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In Hope

Half Measures Availed Us Nothing

Saturday January 5, 2019

To experience success in our life with God in recovery we must make a commitment to be thorough in our search for truth and how we apply this learned truth in our thoughts and behaviours. 

Lord, teach me how you want me to live.  Do this so that I will depend on you, my faithful God.  Give me a heart that doesn’t want anything more than to worship you. (Psalm 86:11 NIRV)

The founders of AA organized the steps in a particular way.  Their goal was that those who followed these steps would experience a spiritual awakening.  They knew that experiencing God's forgiveness and unconditional love would bring peace of mind from the obsession to pick up.  Picking and choosing which steps we will do and how many of them we will wholeheartedly give ourselves to will not provide the spiritual awakening we desire.  Instead, we will find ourselves continuing to run on our own power and self-will. 

It's why at each AA meeting we are reminded: "Half measures availed us nothing.  We stood at the turning point.  We asked His (God's) protection and care with complete abandon ….. We thought we could find an easier, softer way.  But we could not.  With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start." (Big Book pg 58)
These thoughts simply echo what God has said for thousands of years through the scriptures.  They are tried and true principles for those who struggle with addictive and destructive life habits, and for those who love them.  We have to make a choice to be all in, even when it’s not easy.  Difficult times will come.  Emotions will go up and down.  People will do crazy things around us.  The only thing that matters is that we wholeheartedly abandon ourselves and all our concerns to the care of God.  If we do, we will find the sobriety and peace we seek.


 Serve him [God] faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.  Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.   (1 Samuel 12:24; Psalm 55:22 NIV)
Prayer:  Loving God, help me to be fearless and thorough from this moment on and give you every opportunity to transform my life. Amen

©2018 Partners in Hope  
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/

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