Tag: recovery

Letting Go and Letting God — The Path to Growth and Service

July 3rd, 2025

July 3, 2025

In the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, there were just two people—two brave souls who chose to step away from the darkness of addiction and into the light of healing, hope, and community. What began as a small flicker has become a blazing fire of recovery that now spans the globe. There are thousands of AA groups and members today, and yet—as the AA Thought for the Day reminds us—“the surface has only been scratched.” There are still millions of people who need help, hope, and healing.

This thought invites us not just to admire how far AA has come but to ask ourselves a deeply personal question:

Am I doing my part to help AA grow—not just in numbers, but in spirit?

The foundation of AA has always been spiritual in nature. From the very start, recovery begins when we admit two life-changing truths:

1. We are powerless over alcohol.

2. We need a Power greater than ourselves.

That Higher Power, whatever name we call It—God, Spirit, the Divine, the Universe—works through us and around us to bring about growth, not just in individual lives, but in the collective fellowship of AA. But none of that is possible without surrender.

Giving In to God: The Heart of the Journey

Surrender is not weakness. In fact, surrendering to God requires tremendous courage, humility, and willingness. It means loosening our grip on what we think we know or control, and placing our trust in something greater.

Here are two ways you can begin or deepen the practice of “Giving in to God” in your daily life:

1. Start Your Day With Surrender

Before your feet hit the floor in the morning, take a quiet moment to acknowledge your Higher Power. A simple prayer or even a breath with intention can shift your mindset. Say something like:

“God, I don’t know what today holds, but I trust You. Help me stay sober, present, and useful to others. I surrender this day to You.”

This sets the tone for your decisions, your reactions, and even your thoughts. It reminds you that you’re not walking this path alone.

This small act of surrender can become a sacred habit. Over time, it builds spiritual muscle memory. When stress hits, your first reaction won’t be panic or control—it’ll be trust.

2. Pause Before Reacting

One of the ways we resist God is by acting out of impulse. Old habits, fear, and ego love to take the wheel—especially in difficult moments. Giving in to God means pausing long enough to invite spiritual clarity before you respond.

When you’re confronted with a tough situation—an argument, a temptation, or even a minor frustration—try this:

• Take a deep breath.

• Ask silently, “God, what would You have me do right now?”

• Wait. Even if it’s just for a few seconds.

This simple practice creates a sacred pause between your emotion and your action. In that pause, grace lives. In that pause, God has room to work.

⸻

The Unexplored Country of the Spirit

The Meditation for the Day reminds us of a beautiful truth: much of life is “spiritually unexplored country.” And only those who walk in step with God, with hearts open to righteousness, will discover its treasures.

This is a call to spiritual adventure.

Just as early AA members had to be pioneers in recovery, we are called to be explorers of the spirit. There are revelations still waiting to be found—healing truths, fresh wisdom, and deeper peace. But we won’t find them chasing material things or clinging to the familiar. We’ll find them when we hunger and thirst after righteousness, when we desire to live a life aligned with spiritual principles.

The journey isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about showing up, staying open, and letting God guide your steps.

A Prayer for Today

I pray that I may not be held back by the material things of the world. I pray that I may let God lead me forward.

What a simple but powerful plea. This prayer reminds us that it’s easy to get distracted. Our culture shouts that success, possessions, and control will bring us happiness. But our spiritual lives whisper something different. True peace and growth come from letting go—and letting God.

⸻

Conclusion: The Ripple Effect of Your Recovery

Your growth—your personal, humble surrender—doesn’t just affect you. It has a ripple effect. Every time you surrender instead of controlling, trust instead of fearing, serve instead of isolating—you help AA grow. You show others that recovery is possible. That peace is possible. That God is still working wonders.

So, take courage today. Keep exploring that “spiritually unexplored country.” Keep giving in to God, one breath, one step, one prayer at a time.

Before you go…

What’s one area of your life where you could surrender a little more today?

And how might that surrender bless someone else?

Come back tomorrow as we keep walking this path together—step by step, day by day. There’s more light ahead. Don’t miss it.
The Healing Power of Fellowship and the Freedom of Childlike Faith

July 2nd, 2025
In the journey of recovery, few things are more powerful than the feeling of being understood. Within the AA fellowship, we discover more than a group of people with shared experiences—we find connection, community, and a genuine sense of belonging.

It’s often said that we are the sum of the people we surround ourselves with. In early recovery, this becomes especially true. The friendships formed in AA offer more than just kind words—they offer presence, accountability, and compassion. These relationships gently guide us away from the places, people, and patterns that once led us astray. In their place, we find safe ground to rebuild our lives.

There’s something deeply healing about being around people who “get it.” Those who have walked the same dark paths, made the same mistakes, and yet still choose to show up for others with open hearts. They are willing to listen without judgment, to share without holding back, and to help without expecting anything in return. It’s in this kind of fellowship that many of us begin to truly feel alive again.

But the wisdom of today’s reflection doesn’t stop there. It also calls us to examine the condition of our spirit.

“Except ye become as little children, ye cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

This isn’t about immaturity. It’s about returning to something pure and essential—trust, joy, simplicity, and the ability to believe. As we grow older and face the wear and tear of life, we often become guarded, skeptical, or overly serious. But recovery invites us to rediscover the lightness of being that many of us left behind in childhood.

Being childlike means laughing freely, trusting openly, and seeing the good in others. It means letting go of cynicism and allowing hope to bloom again, even if it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar at first. When we begin to live with childlike faith, we stop trying to control everything and start allowing life to unfold as it’s meant to.

Think about Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. He wasn’t young when he changed. He was set in his ways, closed off, and deeply bitter. But when he was touched by the spirit of compassion and generosity—when he remembered the joy of giving and the simplicity of love—he came alive again. That’s the power of a softened heart. That’s the transformation available to each of us, no matter our age or how far we’ve drifted.

Questions for Reflection:
1. Do you recognize and appreciate the unique friendships and support offered through your recovery community?
  Sometimes we can become so focused on our goals that we forget to pause and acknowledge the people who walk beside us. Who has lifted you up recently? Who has made you feel seen?
2. In what ways could embracing a more childlike spirit—trusting, joyful, and open—help you move forward today?
  Is there something you’re holding too tightly? Something you could approach with more ease, wonder, or hope?
Closing Thought

Recovery isn’t just about removing the things that harm us—it’s about embracing the things that heal us. Fellowship gives us strength. Faith gives us direction. And childlike joy gives us freedom. If you’re feeling worn down or closed off today, maybe the answer isn’t in doing more—but in softening more. In becoming open again.

Come back tomorrow for another daily reflection—something simple, honest, and grounding to help you stay aligned with your purpose. Let’s grow, one day at a time.

Tag: recovery

Letting Go and Letting God — The Path to Growth and Service

The Healing Power of Fellowship and the Freedom of Childlike Faith