Alcohol Recovery Without 12 Steps Community Group

This group was created to explore various recovery paths for Alcoholism. We generally chose to explore paths outside of the AA model, or ones which incorporate, but are not limited to AA. Anyone wanting to learn and explore how to become free from alcohol addiction are welcome. Our main goal is to support each other with compassion and decency, while remaining open minded...

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Trying to pray is praying

gjm
gjm
Trying to pray is praying.
--Anonymous

"Oh, God, help me! If you get me out of this mess, I'll never screw up again." This was our favorite prayer before we entered the Program. We were always bargaining with God.

We have learned new prayers and a new way to talk and listen to our Higher Power. We are seeking God's will for us. Many of us had to learn how to pray. We began with very simple prayers: "Thank you, God, for helping me today."

We learn that prayer helps us with our faulty dependence on people, places, and things by giving us the insight and strength to rearrange our priorities. Prayer doesn't change God, but it changes those who pray.

Today in my prayers, I will seek my Higher Power's will for me. I no longer bargain with God.
gjm
gjm
From my exp. it can be to your god , HP or whatever you choose.
From my exp. it works.
deleted_user
deleted_user
You know, I have prayed even when I felt nothing-no connection, nothing. I believe that it meant something, looking back. I mean, my prayers, to, what I felt at the time were to "nothing", were answered ten fold.

Pray even if you think no one is listening.
Mandoman
Mandoman
As I understand it God already knows what we need and want and what our problems are and what He needs to do and is going to do. The most important part of prayer is that when we pour ourselves out to Him it draws us closer to Him and helps us to understand that many things in our lives are completely out of our control.
deleted_user
deleted_user
hey Gim; I to made deals with God.If you get me out of this one was pretty common. Towards the end of my drinking I thought God just plain didn`t like me and at that point I probally didn`t like him much also.When I first sobered up I asked to believed because others believed.I stopped demanding help,and starting asking for help.It also works well when you help others that are put in your path along the way.Today I pray for strenth and courage to do Gods will and to be able to help others.This is what has kept me sober for along time.If it ain`t broke, I figture why try to fix it. Thanks John
gjm
gjm
I guess I should have expressed myself from my exp. I hardly ever in 35 yrs in the madness tried to make deals with god or HP. Don't know why because it is real common. What ever I did I just paid the consequences. If it was jail just went and did the time. Today all I ask for guidance & direction and of course for others in need.
Compost
Compost
I never struck deals either. I think it was because I knew I would renege and hellfire would my reward!
Later, I prayed the prayers I learned as a child. This helped remind me of who God was- and who was really in charge.

Now I thank God and talk with Him almost conversationally.
deleted_user
deleted_user
yes I learned I am not a good negotiater and bargaining with God never got me anywhere - lol.

I now praise more than i probably pray! When i pray - most it's for guideance and strength to follow his Will, not mine.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Oh yeah I've prayed, bargained, promised, apologised, pleaded, and begged. God loves me but gave me freewill. I believe he sees my pain and feels it and also shares my joys. Most of my prayers all through my life and even as a child were prayers of Thanks. Even in my darkest hour I am grateful for my blessings and from that gratitude comes my greatest shame. That I have been so blessed yet I have continued to sabotage my best life.
Rick8
Rick8
I can only remember seriously praying 2 or 3 times in my life. Funny thing is both times I can recall my prayers were answered. I think prayers are important but many times abused. I once heard a co-worker tell her husband they should pray on whether or not they should keep cable TV....LOL.

I think prayers are important in that they let you realize you need help sometimes in life. Whether that help comes from a higher power or a family member or friend it helps you open up to the acceptance of a helping hand. I think maybe it's time I pray more. Good Post
coffeevixen
coffeevixen
I have a prayer journal. I write my prayers in it and come back to it at a later time and its interesting to me how and when prayers are answered and sometimes they aren't and that is actually for the best. :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
Here's my problem with prayer. I was raised to pray, I believed in prayers. When I fell away from the Catholic religion, I figured my prayers don't count anymore because they are not said with 100% belief in them. I will pray, but feel Im just reciting words. If someone asks me to pray for them I feel a little guilty, I'll do it, but feel somewhat hypocratic.

I've been told by a friend that just saying the words does count as prayer....I hang onto that thought.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The night I got sober, I prayed from 11 pm until 8 am to whatever would listen. Well I fell asleep , woke up, and I have been sober since. Prayer has healing powers because when I think it works, then it will probably work. When you pray you don't have to talk to a higher power. You can just say nice things about someone to yourself and wish noce things for people who are struggling. I am just saying this because many people have a hard time accepting God.