Try To Do Good

One of the central pillars of the recovery world is the sharing of our experience, strength, and hope.  We’re not perfect people.  We don’t always get it right, but we are willing to learn.  We hear the following encouraging words at every AA meeting when someone reads, “How It Works.” 

No one among us have been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles.  We are not saints.  The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.  The principles we have set down are guides in progress.  We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. (pg 60 The Big Book) 

God hates the way evil people live because it harms both them and others.  He loves those of us who try to do His will in all our affairs, not because we are perfect, but because we seek to do what is right by getting rid of our character defects and making amends in our relationship with Him and with others. God wants us to give our best effort in all that we choose to do.  We may make mistakes here and there but God’s desire is that we be truly grounded in our hope to succeed in our life with Him in recovery. 

Some of the most encouraging people to listen to are those who have relapsed many times but who never gave up and have now strung together a significant number of days, weeks, or even years of sobriety.  Are we willing to stand up after a fall, or do we just give up? 

God loves to increase our understanding of how life works.  We affirm that in both Step 2 when we talk about God restoring us to sanity and in Step 11 when we pray for knowledge of God’s will and the power to carry it out.  Let’s do our best today to learn from God, from others, and from our own experience.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, My desire is to know You and Your will for my life and to be faithful to practice Your principles in all my affairs. Please help me achieve this! Amen

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