Twenty-Four Hours A Day

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A DayA.A. Thought For The Day

What a load hangovers put on your shoulders! What terrible physical punishment we've
all been through. The pounding headaches and jumpy nerves, the shakes and the jitters,
the hot and cold sweats! When you come into A.A. and stop drinking, that terrible
load of hangovers falls off your shoulders. What a load remorse puts on your shoulders!
That terrible mental punishment we've all been through. Ashamed of the things
you've said and done. Afraid to face people because of what they might think of you.
Afraid of the consequences of what you did when you were drunk. What an awful beating
the mind takes! When you come into A.A., that terrible load of remorse falls off your
shoulders. Have I gotten rid of these loads of hangovers and remorse?

Meditation For The Day

When you seek to follow the way of the spirit, it frequently means a complete reversal of
the way of the world that you had previously followed. But it is a reversal that leads to
happiness and peace. Do the aims and ambitions that a person usually strives for bring
peace? Do the world's awards bring heart rest and happiness? Or do they turn to ashes in
the mouth?

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may not be weary, disillusioned, or disappointed. I pray that I may not put
my trust in the ways of the world, but in the way of the spirit.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A DayJanuary 29, 2009

A.A. Thought For The Day

What a load wasting money puts on your shoulders! They say that members of A.A. have paid the highest initiation fee of any club members in the world, because we've wasted so much money on liquor. We'll never be able to figure out how much it was. We not only waste our own money, but also the money we should have spent on our families. When you come into A.A., that terrible load of wasted money falls off your shoulders. We alcoholics
were getting round-shouldered from carrying all those loads that drinking put on our shoulders. But when we come into A.A., we get a wonderful feeling of release and freedom. Can I throw back my shoulders and look the whole world in the face again?

Meditation For The Day

I believe that the future is in the hands of God. He knows better than I what the future holds for me. I am not at the mercy of fate or buffeted about by life. I am being led in a very definite way, as I try to rebuild my life. I am the builder, but God is the architect. It
is mine to build as best I can, under His guidance.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may depend on God, since He has planned my life. I pray that I may live my life as I believe God wants me to live it.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
February 10, 2009

A.A. Thought For The Day

Since I realize that I had become an alcoholic and could never have any more fun with liquor and since I knew that from then on liquor would always get me into trouble, common sense told me that the only thing left for me was a life of sobriety. But I learned another thing in A.A., the most important thing anyone can ever learn, that I could call on a Higher Power to help me keep away from liquor, that I could work with that Divine Principle in the universe and that God would help me to live a sober, useful, happy life. So now I no longer care about the fact that I can never have any more fun with drinking. Have I learned that I am much happier without it?

Meditation For The Day

Like a tree, I must be pruned of a lot of dead ranches, before I will be ready to bear good fruit.
Think of changed people as trees which have been stripped of their old branches, pruned, cut and bare, but through the dark, seemingly dead branches flows silently, secretly, the new sap, until with the sun of spring, comes new life. There are new leaves, buds, blossoms and fruit, many times better because of the pruning. Remember, I am in the hands of a Master Gardener, who makes no mistakes in His pruning.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may cut away the dead branches of my life. I pray that I may not mind the pruning, since it helps me to bear good fruit later.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
February 11

A.A. Thought For The Day

If we're going to stay sober, we've got to learn to want something else more than we want to drink. When we first came into A.A., we couldn't imagine wanting anything else so much or more than drinking. So we had to stop drinking on faith, on faith that someday we really would want something else more than drinking. But after we've been in A.A. for a while, we learn that a sober life can really be enjoyed. We learn how nice it is to get along well with our family at home, how nice it is to do our work well at the office, how nice it is to try to help others. Have I found that when I keep sober, everything goes well for me?

Meditation For The Day

There is almost no work in life so hard as waiting. And yet God wants me to wait. All motion is more easy than calm waiting, and yet I must wait until God shows me His will. So many people have marred their work and hindered the growth of their spiritual lives by too much activity. If I wait patiently, preparing myself always, I will be some day at the place where I would be. And much toil and activity could not have accomplished the journey so soon.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may wait patiently. I pray that I may trust God and keep preparing myself for a better life.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
February 12

A.A. Thought For The Day

As we look back on all those troubles we used to have when we were drinking, the hospitals, the jails, we wonder how we could have wanted that kind of life. As we
look back on it now, we see our drinking life as it really was and we're glad we're out of it. So after a few months in A.A., we find that we can honestly say that we want something else more than drinking. We've learned by experience that a sober life is really enjoyable and we wouldn't go back to the old drunken way of living for anything in the world. Do I want to keep sober a lot more than I want to get drunk?

Meditation For The Day

My spiritual life depends on an inner consciousness of God. I must be led in all things by my consciousness of God and I must trust Him in all things. My consciousness of God will always bring peace to me. I will have no fear, because a good future lies before me as long as I keep my consciousness of God. If in every single happening, event and plan I am conscious of God, then no matter what happens, I will be safe in God's hands.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may have this ever-consciousness of God.
I pray for a new and better life through this God consciousness.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
February 13

A.A. Though for the Day

Sometimes we can’t help thinking: Why can’t we ever drink again? We know it’s because we’re alcoholics, but why did we have to get the way? The answer is that at some time in our drinking careers, we passed what is our “tolerance point.” When we passed this point, we passed from a condition in which we could tolerate alcohol to a condition in which we could not tolerant it at all. After that, if we took one drink, we would sooner or later end up drunk. When I think of liquor now, do I think of it as something that I can never tolerate again?

Mediation for the Day
In a race, it is when the goal is in sight that heart and nerves and muscles and courage are strained almost to the breaking point. So with us. The goal of the spiritual life is in sight. All we need is the final effort. The saddest records are made by people who ran well, with brave, stout hearts, until the sight of the goal and then some weakness or self-indulgence held them back. They never know how near the goal they were or how near they were to victory.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may press on until the goal is reached. I pray that I may not give up in the final stretch.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A DayFebruary 14

A.A. Thought For The Day

After that first drink, we had a single track mind. It was like a railroad train. The first drink started it off and it kept going on the single track until it got to the end of the line, drunkenness. We knew this would happen when we sat down at a bar to have the first drink, but still we couldn't keep away from liquor. Our will-power was gone. We had become helpless and hopeless before the power of alcohol. It's not the second drink or the tenth
drink that does the damage. It's the first drink. Will I ever take that first drink again?

Meditation For The Day

I must keep a time apart with God every day. Gradually I will be transformed mentally and spiritually. It is not the praying so much as just being in God's presence. The strengthening and curative powers of this I cannot understand, but I can experience them. The poor, sick
world would be cured if every day each soul waited before God for the inspiration to live aright. My greatest spiritual growth occurs in this time apart with God.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may faithfully keep a quiet time apart with God. I pray that I may grow spiritually each day.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A DayFebruary 15

A.A. Thought For The Day

If alcoholism were just a physical allergy, like asthma or hay fever, it would be easy for us, by taking a skin test with alcohol, to find out whether or not we're alcoholics. But alcoholism is not just a physical allergy. It's also a mental allergy or obsession. After we've become alcoholics, we can still tolerate alcohol physically for quite a while, although we suffer a little more after each binge and each time it takes a little longer to get over our hangovers. Do I realize that since I have become an alcoholic, I cannot tolerate alcohol mentally at all?

Meditation For The Day

The world does not need super-men or women, but super-natural people. People who will persistently turn the self out of their lives and let Divine Power work through them. Let inspiration take the place of aspiration. Seek to grow spiritually, rather than to acquire fame and riches. Our chief ambition should be to be used by God. The Divine Force is sufficient
for all the spiritual work in the world. God only needs the instruments for His use. His instruments can remake the world.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may be an instrument of the Divine Power.
I pray that I may do my share in remaking the world.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A DayFebruary 16

A.A. Thought For The Day

One drink started a train of thought that became an obsession, and from then on, we couldn't stop drinking. We developed a mental compulsion to keep drinking until we got good and drunk. People generally make two mistakes about alcoholism. One mistake is that
it can be cured by physical treatment only. The other mistake is that it can be cured by willpower only. Most alcoholics have tried both of these and have found that they don't work. But we members of A.A. have found a way to arrest alcoholism. Have I got over my obsession by following the A.A. program?

Meditation For The Day

I will try to be unruffled, no matter what happens. I will keep my emotions in check, although others about me are letting theirs go. I will keep calm in the face of disturbance, keep that deep, inner calm through all the experiences of the day. In the rush of work and
worry, the deep, inner silence is necessary to keep me on an even keel. I must learn to take the calm with me into the most hurried days.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may be still and commune with God.
I pray that I may learn patience, humility, and peace.

[janbear]

A.A. Thought for the Day

I go to the A.A. meetings because it helps me in my business of keeping sober. And I try to help other alcoholics when I can, because that's part of my business of keeping sober. I also have a partner in this business and that's God. I pray to Him every day to help me to keep sober. As long as I keep in mind that liquor can never be my friend again, but is now my deadly enemy, and as long as I remember that my main business is keeping sober and that it's the most important thing in my life, I believe I'll be prepared for that crucial moment when the idea of having a drink pops into my mind. When that idea comes, will I be able to resist it and not take that drink?

Meditation for the Day

I will be more afraid of spirit unrest, of soul disturbance, of any ruffling of the mind, than of earthquake or fire. When I feel the calm of my spirit has been broken by emotional upset, then I must steal away alone with God, until my heart sings and all is strong and calm again. Uncalm times are the only times when evil can find an entrance. I will be ware of unguarded spots of unrest. I will try to keep calm, no matter what turmoil surrounds me.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that no emotional upsets will hinder God's power in my life. I pray that I may keep a calm spirit and a steady heart.

[janbear]

Sunday, February 22, 2009
You are reading from the book Twenty Four Hours a Day Hardcover (24 Hours)

A.A. Thought for the Day

Now we can take an inventory of the good things that have come to us through A.A. To begin with, we're sober today. That's the biggest asset on any alcoholic's books. Sobriety to us is like goodwill in business. Everything else depends on that. Most of us have jobs, which we owe to our sobriety. We know we couldn't hold these jobs if we were drinking, so our jobs depend on our sobriety. Most of us have wives or husbands and children, which we either had lost or might have lost, if we hadn't stopped drinking. We have friends in A.A., real friends who are always ready to help us. Do I realize that my job, my family, and my real friends are dependent upon my sobriety?

Meditation for the Day

I must trust God to the best of my ability. This lesson has to be learned. My doubts and fears continually drive me back into the wilderness. Doubts lead me astray, because I am not trusting God. I must trust God's love. It will never fail me, but I must learn not to fail it by my doubts and fears. We all have much to learn in turning out fear by faith. All our doubts arrest God's work through us. I must not doubt. I must believe in God and continually work at strengthening my faith.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may live the way God wants me to live. I pray that I may get into that stream of goodness in the world.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
February 23

A.A. Thought For The Day

Besides our jobs, our families, our friends and our sobriety, we have something else which many of us found through A.A. That's faith in a Power greater than ourselves, to which we can turn for help: faith in that Divine Principle in the universe which we call God and which is on our side as long as we do the right thing. There have been many days in the past when, if we had taken an inventory, we'd have found ourselves very much in the red, without sobriety and therefore without jobs, families, friends or faith in God. We now have
these things because we're sober. Do I make one resolution every day of my life--to stay sober?

Meditation For The Day

Love the busy life. It is a joy-filled life. Take your fill of joy in the Spring. Live outdoors whenever possible. Sun and air are nature's great healing forces. That inward joy changes poisoned blood into pure, healthy, life-giving flow. But never forget that the real healing of the spirit comes from within, from the close, loving contact of your spirit with God's spirit.
Keep in close communion with God's spirit day by day.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may learn to live the abundant life.
I pray that I may enjoy a close contact with God this day and be glad in it.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
February 24

A.A. Thought For The Day

When we came to our first A.A. meeting, we looked up at the wall at the end of the room and saw the sign: " But for the Grace of God." We knew right then and there that we would have to call on the grace of God in order to get sober and get over our soul-sickness. We heard speakers tell how they had come to depend on a Power greater than themselves. That made sense to us and we made up our minds to try it. Am I depending on the grace of God to help keep me sober?

Meditation For The Day

Share your love, your joy, your happiness, your time, your food, your money gladly with all. Give out all the love you can with a glad, free heart and hand. Do all you can for others and back will come countless stores of blessings. Sharing draws others to you. Take all who come as sent by God and give them a royal welcome. You may never see the
results of your sharing. Today they may not need you, but tomorrow may bring results from the sharing you did today.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may make each visitor desire to return.
I pray that I may never make anyone feel repulsed or unwanted.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A DayFebruary 25

A.A. Thought For The Day

Some people find it hard to believe in a Power greater than themselves. But not to believe in such a Power forces us to atheism. It has been said that atheism is blind faith in the strange proposition that this universe originated in a cipher and aimlessly rushes nowhere. That's practically impossible to believe. I think we all can agree that alcohol is a power
greater than ourselves. It certainly was in my case. I was helpless before the power of alcohol. Do I remember the things that happened to me because of the power of alcohol?

Meditation For The Day

The spiritual and moral will eventually overcome the material and unmoral. That is the purpose and destiny of the human race. Gradually the spiritual is overcoming the material in our minds. Gradually the moral is overcoming the unmoral. Faith, fellowship, and service are cures for most of the ills of the world. There is nothing in the field of personal relationships that they cannot do.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may do my share in making a better world.
I pray that I may be part of the cure for the ills of the world.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
February 26

A.A. Thought For The Day

When we came into A.A., we came to believe in a Power greater than ourselves. We came to believe in that Divine Principle in the universe which we call God, and to whom we could turn for help. Each morning we have a quiet time. We ask God for the power to stay sober for the next twenty-four hours. And each night we thank Him for helping us to keep sober for that day. Do I believe that each man or woman I see in A.A. is a demonstration of the
power of God to change a human being from a drunkard to a sober person?

Meditation For The Day

I should pray for more faith as a thirsty man prays for water in a desert. Do I know what it means to feel sure that God will never fail me? Am I sure of this as I am sure that I still breathe? I should pray daily and most diligently that my faith may increase. There is nothing lacking in my life because really all I need is mine, only I lack the faith to know it. I am a king's son who sits in rags and yet all around me are stores of all I could desire.

Prayer For The Day

I pray for the realization that God has everything I need.
I pray that I may know that His power is always available.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
February 27

A.A. Thought For The Day

When we first came into A.A., the first thing we did was to admit that we couldn't do anything about our drinking. We admitted that alcohol had us licked and that we were helpless against it. We never could decide whether or not to take a drink. We always took the drink. And since we couldn't do anything about it ourselves, we put our whole drink problem into the hands of God. We turned the whole thing over to that Power greater than ourselves. And we have nothing more to do about it, except to trust God to take care of the problem for us. Have I done this honestly and fully?

Meditation For The Day

This is the time for my spirit to touch the spirit of God. I know that the feeling of the spirit-touch is more important than all the sensations of material things. I must seek a silence of spirit-touching with God. Just a moment's contact and all the fever of life leaves me. Then I am well, whole, calm and able to arise and minister to others. God's touch is a potent healer. I must feel that touch and sense God's presence.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that the fever of resentment, worry and fear may melt into nothingness.
I pray that health, joy, peace and serenity may take its place.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
February 28

A.A. Thought For The Day

We should be free from alcohol for good. It's out of our hands and in the hands of God, so we don't need to worry about it or even think about it any more. But if we haven't done this honestly and fully, the chances are that it will become our problem again. Since we don't trust God to take care of our problem for us, we reach out and take the problem back to ourselves. Then it's our problem again and we're in the same old mess we were in before. Do I trust God to take care of the problem for me?

Meditation For The Day

No work is of value without preparation. Every spiritual work must have behind it much spiritual preparation. Cut short times of prayer and times of spiritual preparation and many hours of work may be profitless. From the point of view of God, one poor tool working all the time, but doing bad work because of lack of preparation, is of small value compared with a sharp, keen, perfect instrument working only for a short time, but that turns out perfect work because of long hours of spiritual preparation.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may spend more time alone with God.
I pray that I may get more strength and joy from such times, so that they will add much to my work.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
March 1

A.A. Thought For The Day

When I find myself thinking about taking a drink, I say to myself. "Don't reach out and take that problem back. You've given it to God and there's nothing you can do about it." So I forget about the drink. One of the most important parts of the A.A. program is to give our drink problem to God honestly and fully and never to reach out and take the problem back to ourselves. If we let God have it and keep it for good and then cooperate with Him, we'll stay sober. Have I determined not to take the drink problem back to myself?

Meditation For The Day

Constant effort is necessary if I am to grow spiritually and develop my spiritual life. I must keep the spiritual rules persistently, perseveringly, lovingly, patiently, and hopefully. By keeping them, every
mountain of difficulty shall be laid low, the rough places of poverty of spirit shall be made smooth, and all who know me shall know that God is the Lord of all my ways. To get close to the spirit of God is to find
life and healing and strength.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that God's spirit may be everything to my soul.
I pray that God's spirit may grow within me.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
March 2

A.A. Thought For The Day

Over a period of drinking years, we've proved to ourselves and to everybody else that we can't stop drinking by our own willpower. We have been proved helpless before the power of alcohol. So the only way we could stop drinking was by turning to a Power greater than
ourselves. We call that Power God. The time that you really get this program is when you get down on your knees and surrender yourself to God, as you understand Him. Surrender means putting your life into God's hands. Have I made a promise to God that I will try to live the way He wants me to live?

Meditation For The Day

Spirit-power comes from communication with God in prayer and times of quiet meditation. I must constantly seek spirit-communication with God. This is a matter directly between me
and God. Those who seek it through the medium of the church do not always get the joy and the wonder of spirit communication with God. From this communication comes life, joy, peace, and healing. Many people do not realize the power that can come to them from direct spirit-communication.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may feel that God's power is mine.
I pray that I may be able to face anything through that power.

[francie21805]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day
March 3

A.A. Thought For The Day

After we've made a surrender, the drink problem is out of our hands and in the hands of God. The thing we have to do is to be sure that we never reach out and take the problem back into our own hands. Leave it in God's hands. Whenever I'm tempted to take a drink, I must say to myself: "I can't do that. I've made a bargain with God not to drink. I know God doesn't want me to drink and so I won't do it." At the same time I say a little prayer to God for the strength needed to keep the bargain with Him. Am I going to keep my bargain with God?

Meditation For The Day

I will try to grow in this new life. I will think of spiritual things often and unconsciously I will grow. The nearer I get to the new life, the more I will see my unfitness. My sense of failure is a sure sign that I am growing in the new life. It is only struggle that hurts. In sloth--physical, mental or spiritual--there is no sense of failure or discomfort. But with struggle and effort, I am conscious not of strength but of weakness, until I am really living the new life. But in the struggle, I can always rely on the power of God to help me.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may see signs of my growth in the new life.
I pray that I may always keep trying to grow.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day / March 4th


A.A. Thought for the Day


Having surrendered our lives to God and put our
drink problem in His hands doesn't mean that
we'll never be tempted to drink. So we must
build up strength for the time when temptation
will come. In this quiet time, we read and pray
and get our minds in the right mood for the day.
Starting the day right is a great help in keeping
sober. As the days go by and we get used to the
sober life, it gets easier and easier. We begin
to develop a deep gratitude to God for saving us
from that old life. And we begin to enjoy peace
and serenity and quiet happiness. Am I trying to
live the way God wants me to live?


Meditation for the Day


The elimination of selfishness is the key to
happiness and can only be accomplished with
God's help. We start out with a spark of the
Divine Spirit but a large amount of selfishness.
As we grow and come in contact with other
people, we can take one of two paths. We can
become more and more selfish and practically
extinguish the Divine Spark within us, or we can
become more unselfish and develop our
spirituality until it becomes the most important
thing in our lives.


Prayer for the Day


I pray that I may grow more and more unselfish,
honest, pure, and loving. I pray that I may take
the right path every day.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day / March 5th


A.A. Thought for the Day


Sometimes we try too hard to get this program.
It is better to relax and accept it. It will be
given to us, with no effort on our part, if we stop
trying too hard to get it. Sobriety can be a free
gift of God, which He gives us by His grace when
He knows we are ready for it. But we have to be
ready. Then we must relax, take it easy, and
accept the gift with gratitude and humility. We
must put ourselves in God's hands. We must say
to God: "Here am I and here are all my troubles.
I've made a mess of things and can't do anything
about it. You take me and all my troubles and do
anything you want with me." Do I believe that the
grace of God can do for me what I could never do
for myself?


Meditation for the Day


Fear is the curse of the world. Many are our fears.
Fear is everywhere. I must fight fear as I would a
plague. I must turn it out of my life. There is no
room for fear in the heart in which God dwells. Fear
cannot exist where true love is or where faith abides.
So I must have no fear. Fear is evil, but "perfect
love casteth out all fear." Fear destroys hope and
hope is necessary for all of humanity.


Prayer for the Day


I pray that I may have no fear. I pray that I may cast
all fear out of my life.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ March 6th


A.A. Thought for the Day


In A.A. we must surrender, give up, admit that
we're helpless. We surrender our lives to God
and ask Him for help. When He knows that
we're ready, He gives us by His grace the free
gift of sobriety. And we can't take any credit
for having stopped drinking, because we didn't
do it by our own willpower. There's no place for
pride or boasting. We can only be grateful to
God for doing for us what we could never do for
ourselves. Do I believe that God has made me a
free gift of the strength to stay sober?


Meditation for the Day


I must work for God, with God, and through God's
help. By helping to bring about a true fellowship of
human beings, I am working for God. I am also
working with God because this is the way God works,
and He is with me when I am doing such work. I
cannot do good work, however, without God's help.
In the final analysis, it is through the grace of God
that any real change in human personality takes
place. I have to rely on God's power, and anything
I accomplish is through His help.


Prayer for the Day


I pray that I may work for God and with God. I pray
that I may be used to change human personalities
through God's help.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ March 7th


A.A. Thought for the Day


There are two important things we have to do if
we want to get sober and stay sober. First,
having admitted that we're helpless before
alcohol, we have to turn our alcoholic problem
over to God and trust Him to take care of it for
us. This means asking Him every morning for the
strength to stay sober that day and thanking Him
every night. It means really leaving the problem
in God's hands and not reaching out and taking
the problem back to ourselves. Second, having
given our drink problem to God, we must
cooperate with Him by doing something about it
ourselves. Am I doing these two things?


Meditation for the Day


I must prepare myself by doing each day what I
can to develop spiritually and to help others to do
so. God tests me and trains me and bends me to
His will. If I am not properly trained, I cannot
meet the test when it comes. I must want God's
will for me above all else. I must not expect to
have what I am not prepared for. This
preparation consists of quiet communion with God
every day and gradually gaining the strength I need.


Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may really try to do God's will in all my
affairs. I pray that I may do all I can to help others
find God's will for them.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day / March 8th


A.A. Thought for the Day


We must go to A.A. meetings regularly. We
must learn to think differently. We must
change from alcoholic thinking to sober thinking.
We must reeducate our minds. We must try to
help other alcoholics. We must cooperate with
God by spending at least as much time and
energy on the A.A. program as we did on drinking.
We must follow the A.A. program to the best of
our ability. Have I turned my alcoholic problem
over to God and am I cooperating with Him?


Meditation for the Day


The joy of true fellowship shall be mine in full
measure. I will revel in the joy of real fellowship.
There will come back a wonderful joy, if I share
in fellowship now. Fellowship among spiritually
minded people is the embodiment of God's
purpose for this world. To realize this will
bring me a new life-joy. If I share in humanity's
joy and travail, a great blessing will be mine. I
can truly live a life not of earth, but a heaven
life here and now.


Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be helped and healed by true
spiritual fellowship. I pray that I may sense His
presence in spiritual fellowship with His children.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

We also strengthen our faith by working with other
alcoholics and finding that we can do nothing ourselves
to help them, except to tell them our own story of how
we found the way out. If the person is helped, it's by
the grace of God and not by what we do or say. Our own
faith is strengthened when we see another alcoholic find
sobriety by turning to God. And finally we strengthen our
faith by having quiet times every morning. Do I ask God
in this quiet time for the strength to stay sober this day?

Meditation For The Day

My five senses are my means of communication with the
material world. They are the links between my physical
life and the material manifestations around me. But I
must sever all connections with the material world when
I wish to hold communion with the Great Spirit of the
universe. I have to hush my mind and bid all my senses
be still, before I can become attuned to receive the
music of the heavenly spheres.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may get my spirit in tune with the Spirit
of the universe. I pray that through faith and communion
with Him I may receive the strength I need.

[janbear]

A.A. Thought for the Day

We also strengthen our faith by working with other alcoholics and finding that we can do nothing ourselves to help them, except to tell them our own story of how we found the way out. If the other person is helped, its by the grace of God and not by what we do or say. Our own faith is strengthened when we see another alcoholic find sobriety by turning to God. And finally we strengthen our faith by having quiet times every morning. Do I ask God in this quiet time for the strength to stay sober this day?

Meditation for the Day

My five senses are my means of communication with the material world. They are the links between my physical life and the material manifestations around me. But I must sever all connections with the material world when I wish to hold communion with the Great Spirit of the universe. I have to hush my mind and bid all my senses be still, before I can become attuned to receive the music of the heavenly spheres.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may get my spirit in tune with the Spirit of the universe. I pray that through faith and communion with Him I may receive the strength I need.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / March 11th


A.A. Thought for the Day


By having quiet times each morning, we come to
depend on God's help during the day, especially
if we should be tempted to take a drink. And
we can honestly thank Him each night for the
strength He has given us. So our faith is
strengthened by these quiet times of prayer.
By listening to other members, by working with
other alcoholics, by times of quiet meditation,
our faith in God gradually becomes strong. Have
I turned my drinking problem entirely over to God,
without reservations?


Meditation for the Day


It seems as though, when God wants to express
to men what He is like, He makes a very beautiful
character. Think of a personality as God's
expression of character attributes. Be as fit
an expression of Godlike character as you can.
When the beauty of a person's character is
impressed upon us, it leaves an image which in
turn reflects through our own actions. So look
for beauty of character in those around you.


Prayer for the Day


I pray that I may look at great souls until their
beauty of character becomes a part of my soul.
I pray that I may reflect this character in my
own life.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day / March 12th


A.A. Thought for the Day


The Prodigal Son "took his journey into a far
country and wasted his substance with riotous
living." That's what we alcoholics do. We waste
our substance with riotous living. "When he
came to himself, he said: 'I will arise and go
to my father.'" That's what you do in A.A.
You come to yourself. Your alcoholic self is
not your real self. Your sane, sober,
respectable self is your real self. That's why
we alcoholics are so happy in A.A. Have I come
to myself?


Meditation for the Day


Simplicity is the keynote of a good life. Choose
the simple things always. Life can become
complicated if you let it be so. You can be
swamped by difficulties if you let them take
up too much of your time. Every difficulty
can be either solved or ignored and something
better substituted for it. Love the humble
things of life. Reverence the simple things.
Your standard must never be the world's
standard of wealth and power.


Prayer for the Day


I pray that I may love the simple things of life.
I pray that I may keep my life uncomplicated
and free.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day / March 13th


A.A. Thought for the Day


We've gotten rid of our false, drinking selves and
found our real, sober selves. And we turn to God,
our Father, for help, just as the Prodigal Son arose
and went to his father. At the end of the story, the
father of the Prodigal Son says: "He was dead and
is alive again, he was lost and is found." We
alcoholics who have found sobriety in A.A. were
certainly dead and are alive again. We were lost
and are found. Am I alive again?


Meditation for the Day


Gently breathe in God's spirit, that spirit which,
if not barred out by selfishness, will enable you
to do good works. This means rather that God will
be enabled to do good works through you. You can
become a channel for God's spirit to flow through
you and into the lives of others. The works that
you can do will only be limited by your spiritual
development. Let your spirit be in harmony with
God's spirit and there is no limit to what you can
do in the realm of human relationships.


Prayer for the Day


I pray that I may become a channel for God's spirit.
I pray that God's spirit may flow through me into
the lives of others.

[janbear]

A.A. Thought for the Day

Can I get well? If I mean, "Can I ever drink normally again?" the answer is no. But if I mean, "Can I stay sober?" the answer is definitely yes. I can get well by turning my drink problem over to a Power greater than myself, that Divine Principle in the universe which we call God, and by asking that Power each morning to give me the strength to stay sober for the next twenty-four hours. I know from the experience of thousands of people that if I honestly want to get well, I can get well. Am I faithfully following the AA program?

Meditation for the Day

Persevere in all that God's guidance moves you to do. The persistent carrying out of what seems right and good will bring you to that place where you would be. If you look back over God's guidance, you will see that His leading has been very gradual and that only as you have carried out His wishes, as far as you can understand them, has God been able to give you more clear and definite leading. You are led by God's touch on a quickened, responsive mind.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may persevere in doing what seems right. I pray that I may carry out all of God's leading, as far as I can understand it.

[janbear]

A.A. Thought for the Day

We alcoholics were on a merry-go-round, going round and round, and we couldn't get off. That merry-go-round is a kind of hell on earth. In A.A. I got off that merry-go-round by learning to stay sober. I pray to my Higher Power every morning to help me to keep sober. And I get the strength from that Power to do what I could never do with my own strength. I do not doubt the existence of that Power. We're not speaking into a vacuum when we pray. That Power is there, if we will use it. Am I off the merry-go-round of drinking for good?

Meditation for the Day

I must remember that in spiritual matters I am only an instrument. It is not mine to decide how or when I am to act. God plans all spiritual matters. It is up to me to make myself fit to do God's work. All that hinders my spiritual activity must be eliminated. I can depend on God for all the strength I need to overcome those faults that are blocks. I must keep myself fit, so that God can use me as a channel for His spirit.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that my selfishness may not hinder my progress in spiritual matters. I pray that I may be a good instrument for God to work with.

[janbear]

A.A. Thought for the Day

Before we decide to quit drinking, most of us have to come up against a blank wall. We see that we're licked, that we have to quit. But we don't know which way to turn for help. There seems to be no door in that blank wall. A.A. opens the door that leads to sobriety. By encouraging us to honestly admit that we're alcoholics and to realize that we can't take even one drink, and by showing us which way to turn for help, A.A. opens the door in that blank wall. Have I gone through that door to sobriety?

Meditation for the Day

I must have a singleness of purpose to do my part in God's work. I must not let material distractions interfere with my job of improving personal relationships. It is easy to become distracted by material affairs, so that I lose my singleness of purpose. I do not have time to be concerned about the multifarious concerns of the world. I must concentrate and specialize on what I can do best.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not become distracted by material affairs. I pray that I may concentrate on doing what I can do best.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

A. A. also helps us to hang onto sobriety. By having
regular meetings so that we can associate with other
alcoholics who have come through that same door in the
wall, by encouraging us to tell the story of our own
sad experiences with alcohol, and by showing us how to
help other alcoholics. A.A. keeps us sober. Our attitude
toward life changes from one of pride and selfishness to
one of humility and gratitude. Am I going to step back
through that door in the wall to my old helpless,
hopeless, drunken life?

Meditation For The Day

Withdraw into the calm of communion with God. Rest in that
calm and peace. When the soul finds its home of rest in
God, then it is that real life begins. Only when you are
calm and serene can you do good work. Emotional upsets
make you useless. The eternal life is calmness and when a
man enters into that, then he lives as an eternal being.
Calmness is based on complete trust in God. Nothing in
this world can separate you from the love of God.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may wear the world like a loose garment.
I pray that I may keep serene at the center of my being.

[janbear]

A.A. Thought for the Day

When we alcoholics first come into A.A. and we face the fact that we must spend the rest of our life without liquor, it often seems like an impossibility to us. So A.A. tells us to forget about the future and take it one day at a time. All we really have is now. We have no past time and no future time. As the saying goes: "Yesterday is gone, forget it; tomorrow never comes, don't worry; today is here, get busy." All we have is the present. The past is gone forever and the future never comes. When tomorrow gets Here, it will be today. Am I living one day at a time?

Meditation for the Day

Persistence is necessary if you are to advance in spiritual things. By persistent prayer, persistent, firm, and simple trust, you achieve the treasures of the spirit. By persistent practice, you can eventually obtain joy, peace, assurance, security, health, happiness, and serenity. Nothing is too great, in the spiritual realm, for you to obtain, if you persistently prepare yourself for it.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may persistently carry out my spiritual exercises every day. I pray that I may strive for peace and serenity.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

When we were drinking, we used to be ashamed of the past. Remorse
is terrible mental punishment: ashamed of ourselves for the things
we've said and done, afraid to face people because of what they might
think of us, afraid of the consequences of what we did when we were
drunk. In A.A. we forget about the past. Do I believe that God has
forgiven me for everything I've done in the past, no matter how black
it was, provided I'm honestly trying to do the right thing today?

Meditation For The Day

God's spirit is all about you all day long. You have no thoughts, no
plans, no impulses, no emotions, that He does not know about. You can
hide nothing from Him. Do not make your conduct conform only to
that of the world and do not depend on the approval or disapproval of
others. God sees in secret, but He rewards openly. If you are in
harmony with the Divine Spirit, doing your best to live the way you
believe God wants you to live, you will be at peace.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may always feel God's presence. I pray that I may realize
this Presence constantly all through the day.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

When we were drinking, we used to worry about the future.
Worry is terrible mental punishment. What's going to
become of me? Where will I end up? In the gutter or the
sanitarium? We can see ourselves slipping, getting worse
and worse, and we wonder what the finish will be.
Sometimes we get so discouraged in thinking about the
future that we toy with the idea of suicide. In A.A.
have I stopped worrying about the future?

Meditation For The Day

Functioning on a material plane alone takes me away from
God. I must also try to function on a spiritual plane.
Functioning on a spiritual plane as well as on a material
plane will make life what it should be. All material
activities are valueless in themselves alone. But all
activities, seemingly trivial or of seemingly great moment,
are all alike if directed by God's guidance. I must try to
obey God as I would expect a faithful, willing servant to
carry out directions.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that the flow of God's spirit may come to me through
many channels. I pray that I may function on a spiritual
plane as well as on a material plane.

[janbear]

A.A. Thought for the Day

In A.A. we forget about the future. We know from experience that as time goes on, the future takes care of itself. Everything works out well, as long as we stay sober. All we need to think about is today. When we get up in the morning and see the sun shining in the window, we thank God that He has given us another day to enjoy because we're sober, a day in which we may have a chance to help somebody. Do I know that this day is all I have and that with God's help I can stay sober today?

Meditation for the Day

All is fundamentally well. That does not mean that all is well on the surface of things. But it does mean that God's in His heaven and that He has a purpose for the World, which will eventually work out when enough human beings are willing to follow His way. "Wearing the world as a loose garment" means not being upset by the surface wrongness of things, but feeling deeply secure in the fundamental goodness and purpose in the universe.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that God may be with me in my journey through the world. I pray that I may know that God is planning that journey.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ March 23rd

A.A. Thought for the Day

Strength comes from the fellowship you find
when you come into A.A. Just being with men
and women who have found the way out gives
you a feeling of security. You listen to the
speakers, you talk with other members, and
you absorb the atmosphere of confidence and
hope that you find in the place. Am I receiving
strength from the fellowship with other AA.
members?

Meditation for the Day

God is with you, to bless and help you. His spirit
is all around you. Waver not in your faith or in
your prayers. All power is the Lord's. Say that
to yourself often and steadily. Say it until your
heart sings with joy for the safety and personal
power that it means to you. Say it until the very
force of the utterance drives back and puts to
naught all the evils against you. Use it as a battle
cry. All power is the Lord's. Then you will pass
on to victory over all your sins and temptations,
and you will begin to live a victorious life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that with strength from God I may lead an
abundant life. I pray that I may lead a life of victory.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

Strength comes from honestly telling your own experiences with
drinking. In religion, they call it confession. We call it witnessing or
sharing. You give a personal witness, you share your past experiences,
the troubles you got into, the hospitals, the jails, the break-up of your
home, the money wasted, the debts, and all the foolish things you did
when you were drinking. This personal witness lets out the things you
had kept hidden, brings them out into the open, and you find release
and strength. Am I receiving strength from my personal witnessing?

Meditation For The Day

We cannot fully understand the universe. The simple fact is that we
cannot even define space or time, which we have manufactured by our
own minds and on that depends all our so-called knowledge of the
universe. The simple fact is that we can never know all things, nor are
we made to know them. Much of our lives must be taken on faith.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that my faith may be based on my own experience of the power
of God in my life. I pray that I may know this one thing above all else
in the universe.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ March 25th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Strength comes from coming to believe in a Higher
Power that can help you. You can't define this
Higher Power, but you can see how it helps other
alcoholics. You hear them talk about it and you
begin to get the idea yourself. You try praying in
a quiet time each morning and you begin to feel
stronger, as though your prayers were heard. So
you gradually come to believe there must be a Power
in the world outside yourself, which is stronger than
you and to which you can turn for help. Am I
receiving strength from my faith in a Higher Power?

Meditation for the Day

Spiritual development is achieved by daily
persistence in living the way you believe God
wants you to live. Like the wearing away of a
stone by steady drops of water, so will your
daily persistence wear away all the difficulties
and gain spiritual success for you. Never falter
in this daily, steady persistence. Go forward
boldly and unafraid. God will help and strengthen
you, as long as you are trying to do His will.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may persist day by day in gaining
spiritual experience. I pray that I may make
this a lifetime work.

[janbear]

A.A. Thought for the Day

Strength comes also from working with other alcoholics. When you are trying to help a new prospect with the program, you are building up your own strength at the same time. You see the other person in the condition you might be in yourself and it makes your resolve to stay sober stronger than ever. Often, you help yourself more than the other person, but if you do succeed in helping the prospect to get sober, you are stronger from the experience of having helped another person. Am I receiving strength from working with others?

Meditation for the Day

Faith is the bridge between you and God. it is the bridge that God has ordained. if all were seen and known, there would be no merit in doing right. Therefore God has ordained that we do not see or know directly. But we can experience the power of His spirit through our faith. It is the bridge between us and Him, which we can take or not, as we will. There could be no morality without free will. We must make the choice ourselves. We must make the venture of belief.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may choose and decide to cross the bridge of faith. I pray that by crossing this bridge I may receive the spiritual power I need.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

When you come into an A.A. meeting, you're not just
coming into a meeting, you're coming into a new life.
I'm always impressed by the change I see in people after
they've been in A.A. for a while. I sometimes take an
inventory of myself, to see whether I have changed and if
so, in what way. Before I met A.A., I was very selfish. I
wanted my own way in everything. I don't believe I ever
grew up. When things went wrong, I sulked like a spoiled
child and often went out and got drunk. Am I still all get
and no give?

Meditation For The Day

There are two things we must have if we are going to change
our way of life. One is faith, the confidence in things
unseen, that fundamental goodness and purpose in the
universe. The other is obedience, that is living according
to our faith, living each day as we believe God wants us to
live, with gratitude, humility, honesty, purity,
unselfishness and love. Faith and obedience, these two,
will give us all the strength we need to overcome sin and
temptation and to live a new and more abundant life.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may have more faith and obedience. I pray that
I may live a more abundant life as a result of these things.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

Before I met A.A. I was very dishonest. I lied to my wife
constantly about where I had been and what I'd been doing.
I took time off from the office and pretended I'd been
sick or gave some other dishonest excuse. I was dishonest
with myself, as well as with other people. I would never
face myself as I really was or admit when I was wrong. I
pretended to myself that I was as good as the next fellow,
although I suspected I wasn't. Am I now really honest?

Meditation For The Day

I must live in the world and yet live apart with God. I can
go forth from my secret times of communion with God to the
work of the world. To get the spiritual strength I need, my
inner life must be lived apart from the world. I must wear
the world as a loose garment. Nothing in the world should
seriously upset me, as long as my inner life is lived with
God. All successful living arises from this inner life.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may live my inner life with God. I pray that
nothing shall invade or destroy that secret place of peace.

[janbear]

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

Before I met A.A., I was very unloving. From the time I went away to
school, I paid very little attention to my mother and father, I was on my
own and didn't even bother to keep in touch with them. After I got
married, I was very unappreciative of my spouse. Many a time I would
go out all by myself to have a good time. I paid too little attention to our
children and didn't try to understand them or show them affection. My
few friends were only drinking companions, not real friends. Have I
gotten over loving nobody but my self?

Meditation For The Day

Be calm, be true, and be quiet. Do not get emotionally upset by anything
that happens around you. Feel a deep, inner security in the goodness and

purpose in the universe. Be true to your highest ideals. Do not let
yourself slip back into the old ways of reacting. Stick to your spiritual
guns. Be calm always. Do not talk back or defend yourself too much
against accusation, whether false or true. Accept criticism as well as you
accept praise. Only God can judge the real you.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may not be upset by the judgment of others. I pray that I
may let God be the judge of the real me.