Step 11 - Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Sponsor:
Well my friend, how is your daily step 10 going?
Newbie:
It is OK, and I am finding that by looking at my part everyday I am more able to keep out of the destructive behaviours - or at least, to make amends for them quickly.
Sponsor:
And the Big Book has more suggestions to help us in maintaining our fit spiritual condition:
Big Book page 86:
When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life? But we must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others. After making our review we ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken.
Newbie:
Yes, I like that this is a constructive review! So often in the past I would just beat myself up over stuff I did - but I can see that this review could easily assist me, and be added to my step 10!
Sponsor:
Yes indeed! I have a format that I follow each night and send to my Sponsor that lists the step 10 and step 11 review questions - it is part of my evening routine now, and it is really helpful:)
We are given some more suggestions too on that page:
On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. Under these conditions we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives.
so we have a blueprint here of the things we can pray about each morning, do you think you could do that?
Newbie:
Yes I could, although I’m not too sure what I am asking really - my days can be odd at times, with difficult decisions to make.
Sponsor:
Maybe this next passage will help as well then:
In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while. What used to be the hunch or the occasional inspiration gradually becomes a working part of the mind. Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. Nevertheless, we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of inspiration. We come to rely upon it.
Newbie:
Oh wow! I think that is as good an expression of "handing over" as I’ve seen!
Sponsor:
Well yes, I guess it is! Well recognised!
Newbie:
Thank you:) You know, I can see how this evening and morning prayer will help, but I often don’t know what my day will bring, and have to change tack at the last moment.
Sponsor:
Yes my friend, and there is a passage that will help us with that too
Big Book page 87:
As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action. We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day "Thy will be done." We are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-pity, or foolish decisions. We become much more efficient. We do not tire so easily, for we are not burning up energy foolishly as we did when we were trying to arrange life to suit ourselves.
Newbie:
More promises!!
Sponsor:
Yes my friend, and I pray they are coming true for you:)
Newbie:
Yes friend they are - one day at a time!!