As the Twelve Traditions are read at the meetings we attend, we join the reader on the final phrase with the words, “principles before personalities.”
Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. (Luke 1:46-50 NLT)
God sees us all as individuals. We don’t have to be rich or famous. God finds the little ones, the hurting ones, the forgotten ones, and does such amazing things in each one of us that generations down the line will have stories to tell of how we were blessed and were a blessing to others.
Our lives are not lived in isolation. Not only are we connected to the family members we know, but to a long line of ancestors and those who will come after us, those still to be born. We don’t know all the people our lives will impact but God does, and whenever we give Him permission and put our will and our life into His care, He will pour in strength and love and forgiveness and healing – enough to cover the sins of those who have harmed us in the past and to support those who will need our help now and in the future.
We are the most unlikely of persons to influence others for good and yet that’s exactly who we are because it is “principles before personalities” and the principle God operates on is that He can make something wonderful out of every life surrendered to Him. It’s not our own strength we rely on because we know we are powerless, but the Mighty One, the God who did great things for Mary is also ready and able to do great things for us. With Mary our hearts respond and say, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord, how my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to be a person who is known for great good rather than for great harm. Thank You for taking notice of me, for doing great things for me, and for making me a person who can do great things for others because You live in me. Amen
©2020 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/Audio for Principles Before Personalities
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.