You Are Creating Your Future Now

YOU ARE CREATING YOUR FUTURE NOW
October 25, 2005
It is a marvelous thing to see the change that can be brought about in the lives of those who try the Alcoholics Anonymous Program. There is no real secret, it has been built upon the fundamental principles common to most religions, but in particular Christianity. If you get to know the New Testament Bible you will see where a lot of the Big Book and stories in the 3rd Edition came from. In Alcoholics Anonymous the same thought or teaching is repeated in many similar ways that we are to love God, and love our neighbor, as we think so it will be, be renewed by the renewing of your mind, we are born again. Nothing can be done by force but only through willingness. Judge not less you be judged. Love is the strongest force in the world. Alcoholics Anonymous combined with where it was derived from Religion, is a mighty force of God.
We learn to “live one day at a time” in both religion and A.A. in religion we practice the sacrament of the moment of the now. In A.A. we take things one day at a time, each moment at a time if necessary to stay clean and sober. The great fact is yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is the present to open and see what it brings. Living in the past usually gets us to dwell on regrets, living in the future usually brings on fears. Living in today in the presence of God can usually result in peace of mind, for we have all we need today. What we choose to do now, is what will eventually make up your life. Life is a succession of choices in the now. Each moment is given us by the grace of God to do something wonderful with. We can work at continuing to overcome ourselves, persistently preparing our minds for action in God’s service and use our moments so that we don’t fall into nor choose the Seven Deadly Sins. Better to use each moment seeking the Will of God for our life. We can at least try and make the effort of working the Twelve Steps and conquering the self-life, the ego driven life and seek daily more and more to obtain God’s Kingdom.
Take a lot around and see the beauty of God’s creation, it is constantly moving and changing. We are changed through God’s love for us, His love in our life profoundly and positively affects our attitude and outlook. What we treat others with, we treat ourselves with as well. God is love and He sends out love and love is returned, when we love our neighbor as ourselves it can’t help but be positively returned to us in some way. For most of our alcoholism and the temptation to drink can be traced back to a lack of love for our fellow man. Page 507 A.A. Big Book 3rd Edition; …temptation …began with my desire for material success becoming greater than my interest in the welfare of my fellow man. Page 549; I had lived with no sense of social obligation nor had I known the meaning of moral responsibility to my fellow man.
Each positive response I give to another changes us more into the likeness and image of God. The beauty of a loving posture is that it calls forth love in response. The more we give, the more we receive. Love conquers fear, love opens the way to God, which assures us of the love, power, wisdom and strength we need for each day. God loves us unconditional it is true, but at the same time He expects us to help ourselves and our neighbor. Give love away, and let love change you. Our past was full of harm and hurt, we failed to live to our potential. Through the Program and confession, admitting our wrongs, making amends (which can be a charitable donation if direct amends is not possible), we have been forgiven, and now have the opportunity to do our best. Through God’s love, His establishments and the sacrament of forgiveness, we are free, we have experienced God’s pardon and mercy. The Bible gives us examples that we are to do likewise to our fellows who have ever harmed us. We can live a life with a clear conscience and help others to do the same, forgive even before anyone ever asks., forgive all things, bless and pray for all people. Look forward to the day ahead with peace and confidence. Your day will be like a spiritual retreat in each moment. These spiritual moments will pull you deeper in love with God and nourish your soul and add serenity to your life. We will grow as we learn to carry the Twelve Steps and our Lord’s Commandments into each moment of our day. In our willingness we simply will not miss out on opportunities to love people and admire the beauty of sobriety and recovery and the world around us. We will let God nourish our minds with the A.A. Literature and His Holy Word in the New Testament Bible. We will reflect the beauty of these to the world around us.