A spiritual thought
archie
God can never be deceived, don’t even think about it.
God cannot be controlled.
PRAYER REQUEST AND THE RESPONSE
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for richer, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men, most richly blessed.
Source unknown
Always Say A Prayer
archie
God cannot be surprised; He already knows everything to include the future.
God can rescue us out of our personal storms.
PRAYER IS THE VITAMIN FOR THE SICK SOUL
There are two types of diseases that are in absolute contrast to each other. In one type the cause of the disease is the presence of germs or bacteria that are harmful to the human body. The other type of disease is caused by the absence of some chemical or some other vital substance that is essential to keep the body from becoming disordered. Many human ills are deficiency diseases and can only be overcome by supplying those elements which are lacking.
So, in the first disease the germs must be destroyed or expelled before the body can be restored to good health. And in the second case, the body can only be brought back to good health by supplying the vital elements which it lacks. The alcoholic is a sick person. He is suffering from a physical and spiritual disease, but if he is fortunate enough to be hospitalized or if he can afford to pay a doctor, he will get medication for his illness. His doctor will give him medication to kill the germs that are harmful. And if he is suffering from the lack of the health elements, he will be given vitamin shots to replenish the deficiency of the vital elements that his body needs.
But his doctor cannot give him medication to bring his sick soul back do spiritual and moral health. He will have to seek spiritual medication from the Divine doctor. He is just as sick in his soul as he is in his body and he needs Divine medication to destroy the germs that are causing his mental turmoil. And he needs spiritual vitamins to restore his moral and spiritual deficiencies and build up his resistance to ward off the harmful germs.
Prayer is the vitamin for the sick soul. Prayer will kill the germs that are detrimental to man’s soul. Prayer will restore humility and expel the germ of selfishness. It will destroy the germ of hate and restore the element of love. It will banish the germ of doubt and suspicion and restore faith. Daily prayer for the soul is like a daily vitamin for the body. It will restore our moral and spiritual deficiencies.
The health of our soul is just as important as the health of our body. The two go together. Physical power and vast possessions will not give us spiritual satisfaction unless we learn to use them to enrich our spiritual welfare. We may live in a mansion surrounded by every conceivable luxury and yet be poor in our family relationship for lack of love and sympathy. We may accumulate vast sums that will satisfy every whim, and yet be poor in real satisfaction unless we include the vitamin of prayer in our daily diet.
We are living in a civilization that has all the material wealth to make man happy and comfortable, yet with all this wealth there is spiritual poverty. We need something more than material things and body comfort to build up our spiritual health against the forces of evil. We need the vitamin of prayer in a world where so many demands are made upon us by the hucksters of depravity. Our scientific and modern civilization with all its marvels is suffering for lack of faith in God, without which our physical and material progress is in vain. "Yes, we have life, but we need something that will give meaning to life."
Stepping Stones to Recovery, page 73
archie
God can work a change in even the hardest heart.
God can and does work through ordinary people.
REAL PRAYER
Real prayer is not telling God what we want. It is putting ourselves at His disposal so that He can tell us what He wants. Prayer is not trying to get God to change His will. It is trying to find out what His will is, to a line ourselves or realign ourselves with His purpose for the world and for us.
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age: page 265, paragraph 2