Prayer
Crutches
14/Jul/08
When I came into recovery, I thought this prayer
and mediation stuff was a crutch for weak people
who couldn't stand on their own, and I said so.
My sponsor, quite calmly, asked me, "So what's
wrong with crutches? Don't we need help when
we're hurt?"
Well, I decided to try to keep an open mind. I tried talking to God, and I tried listening for Him. I haven't had the experience of hearing His voice speaking to me in words that I can understand, but I have begun to feel that I am being helped and cared for. I have more confidence in knowing which way to go or what thing to do. I'm not all better, but I hurt less.
Maybe I do need those crutches.
Well, I decided to try to keep an open mind. I tried talking to God, and I tried listening for Him. I haven't had the experience of hearing His voice speaking to me in words that I can understand, but I have begun to feel that I am being helped and cared for. I have more confidence in knowing which way to go or what thing to do. I'm not all better, but I hurt less.
Maybe I do need those crutches.
—Anonymous
A, B, C, D, E, F, G ...
30/Jun/08
A man was walking through the woods one day when
he heard a child's voice singing The Alphabet
Song. "A, B, C, D, E, F, G ..." The child
was singing it over and over again. He walked
toward the sound and found a young boy sitting on
a log.
"Why are you singing your ABCs so much?" he asked.
"I'm praying," the boy answered.
"Yes, but why are you singing the alphabet?"
"Well, I don't know all the words, so I give God the letters. He knows what I'm trying to say."
And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26, 27)
"Why are you singing your ABCs so much?" he asked.
"I'm praying," the boy answered.
"Yes, but why are you singing the alphabet?"
"Well, I don't know all the words, so I give God the letters. He knows what I'm trying to say."
And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26, 27)
—Anonymous
Prayer Requests
06/May/08
We speak of the importance of prayer. Let's stop
and think about that for a moment.
If I got what I prayed for, would I be happy? Do I know what is best for me? Do I try to bargain with God or try to give Him instructions?
I need to get one thing through my thick skull: I often don't know what I really want, and I usually don't know what would be best for me. Such knowledge is in God's hands. That is why I should limit my prayer requests to pleas for guidance, an open mind to receive it, and the strength and courage to follow through.
If I got what I prayed for, would I be happy? Do I know what is best for me? Do I try to bargain with God or try to give Him instructions?
I need to get one thing through my thick skull: I often don't know what I really want, and I usually don't know what would be best for me. Such knowledge is in God's hands. That is why I should limit my prayer requests to pleas for guidance, an open mind to receive it, and the strength and courage to follow through.
—Anonymous
Thorns Have Roses
09/Apr/08
There are times when we're in over our heads,
when life seems to be a long, drawn-out crisis.
We can't solve it. There seems to be no escape.
Such problems will weigh on our minds
continually, going round and round in our heads
until we become engulfed in despair.
This is a time to pray. It might be the Serenity Prayer. Or perhaps, "Thank You, God, for reminding me that thorns have roses." There is good even in the darkest troubles. Romans 8:28 tells us that "... we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Painful experiences come from the thorns that wound us; they cause us to to forget the roses. Yet, we cannot expect to enjoy life's beauty, fragrance, and color without life's thorny challenges.
This is a time to pray. It might be the Serenity Prayer. Or perhaps, "Thank You, God, for reminding me that thorns have roses." There is good even in the darkest troubles. Romans 8:28 tells us that "... we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Painful experiences come from the thorns that wound us; they cause us to to forget the roses. Yet, we cannot expect to enjoy life's beauty, fragrance, and color without life's thorny challenges.
—Anonymous