Baritone



Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 365
Location: NC

PostPosted: 09 Nov 2005 09:18 am
I've heard in years of meetings that we have to put our sobriety first, before everything else. But what about our higher power?

For the first couple years of my sobriety, i asked (well, more like insisted) my higher power to keep me sober that day. Which meant i was dictating what HP's will was for me. The result was that i was using my own willpower to stay away from a drink. After two years of this, i was in enough pain that i finally surrendered and prayed to my HP, "I can't do this any more. Whatever your will is - whether it's for me to drink or for me to stay sober - that's the way it will be." And it was only then that my HP removed the obsession from me.

The bottom line was, as long as i was putting all my effort into staying sober, i was not leaving room for my higher power to remove the obsession to drink. Today i don't worry about staying away from a drink, but just ask for knowledge of my higher power's will for me and the power to carry that out.

So what do you all put first? Your sobriety or your HP?

- Jim
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clean42day
Moderator


Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 417


PostPosted: 09 Nov 2005 05:34 pm
Hi Baritone.....very good question. for me it is definetly my HP first. I was beyond human aid as most alcoholics and addicts are. and it was not the program of recovery that removed the obsession from me. It was God. Following his will first keeps my life manageable, and using the tools of the program and maintaining my spiritual condition is my part. When i align my will with Gods and just cooperate with life........not wanting to drink is a natural byproduct. It is when i run on self-will that i begin to once again create mini messes in my life, and i seek reliefe in all the wrong places.

The reason i put god first.....is because it has been my experience that when i can't get to a meeting, my sponsor does not answer the phone, for whatever reason i am not able to pull a tool out of my tool bag or don't instinctively know what spiritual principal applies where........God's love, guidance, and power is always available to me, no matter the time of day, the situation, the circumstance, and no matter what emotional condition I am in. His power has not let me down ever. and I trust and believe that he is available 24hours a day...all i have to do is seek him.

It pretty much tells me in the BB that my daily recovery is based on my spiritual maintenance. I don't always claim to know what God's will for me is.....but i am pretty much convinced of what it isn't....and to drink for me is to die. when ever i place a drink, person, place or thing inbetween my relationship with god....i am cut off from the sunlight of the spirit....and whatever it is acts like a smoke screen and i loose my connection with him. that is just not a chance i am willing to take these days.

there is quote that says......your life is only going according to God's plan if you are......and for me that means co-operation is the key and many times that cooperation means delaying my instant gratification. toe tap

the formula for that is.....stop, pause, relax and seek his will first. pray

it works if you work it.

light and love

Gail
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Carol87
Moderator


Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 148
Location: Nebraska

PostPosted: 09 Nov 2005 05:43 pm
My sobriety always comes first ... IF .... I put God first ...

That's as profound as I can get for today !!
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Harry01854



Joined: 10 Oct 2005
Posts: 27


PostPosted: 09 Nov 2005 05:47 pm
Ya Baritone, for me it is God first. Without a Higher Power in my life, recovery isn't possible. I speak for me though, for it was really important to me when I finally came to believe. It was a turning point for me in my recovery.

Let them love me until I learn how to love them back.

Harry
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bluidkiti
Site Admin


Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 10500


PostPosted: 10 Nov 2005 02:30 am
I have to say I put God first. Very Happy
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Janbear
Site Admin


Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 5531


PostPosted: 10 Nov 2005 08:07 am
I believe for me i was alot like you, Baritone. For a while it was sobriety first. All i could think about early in recovery is not picking up each day. I made it awhile then i relapsed, came back made it alittle longer and relapsed again. I continually struggled, when i didnt have to. This last time i truly accepted step 2 and was able to move forward. I believe for me that had i been working those steps as suggested i wouldnt have struggled they way i did. But i am glad for my life today for i would not have learned the lessons i have. Aligning my will with God's is the proper use of the will. God is smack dab in the middle of my life. He doesnt want just a certain place, He wants to be in my entire life. And when i keep Him where He wants to be, the desire to use or drink is not there. It has been lifted. But if i take God out of the equation, i run a risk, for as the book says, "Alcohol is a subtle foe" Just for today God is smack dab in the middle of my life. He runs in and through me as i allow Him to. He is first last and always. Thats just me
Thanks for the topic
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fibiray



Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Posts: 515
Location: Australia Central Coast NSW

PostPosted: 11 Nov 2005 05:00 am
I must say this is one fascinating thread and certainly a good question. I guess it comes down to the individual. Many have said they would put god first and I can understand their reasoning for this. However, personally I would put sobriety first as for me if I am drinking or pick up a drink then I cannot reason anything and the whole concept of god is shot out the window. My relationship with god is a two way thing. I put the leg work and and the results are left to God. Many may argue that this works in relation to putting god first and that is good and well. When the compulsion to drink or the insanity creeps in not picking up a drink is my first priority and then I rely on the power of prayer and my higher power. Some may not agree with this but for me recovery is about my journey. Wink
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Misselle



Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 316
Location: Texas

PostPosted: 11 Nov 2005 07:39 pm
Great question, Baritone. It has to be God first for me. If I don't have God, I start trying to take on everything at once and I can never achieve sobriety. God is my lifeline. bow
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scots bill



Joined: 08 Apr 2005
Posts: 399
Location: cleveland,england

PostPosted: 14 Nov 2005 04:50 pm
thank god for AA, and thanks AA for god, the concept of god rids me of me and my self centeredness, yes hp must now come first,because
i could not maintain my recovery without my god, love in recovery bill