Joe
Coyhis Stockbridge-Munsee
Prayer is the raising of the heart and mind to God--and in
this sense it includes meditation. How may we go about it? And
how does it fit in with meditation? Prayer, as commonly
understood, is a petition to God. Having opened our channel as best
we can, we try to ask for those right things of which we and
others are in the greatest need. And we think that the whole range
of our needs is well defined by that part of Step Eleven which says:
". . . knowledge of His will for us and the power to
carry that out." A request for this fits in any part of our
day.
In the morning we think of the hours to come. Perhaps we
think of our day's work and the chances it may afford us to be
useful and helpful, or of some special problem that it may bring.
Possibly today will see a continuation of a serious and as yet
unresolved problem left over from yesterday. Our immediate
temptation will be to ask for specific solutions to specific
problems, and for the ability to help other people as we have
already thought they should be helped. In that case, we are asking
God to do it our way. Therefore, we ought to
consider each request carefully to see what its real merit is. Even
so, when making specific requests, it will be well to add to each
one of them this qualification: ". . . if it be Thy will." We ask
simply that throughout the day God place in us the best
understanding of His will that we can have for that day, and that we
be given the grace by which we may carry it out.
Twelve
Steps & Twelve Traditions pg. 102
Reprinted
with permission A.A.W.S.
Great Spirit teach us how to pray and give
us strength.
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