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"12 Step" programs
have a strong emphasis on the need for a Higher Power - literally, a Power
greater than the addict. Here are some notes people have sent in
regarding their own Higher Power. Please... feel free to tell me
about yours.
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ORIGINAL MESSAGE
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Here is the core of a message I posted in
alt.recovery.addiction.sexual:
Many people in addiction recovery need to revise their image of God, or perhaps come up
with a Higher Power for the first time in their life. This can be difficult, and it might
be useful to know how others see their God or Higher Power.
Now, I'm not completely sure what I'm looking for on this. I think it would be nice to
have a list of characteristics, like:
- On my side
- loving
- accepting
- non-judgmental
- infinite, or at least really REALLY BIG
- wants me to win
On the other hand, a simple description or story would also be useful.
I really don't know. But I think whatever we can put together would be useful. Would
you be willing to contribute your concept of your God/HP? If so, please send it to me
(optionally, go ahead and post it in the newsgroup). If you'd like your name associated
with it, let me know that as well (this goes for the other ARAS Project I posted). I may
not see all posts in the NG, so email is preferable. I'll put it on my web page (as long
as I feel it's not triggering).
Does this sound like a good idea? Useful? I hope so. If you are interested, please drop
me an email at "sarr@sarr.org",
whether you post them to the newsgroup or not. I'll add a new section or a new page for
"God or Higher Power Concepts". |
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GRACE
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| I was baptized and raised a Christian. I've attended many different
denominations through the years, including Unitarian. I've always had a problem believing
there was only *one* right or legitimate religion. I allow all faiths their particular
god. My God has evolved through the years to be *the* supreme being, god/goddess, who
prevails over the entire universe and all the individual gods of all the individual
religions, who loves and cares for anyone regardless of their religion. I think of him as
being not only spirit and holy energy (via love, transmission of insight, physical
miracles) but part of every aspect of nature. I feel him on the trail through the forest,
I feel him in the flowing river, I feel him in the night sky of scintillating stars, I
feel him in the warm sunshine, a summer breeze . . . and I feel him in the loving and
caring nature of other human beings. |
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INDIGO
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| My Higher Power has got a sense of humor that is incredible. She is
perfectly willing to help me battle this addiction, but make no mistakes, it is my battle
to win, daily, or lose , daily. I had a dream, and in this dream I was standing in a
field. I was surrounded by evil looking canine like creatures. Not quite wolves or dogs,
the fangs were all wrong for anything as normal as that. I had a staff of wood, and behind
me was my HP. I was fending off these creatures as well as I could, and She was helping,
supporting me, healing wounds inflicted by the beasts, protecting my rear. Eventually the
creatures were defeated and ran off into the woods. She helped me, but I had to do the
work. This occurred in a dream, and I feel it was symbolic of my struggle, not only
with the addiction, but with the underlying monsters in my subconscious. The important
thing for me to remember about my HP is that if I don't care enough to be actively
fighting this thing then She will not lift a finger to help me. It's the whole free will
thing, I think.
If you have feedback, email Indigo at anon-13698@anon.twwells.com |
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KEVIN L.
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| I was raised and have always been active in an organized religion. My
concept of God is taken from those teachings. But, its more than that. I believe God to be
a personage that is keenly aware of every part of me. He knows my strengths (he indeed
gifted me with them), He knows my weaknesses, He knows my passions, and most of all no
matter how much I drag myself through the cesspools of life, no matter how evil I feel I
have become, He still loves me. |
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PAUL HARBOUR
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| I have studied psychology in some college courses, library books,
magazines, videos, and face-to-face in my business. Out of all this come different
Realizations about "me, myself, and I" relating to people, places and things in
the world ...... as well as others who have their own "me, myself, and I"
relating in their world. My Understanding of "God" or a "Higher
Power" concept relates OUT OF the individual as being the Direct Expression of
"Life-Itself" (. . . my wording for "God"). I have found that my
Identity, in Relation-to-Life, is far more tangible to Relate With in this manner, rather
than taking an intangible "somewhere-out-there" concept of a Being who is
personified with so many of my human qualities, as well as my frailties.
The concept of "Life-Itself" can be more easily understood when the
individual realizes that they are an Extension and an Expression of Life, in their
individual way, unjudged and ever Loved just because They Are Life ! The
"Wholeness" of Life is felt when the individual Realizes he/she IS Related to
All of Life, and at the same time cannot fully Express All-of-Life while we see ourselves
as only limited participants. (We can, however, Experience More WHEN we "stop to
consider / then Realize" our relationship to any one-thing . . . Vast or
microcosmic). - - - We are humbled and made honest again with ourselves . . . AND each
other. We cannot help but to be more patient and cooperative WITH one another and we
"Become" an Extension of the Experience of Love (transformed) ! Life cannot hate
Itself nor judge nor measure nor have an "opinion" and divide Itself because It
is In everything and everywhere for a very, very long time ! IT IS US ! ...and we are IT !
The Wholeness of "Life-Itself" is too Great for us to comprehend in standard
ways, for nothing is fragmented, separated, divided, nor compared . . . like we do with
ourselves and everything else in the Universe. We simply must Return to our own
Humbleness, to absorb this, or we cannot Become Honest enough to Realize these things . .
. we will remain in disharmony whenever we continue our sense of being separate and alone
from the Whole . . . we will continue to oppose what we believe are "opposed -
sites" (opposites) instead of what Truly are "complements" IN Life-Itself .
. . black complements white . . . up complements down . . .etc.
They do not oppose each other.
So I elaborated on my concept . . . yet simply put: "We are Related to
Life-Itself" and It does not hate us . . . It very much Wants us to Feel It's
Liveliness & Security.
If you have feedback, email Paul at ITOUCH@aol.com
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STEVE G.
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| I grew up in a Christian church, but I never had a relationship with
the God of the Bible. I always thought that God was angry, vindictive, spiteful, distant,
judgmental, and just waiting to strike me when I got out of line. I came to
realize that I could not recover with a Higher Power who wasn't on my side. I decided to
write down what I wanted in a Higher Power. I came up with characteristics like loving,
compassionate, wants me to succeed, forgiving, and powerful. These didn't conflict with
what my head knew about God, but I had a hard time getting my heart to believe them.
I still kept failing and kept acting out, until a friend of mine suggested that I learn
what God was really like. He suggested I read from the Psalms in the Bible, and write down
whatever characteristics were ascribed to God. I'm just about half way through the book of
Psalms, but it has changed my image of God considerable. Listed below are just a few of
the characteristics of God I've found in the book of Psalms in the Bible:
- God watches over the righteous
- God laughs
- God gets angry
- God is my Father
- God protects me
- God sustains me
- God is righteous
- God hears my call
- God hates those who love doing wrong
- God destroys those who love to lie
- God abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men
- God is righteous
- God protects those who take refuge in Him
- God blesses the righteous
- God's love never fails
- God accepts my prayers
- God searches minds and hearts
- God is a righteous judge
- God reigns forever
- God governs with justice
- God is a refuge
- God never forsakes those who seek Him
- God avenges
- God remembers me
- God does not ignore my cry
- God is just
- God helps the fatherless
- God hears my desires
- God encourages
- God listens
- God hates the wicked
- God loves justice
- God will keep me safe from the wicked
- God's love never fails
- God is present in the company of the righteous
- God counsels me
- God will not abandon me to the grave
- God vindicates me
- God sees what is right
- God probes my heart
- God examines me
- God tests me
- God answers my call
- God's love is great
- God saves
- God stills the hunger of those he cherishes
- God is my strength
- God is my rock - a sure foundation
- God is my fortress
- God is my deliverer
- God is my shield
- God saves me
- God is my stronghold
- God can get angry
- God scatters the enemies
- God lifts me up
- God rescues me from my enemies
- God supports me
- God delights in me
- God rewards me according to my righteousness
- God is faithful
- God is blameless
- God is pure
- God is shrewd
- God's way is perfect
- God's word is flawless
- God delivers me from the attacks of the people
- God is alive
- God avenges
- God subdues nations
- God's kindness is unfailing
- God's law is perfect
- God's law revives the soul
- God's statutes are trustworthy
- God's precepts are right
- God's precepts give joy to the heart
- God's commands give light to the eyes
- God's ordinances are sure and altogether righteous
- God's love never fails
- God is wrathful
- God grants my needs
- God restores my soul
- God is with me even in the worst times
- God owns the earth and everything on it
- God can be trusted
- God will not let me be put to shame
- God's mercy is great
- God remembers
- God is good
- God is upright
- God teaches
- God guides the humble
- God's ways are loving and faithful
- God forgives iniquity
- God confides in those who fear him
- God releases me from the snare
- God is my light
- God is my salvation
- God is the stronghold of my life
- God keeps me safe in times of trouble
- God hears my cry for mercy
- God is my strength
- God is my shield
- God is the strength of His people
- God is a fortress of salvation
- God has a voice
- God's voice is powerful
- God's voice is majestic
- God gives strength to His people
If you have feedback, email Steve G. at sarr@sarr.org |
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