through. Then we realize that God has been there all along – waiting for us.



"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." -- James 5: 16

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 29, 2008



Just For Today – Honesty



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



"More realism and therefore more honesty about ourselves are the great gains we make under the influence of Step Five. As we took inventory, we began to suspect how much trouble self-delusion had been causing us. This had brought a disturbing reflection. If all our lives we had more or less fooled ourselves, how could we now be so sure that we weren’t still self-deceived?



How could we be certain that we had made a true catalog of our defects and had really admitted them, even to ourselves? Because we were still bothered by fear, self-pity, and hurt feelings, it was probable we couldn’t appraise ourselves fairly at all.



Too much guilt and remorse might cause us to dramatize and exaggerate our shortcomings. Or anger and hurt pride might be the smoke screen under which we were hiding some of our defects while we blamed others for them. Possibly, too, we were still handicapped by many liabilities, great and small, we never knew we had.



"Hence it was most evident that a solitary self-appraisal, and the admission of our defects based upon that alone, wouldn’t be nearly enough. We’d have to have outside help if we were surely to know and admit the truth about ourselves—the help of God and another human being."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 58-59 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

What we must remember in Step Five and all the steps that are designed to help us do our inventory and admit our shortcomings is that it has taken us many years to get to the point of our addiction accumulating the bad characteristics one by one. It will also take years to replace those characteristics with positive and Godly traits. It is like peeling an onion; you take off one layer at a time. With each change or removal of a negative shortcoming, we expose another area that we may never know existed in our lives.



True honesty with God, we and another is the key to working any of the steps, especially Step Five. Having outside help, another person is what will help us to see our need for change, it will give us accountability to be honest, and it will challenge us.



In the Bible, we are shown that when believers come to faith in the beginning they are like babies … hence we in the beginning of recovery are also like babies…but God has never intended for us to stay in a baby state, we are to grow to maturity both in faith and in recovery. Working Step 5 helps us to grow, adding onto the foundation of Jesus and recovery, different characteristics of our faith, which replace the old manners and ways and grows us ever closer to our Lord Jesus.



2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. – II Peter 1:2-8

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 30, 2008


Just For Today – Step Five -- Confessing



STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” --James 5:16a



"This practice of admitting one’s defects to another person is, of course, very ancient. It has been validated in every century, and it characterizes the lives of all spiritually centered and truly religious people. But today religion is by no means the sole advocate of this saving principle. Psychiatrists and psychologists point out the deep need every human being has for practical insight and knowledge of his own personality flaws and for a discussion of them with an understanding and trustworthy person. So far as alcoholics are concerned, AA would go even further. Most of us would declare that without a fearless admission of our defects to another human being we could not stay sober. It seems plain that the grace of God will not enter to expel our destructive obsessions until we are willing to try this."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 56-57 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Confession – a part of coming to faith and for addicts a necessity of staying sober. We really can never heal, never recover, never grow in our faith unless we admit that we do have flaws in our characters that lead us to make poor choices and walk the path of the unrighteous.



It is like learning something about ourselves that we never really knew or allowed it to surface in our lives. The key is to tell another person. We may not want to admit it but we really can manipulate our minds into thinking something about ourselves that is not really true, we have done so successfully all during our addiction. But verbalizing the flaws to a person whom we can trust makes it seem all the more real and also makes us now accountable to someone else who will be watching us. God cannot reach us unless we practice this admission, acknowledge our sin and express a desire to change.



Although this step is hard and hurtful to us, it is a step that should be done with care, consideration, honesty and with diligence to assure our sobriety. And it goes without saying that God and prayer are the essential parts that make this step successful.



17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.

19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. -- Acts 19:17-19

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 2nd, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Progress



STEP SIX: Is an inner transformation sometimes called repentance.

STEP SIX: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” -- James 4:10



"In doing Step Six it helped me a lot to remember that I am striving for 'spiritual progress.' Some of my character defects may be with me for the rest of my life, but most have been toned down or eliminated. All that Step Six asks of me is to become willing to name my defects, claim them as my own, and be willing to discard the ones I can, just for today."



c. 1990, Daily Reflections, page 166

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The recovery growth is gradual; the Christian walk is also gradual. It makes sense, we come into the world as babies, we learn each day how to walk, talk, eat, etc. So too with recovery steps, we walk as babies in the beginning learning new ways, learning to rely on God -- learning how to live in sobriety -- one day at a time. Working Step Six is a life-long process – each day asking God to reveal to us what we need to change and be willing to make the changes, just for today!



“Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!” Amen. -- II Peter 3:17-19

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 3, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Right Way



From "Partners in Recovery:"



"Doing the right things for the right reasons -- this is my way of controlling my selfishness and self-centeredness. I realize that my dependency on a Higher Power clears the way for peace of mind, happiness and sobriety."



c. 1990, Daily Reflections, page 359

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Until we get the “spiritual” side down, we really don’t have any sure measurement of what is right and what is wrong. Today’s world measures right from wrong on a very skewed scale, developed on individual bases, and individual tastes. Until we see the perfect nature and character of God directing our recovery, we are led to the Word of God and see that indeed, His Bible has given us everything we need to know and everything we need to do for a healthier happier and fuller life on this earth.



Result in using the instruction manual -- happiness – sobriety and peace-of-mind.



The Bible –Basic – Instructions – Before – Leaving - Earth



Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. – I Peter 1: 2-4

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 4, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Transformation



From "To Employers:"



"To get over drinking will require a transformation of thought and attitude. We all had to place recovery above everything, for without recovery we would have lost both home and business."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 143

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Transformed -- exactly how it must be for us. We are in our old bodies with our old way of thinking we call it stinkin’ thinkin’ and God so graciously, sometimes slowly – changes us to His way of thinking -- the only truth. That is transformation that is sobriety -- remember it is one small step at a time – the greatest marathon all begins with just one small step.



Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. -- Romans 12:1-3

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 5, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Truth



From "The Independent Blonde:"



"I went to see Dr. Silkworth and he explained to me what honesty was. I always thought honesty had something to do with telling other people the truth. He explained that it had to do first with telling myself the truth ... I've learned since being in AA that the more I worry about me loving you, and the less I worry about you loving me, the happier I'll be."



c. 2003, Experience, Strength and Hope - Stories from
the First Three Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous, page 218

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Shakespeare – “To thine own self be true” – something we haven’t done in awhile -- during our active addiction. Being true to ourselves opens the door for us to work our program and each step with a truth that will set us free.



It allows us to accept ourselves, it allows God to work on us to Correct the bad behavior that has led to our addiction and will eventually allow us to get outside of ourselves and love others. We then discover that it is easier to concentrate on loving others and we reach a peace and a healthy life style, we all so eagerly desired to achieve. Now what is so scary about honesty?



29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me through your law.

30 I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set my heart on your laws.

31 I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD;
do not let me be put to shame.

32 I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free. -- Psalm 139:29-32

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 6, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! – Step Six -- Ready



STEP SIX: Is an inner transformation sometimes called repentance.

STEP SIX: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” -- James 4:10



"So Step Six—'Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character'—is AA's way of stating the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job. This does not mean that we expect all our character defects to be lifted out of us as the drive to drink was.



A few of them may be, but with most of them we shall have to be content with patient improvement. The key words 'entirely ready' underline the fact that we want to aim at the very best we know or can learn."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 65 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Lifetime job - that is what recovery is and step six is something we will practice for the remaining days on this earth. We being willing and ready -- waiting for God to direct us to change. Remember it is putting something in place of the thing we are changing.



In our addiction, we have many bad characteristics that need removing in order to continue to grow in recovery - but we can't remove them and not replace them with something positive and life changing. It increases the tools we need to make it one day at a time.



God will not always remove them but wants us to be willing to have Him remove them and help us to grow in improvement and growing into this new creation He has begun to mold.



3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,

5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

6 For I am confident of this very thing, that Who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. -- Philippians 1:3-11

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 9, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! – Step Six -- Question



STEP SIX: Is an inner transformation sometimes called repentance.

STEP SIX: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” -- James 4:10



"It is plain for everybody to see that each sober AA member has been granted a release from this very obstinate and potentially fatal obsession. So in a very complete and literal way, all AA’s have 'become entirely ready' to have God remove the mania for alcohol from their lives. And God has proceeded to do exactly that.



"Having been granted a perfect release from alcoholism, why then shouldn’t we be able to achieve by the same means a perfect release from every other difficulty or defect? This is a riddle of our existence, the full answer to which may be only in the mind of God."



© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 64 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Wanting to be released from addiction is definitely what we want to have and God being the great gentlemen He is, does so for us. We are released as soon as we let it go.



Now comes the hard part of being willing to allow Him to work in us and remove our defects. Well, it takes work on our part too. He could immediately make us into perfect beings, but He chooses to give us the process of the steps and accountability with our recovery groups and sponsors to perform the task. The reality is that sometimes we want to hold onto our ‘defects’ because we quite like them and want to use them from time to time.



Remember to work these steps first with prayer, allowing God to show us how -- allowing God to work in us -- and removing our agenda of what we want done and when.



The mystery is that it works, we don’t know why, but it works. The steps are our tools for growing closer and closer to our Savior, putting away the old man and putting on the new, reflecting the image of Jesus.



Now; … That Is Exciting.



20 But that is not how you learned about the Messiah,

21 assuming you heard Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus:

22 you took off your former way of life, the old man that is corrupted by deceitful desires;

23 you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds;

24 you put on the new man, the one created according to God's [likeness] in righteousness and purity of the truth.

25 Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.

26 Be angry and do not sin. Don't let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and don't give the Devil an opportunity.

28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.

29 No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear.

30 And don't grieve God's Holy Spirit, who sealed you for the day of redemption.

31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, insult and slander must be removed from you, along with all wickedness.

32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” -- Ephesians 4:20-32

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 10, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Choice



From "There Was an Answer:"



"One of the first things we heard in AA was that we had a choice. We could choose not to use/abuse. We could tell the people in AA knew about our using/abusing. But they also knew about NOT using/abusing. We decided to listen to what they had to say."



c. 1987, Memo to an Inmate Who May Be an Alcoholic (A.A. Pamphlet P-9), page 9

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Life is a choice -- it started in the Garden of Eden. Eve chose to be disobedient and listen to the serpent – result was consequences to all -- they lost communion with God.



Just like we choose to use/abuse or not. Also results in our lives of that choice. When we chose to walk in the ways of God and our Christian Recovery 12-step program, then sobriety will be the only result and a life at it’s fulfillment. The other way is serving the devil and results in relapse and addiction.

Who will you choose to serve today???



“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” -- Joshua 24:15

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 11, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Giving



From "There's Nothing the Matter with Me!"



"AA doesn't need me, but I need AA Very desperately, very sincerely, very humbly. Not all at once, because you can't get it all at once, just a little bit at a time. They told me, 'You've got to get out and work a little; you've got to give.' They told me that giving was living, and living was loving, and loving was God. And you don't have to worry about God, because He's sitting right in front of your eyes."



c. 2003, Experience, Strength and Hope - Stories from the First Three Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous, page 201

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

We must never error and begin to think that our importance So great that a meeting or the program would fail without us. What we have to admit is our desperate need for the recovery program and our support group. Even more so, we have a desperate need and desire for God. God is right in front of us at all times, sometimes He is shown through the love and support of those in our groups, earthly extensions of His arms. When we finally realize this truth we realize we have been so blessed with the receiving of His gift of a sober life, we then desire to give back to others, those struggling in their addiction. We can’t hide this gift, but we become compelled to share this gift. It is the cycle that we must repeat. We grow in recovery, we see God’s love in His daily provisions for us, we share God’s love with other hurting folks by giving and then we grow in recovery and closer to God.



“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.” -- I Corinthians 3:5-9

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 13, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! – Step Six -- Grace

STEP SIX: Is an inner transformation sometimes called repentance.

STEP SIX: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” -- James 4:10



"When men and women pour so much alcohol into themselves that they destroy their lives, they commit a most unnatural act ... As they are humbled by the terrific beating administered by alcohol, the grace of God can enter them and expel their obsession."

c. 1952, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 64

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©
Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Active addiction has left us very wounded. We are fearful of allowing people into the innermost part of our being, that is knowing character defects. We are even leery of God – feeling even He may reject us because we were so horrible and had done so many hurtful things to ourselves not to mention those that we have loved.



But working step 6 – we find that God’s grace is much larger than any fear we have and when we humbly face His grace and mercy – we enter into healing -- as God does expel those traits so in need of change. The first one is the hardest, but once we see God’s grace and mercy in action, we will almost be eager to have Him clean up the rest.



“When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” -- Acts 11:23

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 16, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! – Step Six -- Ideals



STEP SIX: Is an inner transformation sometimes called repentance.

STEP SIX: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” -- James 4:10



"Only Step One, where we made the 100 percent admission we were powerless over alcohol, can be practiced with absolute perfection. The remaining eleven Steps state perfect ideals. They are goals toward which we look, and the measuring sticks by which we estimate our progress. Seen in this light, Step Six is still difficult, but not at all impossible. The only urgent thing is that we make a beginning, and keep trying."



c. 1952, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 68

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

Step Six is difficult only because we are fearful of change, we are fearful of looking inside ourselves and the things we may see. We must remember that if we allow God to direct us – He will only give us the things that we can handle. If we have faith to believe that God would not direct us into anything that we can’t handle -- and besides that He is walking beside us all the way -- holding us when we are falling, giving us support and loving us exactly where we are.



Remember to work the steps each day at one step at a time – using them as an absolute perfection – and ideal that you desire to reach – don’t set your expectations beyond what you can handle. Just like Jesus Christ is our example of how to live the perfect life on this earth in preparation for Heaven’s life -- our steps are how we are to live in perfect recovery -- reach for the stars!



“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” -- Romans 12:2

[admin]

Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 17, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Perseverance



From "'Success' in Twelfth-Stepping:"



"Some people start out working with others and have immediate success. They are likely to get cocky. Those of us who are not so successful at first get depressed. "As a matter of fact, the successful worker differs from the unsuccessful only in being lucky about his prospects. He simply hits newcomers who are ready and able to stop at once. Given the same prospects, the seemingly unsuccessful person would have produced almost the same results. You have to work on a lot of newcomers before the law of averages commences to assert itself."



c. 1967, As Bill Sees It, page 165

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

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Coming into faith and recovery is not a guarantee that life from this point forward will be perfect and successful all of the time. We have to work at it. It took years to get addicted and worldly, it will take time to get this sober living and allowing God first place in our lives.



We have to know that when we work the steps, we must be obedient to God’s direction. We can’t set expectations that may not be met. Working the 12th step means reaching out to others – not with an expectation of change or results – but with the expectation that God will use us. We just need to keep moving!



Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. -- I Timothy 4: 13-16

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Wings Devotional Recovery ... June 18, 2008



JUST FOR TODAY! -- Watchwords



From "To Wives:"



"Your husband knows he owes you more than sobriety. He wants to make good. Yet you must not expect too much. His ways of thinking and doing are the habits of years. Patience, tolerance, understanding and love are the watchwords. Show him these things in yourself and they will be reflected back to you from him. Live and let live is the rule."



c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 118

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

**********************************

The Word of God tells us to be obedient to God in all things. It is certainly not easy to be patient and understanding when our loved ones have hurt us by their addiction and their bad choices. But the truth is that God sees and will bless the family as we practice the characteristics that God wants us to have.



Live and let live but do so with discernment and safe boundaries. God demands that we live His ways -- not anything else, so Ultimately we are all accountable to God and living in His ways.



Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. -- I Peter 3: 1-2