Serenity
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. (WB pg. 210) Thy will not mine be done. (AA 12&12 pg. 41)
Living ONE DAY AT A TIME; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the Pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this Sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make All things right if I Surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy In this life, and supremely Happy with Him forever in The next. Amen (Reinhold Neibuhr-1926)
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”
2nd STEP
God, I’m standing at the turning point right now. Give me your protection and care as I abandon myself to you and give up my old ways and my old ideas just for today. Amen
3rd STEP
God, I offer myself to The to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy power, Thy love and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always! Amen. (p.95 SA WB and p. 63 AA BB)
4th STEP
When I am disturbed by the conduct of others:
God, help me to show this person the same tolerance, pity and patience that I would cheerfully grant a sick friend. This is a sick person. How can I be helpful to him/her? God, save me from being angry. Thy will be done.
When I am afraid:
God, remove my fear from me and direct my attention to what you would have me be. I ask in your name.
When I am aware of My own defects and am seeking God’s help to change
God, mold my ideals in this particular area of my life and help me to live up to them. What should I do in each specific matter? Guide me, God, and give me strength to do right. Amen.
5th STEP
God, I thank you from the bottom of my heart that I know you better. Help me become aware of anything I have omitted about discussing with another person. Help me to do what is necessary to walk as a free man at last. Amen.
6th STEP
God, help me to become willing to let go of all the things to which I still cling. Help me now to be ready to let you remove all of these defects that your will and purpose may take their place. Amen.
7th STEP
My Creator, I am now willing that You should have all of me, good and the bad. I pray that You now remove from me every single defect of character that stands in the way of my usefulness to You and my fellows. Grant me strength as I go out from here to do Your bidding. Amen. (p.116 SA WB and p. 76 AA BB)
8th STEP
God, help me to become willing to sweep away the debris of self will and self reliant living. God, Thy will be done for this person, as well as for me. Amen.
9th STEP
God, give me the strength and direction to do the right thing no matter what the consequences may be. Help me consider others and not harm them in any way. Help me consult with others before I take any actions that would cause me to be sorry. Help me to not repeat such behavior. Show me the way of Patience, Tolerance, Kindliness and Love and help me live the spiritual life. Amen.
10th STEP
God, remove the selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear that have cropped up in my life right now. Help me to discuss this with someone immediately and make amends quickly if I have harmed anyone. Help me to cease fighting anything or anyone. Show me where I may be helpful to someone else. Help me react sanely, not cocky and afraid. How can I best serve you? Your will be done. Amen.
11th STEP
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace–that where there is hatred, I may bring love–that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness–that where there is discord, I may bring harmony–that where there is error, I may bring truth–that where there is doubt, I may bring faith–that where there is despair, I may bring hope–that where there are shadows, I may bring light–that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted–to understand, than to be understood–to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen. (p. 99 AA Twelve and Twelve)
Big Book – Prayer and Meditation:
- Make no request, in prayer, for yourself only.
- Never pray for your own selfish ends.
- Select and memorize a few set prayers that emphasize the principles of the steps.
- Ask your priest, minister or spiritual advisor about helpful books and prayers that emphasize principles of steps.
- Be quick to see where religious people are right.
- Make use of what religious people have to offer
NIGHT PRAYER
God, forgive where I have been resentful, selfish, dishonest and afraid today. Help me to not keep anything to myself but to discuss it openly with another person. Show me where I owe an apology and help me make it. Help me to be kind and loving to all people. Use me in the mainstream of life, God. Remove any worry, remorse or morbid (sick) reflection that I may be of usefulness to others. Amen.
DAY PRAYER
God, direct my thinking today so that it be divorced of self-pity, dishonesty, self will, self-seeking and fear. Inspire my thinking, decisions and intuitions. Help me to relax and take it easy. Free me from doubt and indecision. Guide me through this day and show me my next step. God, give me what I need to take care of any problems. I ask all these things that I may be of maximum service to you and my fellow man.
AS WE GO ALONG
God, I’m agitated and doubtful right now. Help me to stop and remember that I’ve made a decision to let you be my God. Give me the right thoughts and actions. God, save me from fear, anger, worry, self pity or foolish decisions that your will, not mine, be done. Amen.
Lust Based Decisions
Just For Today
Matt Talbot
GOD has a plan for me. It is hidden within me, just as the oak is hidden within the acorn, or the rose within the bud. As I yield myself more fully to God, His Plan expresses itself more perfectly through me. I can tell when I am in tune with it, for then my mind and my heart are filled with a deep inner peace. This peace fills me with a sense of security, with joy, and a desire to take the steps that are a part of the Plan.
God’s Plan for me is a perfect part of a larger Plan. It is designed for the good of all and not for me alone. It is a many-sided Plan and reaches out through all the people I meet. All the events and people who come into my life are instruments of the unfolding of this Plan.
God has chosen those people He wants me to know, to love and to serve. We are continually being drawn to one another in ways that are not coincidental. I pray that I may become a better instrument to love and to serve and that I may become more worthy to receive the love and service of others.
I ask the Father within me for only those things which He wants me to have. I know that these benefits will come to me at the right time and in the right way. This inner knowing frees my mind and heart from all fear, greed, jealousy, anger and resentment. It gives me courage and faith to do those things which I feel are mine to do. I no longer look with envy at what others are receiving. Therefore, I do not cut myself off from God, the giver of all good things.
God’s gifts to me can be many times greater than I am now receiving. I pray that I may increase my capacity to give, for I can give only as I receive, and receive only as I give.
I believe that when I cannot do those things I desire to do, it is because God has closed one door only to leave ajar a better and larger door. If I do not see the door just ahead, it is because I have not seen, heard, or obeyed God’s guidance. It is then that God uses the trouble of seeming failure which may result to help me face myself, and see the new opportunity before me.
The real purpose of my life is to find God within my own mind and heart, and to help my fellowmen. I thank my Father for each experience which helps me to surrender my will to His Will. For only as I lose myself in the consciousness of His Great Presence can His Plan for my life be fulfilled.
RESENTMENT
If you have a resentment you want to be free of, if you will pray for the person or the thing that you resent, you will be free. If you will ask in prayer for everything you want for yourself to be given to them, you will be free. Ask for their health, their prosperity, their happiness, and you will be free. Even when you don’t really want it for them, and your prayers are only words and you don’t mean it, go ahead and do it anyway. Do it every day for two weeks and you will find you have come to mean it and to want it for them, and you will realize that where you used to feel bitterness and resentment and hatred, you now feel compassionate understanding and love. (p. 552 AA BB)
YESTERDAY–TODAY–TOMORROW
There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is YESTERDAY with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. YESTERDAY has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back YESTERDAY. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said…YESTERDAY is gone.
The other day we should not worry about is TOMORROW with its possible adversaries, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. TOMORROW is also beyond our immediate control.
TOMORROW’S sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds- but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in TOMORROW for it is yet unborn.
This leaves only one day…. TODAY. Any man can fight the battle of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities…. YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW that we break down.
It is not the experience of TODAY that drives men mad– it is remorse and bitterness for something which happened YESTERDAY and the dread of what TOMORROW may bring.
LET US, THEREFORE, LIVE BUT ONE DAY AT A TIME!
MAN IN THE GLASS
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day, Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what THAT man has to say.
For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Who judgment upon you must pass; The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.
Some people may think you a straight-shootin’ chum
And call you a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear up to the end. And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life
And get pats on your back as you pass. But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
CONFESSIONS OF SIN
Almighty God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
maker of all things, judge of all men:
We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness,
which we from time to time most grievously have committed,
by thought, word, and deed, against thy divine Majesty,
provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.
We do earnestly repent,
and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings;
the remembrance of them is grievous unto us,
the burden of them is intolerable.
Have mercy upon us,
have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may ever hereafter
serve and please thee in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of thy Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
NICENE CREED (aka Apostles’ Creed)
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The holy Catholick Church;
The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
And the Life everlasting.
Amen.
SHEMA YISRAEL
Deuteronomy 6:4 Listen, Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 6:5 You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength. 6:6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 6:7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. 6:8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. 6:9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.
Deuteronomy 11:13 Now, if you pay close attention to my commandments that I am giving you today and love the Lord your God and serve him with all your mind and being, 11:14 then he promises, “I will send rain for your land in its season, the autumn and the spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil. 11:15 I will provide pasture for your livestock and you will eat your fill.” 11:16 Make sure you do not turn away to serve and worship other gods! 11:17 Then the anger of the Lord will erupt against you and he will close up the sky so that it does not rain. The land will not yield its produce, and you will soon be removed from the good land that the Lord is about to give you. 11:18 Fix these words of mine into your mind and being, and tie them as a reminder on your hands and let them be symbols on your forehead. 11:19 Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. 11:20 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates 11:21 so that your days and those of your descendants may be extended in the land which the Lord promised to give to your ancestors, like the days of heaven itself.
Numbers 15:37 The Lord spoke to Moses: 15:38 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels for themselves on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and put a blue thread on the tassel of the corners. 15:39 You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and obey them and so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness. 15:40 Thus you will remember and obey all my commandments and be holy to your God. 15:41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.”
AMIDAH
1. THE GOD OF HISTORY:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the great, mighty and revered God, the Most High God who bestows lovingkindnesses, the creator of all things, who remembers the good deeds of the patriarchs and in love will bring a redeemer to their children’s children for his name’s sake. O king, helper, savior and shield. Blessed are you, O Lord, the shield of Abraham.
2. THE GOD OF NATURE:
You, O Lord, are mighty forever, you revive the dead, you have the power to save. [From the end of Sukkot until the eve of Passover, insert: You cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall.] You sustain the living with lovingkindness, you revive the dead with great mercy, you support the falling, heal the sick, set free the bound and keep faith with those who sleep in the dust. Who is like you, O doer of mighty acts? Who resembles you, a king who puts to death and restores to life, and causes salvation to flourish? And you are certain to revive the dead. Blessed are you, O Lord, who revives the dead.
3. SANCTIFICATION OF GOD:
[Reader] We will sanctify your name in this world just as it is sanctified in the highest heavens, as it is written by your prophet: “And they call out to one another and say: [Cong.] ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.'” [Isa. 6:3] [Reader] Those facing them praise God saying: [Cong.] “Blessed be the Presence of the LORD in his place.” [Ezek. 3:12] [Reader] And in your Holy Words it is written, saying, [Cong.] “The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah.” [Ps. 146:10] [Reader] Throughout all generations we will declare your greatness, and to all eternity we will proclaim your holiness. Your praise, O our God, shall never depart from our mouth, for you are a great and holy God and King. Blessed are you, O Lord, the holy God. You are holy, and your name is holy, and holy beings praise you daily. (Selah.) Blessed are you, O Lord, the holy God.
4. PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING:
You favor men with knowledge, and teach mortals understanding. O favor us with the knowledge, the understanding and the insight that come from you. Blessed are you, O Lord, the gracious giver of knowledge.
5. FOR REPENTANCE:
Bring us back, O our father, to your Instruction; draw us near, O our King, to your service; and cause us to return to you in perfect repentance. Blessed are you, O Lord, who delights in repentance.
6. FOR FORGIVENESS:
Forgive us, O our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, O our King, for we have transgressed; for you pardon and forgive. Blessed are you, O Lord, who is merciful and always ready to forgive.
7. FOR DELIVERANCE FROM AFFLICTION:
Look upon our affliction and plead our cause,and redeem us speedily for your name’s sake, for you are a mighty redeemer. Blessed are you, O Lord, the redeemer of Israel.
8. FOR HEALING:
Heal us, O Lord, and we will be healed; save us and we will be saved, for you are our praise. O grant a perfect healing to all our ailments, for you, almighty King, are a faithful and merciful healer. Blessed are you, O Lord, the healer of the sick of his people Israel.
9. FOR DELIVERANCE FROM WANT:
Bless this year for us, O Lord our God, together with all the varieties of its produce, for our welfare. Bestow ([from the 15th of Nissan insert:] dew and rain for) a blessing upon the face of the earth. O satisfy us with your goodness, and bless our year like the best of years. Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses the years.
10. FOR GATHERING OF EXILES:
Sound the great shofar for our freedom, raise the ensign to gather our exiles, and gather us from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are you, O Lord, who gathers the dispersed of his people Israel.
11. FOR THE RIGHTEOUS REIGN OF GOD:
Restore our judges as in former times, and our counselors as at the beginning; and remove from us sorrow and sighing. Reign over us, you alone, O Lord, with lovingkindness and compassion, and clear us in judgment. Blessed are you, O Lord, the King who loves righteousness and justice.
12. FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF APOSTATES AND THE ENEMIES OF GOD:
Let there be no hope for slanderers, and let all wickedness perish in an instant. May all your enemies quickly be cut down, and may you soon in our day uproot, crush, cast down and humble the dominion of arrogance. Blessed are you, O Lord, who smashes enemies and humbles the arrogant.
13. FOR THE RIGHTEOUS AND PROSELYTES:
May your compassion be stirred, O Lord our God, towards the righteous, the pious, the elders of your people the house of Israel, the remnant of their scholars, towards proselytes, and towards us also. Grant a good reward to all who truly trust in your name. Set our lot with them forever so that we may never be put to shame, for we have put our trust in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, the support and stay of the righteous.
14. FOR THE REBUILDING OF JERUSALEM:
Return in mercy to Jerusalem your city, and dwell in it as you have promised. Rebuild it soon in our day as an eternal structure, and quickly set up in it the throne of David. Blessed are you, O Lord, who rebuilds Jerusalem.
15. FOR THE MESSIANIC KING:
Speedily cause the offspring of your servant David to flourish, and let him be exalted by your saving power, for we wait all day long for your salvation. Blessed are you, O Lord, who causes salvation to flourish.
16. FOR THE ANSWERING OF PRAYER:
Hear our voice, O Lord our God; spare us and have pity on us. Accept our prayer in mercy and with favor, for you are a God who hears prayers and supplications. O our King, do not turn us away from your presence empty-handed, for you hear the prayers of your people Israel with compassion. Blessed are you, O Lord, who hears prayer.
17. FOR RESTORATION OF TEMPLE SERVICE:
Be pleased, O Lord our God, with your people Israel and with their prayers. Restore the service to the inner sanctuary of your Temple, and receive in love and with favor both the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayers. May the worship of your people Israel always be acceptable to you. And let our eyes behold your return in mercy to Zion. Blessed are you, O Lord, who restores his divine presence to Zion.
18. THANKSGIVING FOR GOD’S UNFAILING MERCIES:
We give thanks to you that you are the Lord our God and the God of our fathers forever and ever. Through every generation you have been the rock of our lives, the shield of our salvation. We will give you thanks and declare your praise for our lives that are committed into your hands, for our souls that are entrusted to you, for your miracles that are daily with us, and for your wonders and your benefits that are with us at all times, evening, morning and noon. O beneficent one, your mercies never fail; O merciful one, your lovingkindnesses never cease. We have always put our hope in you. For all these acts may your name be blessed and exalted continually, O our King, forever and ever. Let every living thing give thanks to you and praise your name in truth, O God, our salvation and our help. (Selah.) Blessed are you, O Lord, whose Name is the Beneficent One, and to whom it is fitting to give thanks.
19. FOR PEACE:
Grant peace, welfare, blessing, grace, lovingkindness and mercy to us and to all Israel your people. Bless us, O our Father, one and all, with the light of your countenance; for by the light of your countenance you have given us, O Lord our God, a Torah of life, lovingkindness and salvation, blessing, mercy, life and peace. May it please you to bless your people Israel at all times and in every hour with your peace. Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses his people Israel with peace.
OA WAY
I found myself in a bottomless pit,
of sorrow and woe and despair.
When a ray of light revealed to me
the steps of a winding stair.
In vain I tried to reach those steps,
by myself it could not be done.
I cried for help and a voice replied,
“You are standing on Step Number One.”
“Who’s that?” I asked. “What do you want?”
“Can you tell me what to do?”
“Give me your hand,” the voice answered,
and you’ll be on Step Number Two.”
I help up my hand. I decided that I
alone could not set myself free.
But I trusted that voice and it suddenly said,
“You are standing on Step Number Three.”
I stop there and rest, and look at myself.
I don’t think I can do anymore.
From somewhere above the voice came again,
“You are standing on Step Number Four.”
Wherever you are, you don’t understand,
I don’t deserve to be alive.
For I am a liar, a thief and a con.
The voice said, “You’re on Step Number Five.”
I’m not well, I’m not right. There’s a lot wrong with me,
Is there anything you can fix?
The voice came again and so gently replied “You are standing on Step
Number Six.”
All right then, I’ll ask ~~ can you take these away?
Can you make me feel closer to Heaven?
“I love you,” the voice said. “Your Heaven’s in you,
and you’re standing on Step Number Seven.”
There’s so many I’ve harmed, my family I’ve hurt–
all the pain and the grief and the hate.
“It’s alright my child,” the voice calmly said,
“You are now on Step Number Eight.”
“You must tell them you’re sorry. You must make things right.
And then in their eyes you will shine.”
“I’ll do it,” I whispered. And then the voice calmly said,
“You’re standing on Step Number Nine.”
I must keep a close eye on my motives and self
’cause there’s wrongs that I may do again.
“Look at you,” the voice said, “at how far you’ve come!
You are now on Step Number Ten.”
I pray and I ask for knowledge and strength. I want to keep my direct
line to Heaven.
The voice is so close ~~ it’s as if it’s right there,
saying “You’re standing on Step Number Eleven.”
And so here I stand, almost at the top.
Into all of my past I did delve.
Now I want to help others who are still in the pit.
And the voice said “This is Step Number Twelve.” …. Anonymous